Lonely Planet Six Degrees: Auckland

Presenter Asha Gill hooks up with spooky cartoon graffiti artist Misery to help her transform a classic New Zealand campervan into a unique work of art. Misery takes Asha to Polynesian fashion designer and fa’fa’fine Lindah E, who co-opts Asha into an all-black wedding shoot. Checking out the latest in South Pacific art, Asha meets the amazing Reverend Mua, a freestyle rapping man of God preaching the righteous path to Auckland’s Polynesian youth. Lindah hooks Asha up with Auckland firefighter Mags, who first dangles her off the floodlights of Eden Park and then takes her high-altitude gardening off a 60-metre waterfall. Asha plants trees on tribal land with Maori chief Joe Hawke and goes hunter-gathering with master chef Garth Hokianga, plucking salad from the nearest bush and digging dinner out of the sand. Asha joins high-access rope worker Ed Dennis as he works on the outside of Sky Tower, the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. Asha’s finally coaxed to go down the tower ‘the quick way’.