The Crested Weedfish

Marine scientists embark on an underwater adventure to save a rarely-seen fish in its severely threatened home.

We need your support to tell this environmental story on Loading Docs’ award-winning short documentary platform! We want to show what's at stake for New Zealand and why there is hope.

THE FILM

Northland reefs are under threat. In a bold attempt to make change, two marine ecologists and photographers embark on an expedition to raise awareness of a mysterious native fish. They want to capture a powerful photo of the elusive Crested Weedfish before it’s too late.

Crispin and Irene see the ocean in a way nobody else can. Passionate about nature, the couple spend their days hunting down rare creatures, many of which have never been photographed in New Zealand before. The ocean life they love so much is disappearing before their eyes but they feel that science doesn’t get the message across. So they’re forced to take action!

It is now or never for the Northland coastal reefs. Kina plagues are destroying much of the living ecosystems as their natural predators have been overfished.

THE TEAM

Matt Silcock, Aart Jan van Dijk and Zoe-Rose Herbert are three filmmakers with a big passion for the ocean. It’s harder to see what’s happening under the water than the threats to our land. We see this as an incredible chance to show these threats as well as the breathtaking beauty that’s worth protecting.

We need your support to tell this story on Loading Docs’ award winning platform to show New Zealanders how much is at stake in our oceans right now and what we can do to protect it for future generations.

THE TARGET

As part of the Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $3,500 through Boosted. The funds will go directly towards our production costs. We would like to ensure we can pay our crew, hire appropriate equipment, and can pay for the boat charters needed to our locations.

Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock additional funding from Loading Docs. But, this is an all or nothing campaign. If we don’t reach our target, we get nothing! That’s why we need your help.

Loading Docs is an award-winning short documentary initiative to develop New Zealand filmmaking talent. Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho.

Thank you for your support.

Matt, Aart and Zoe