Neudorf Winery is a good 40 minute drive east of Nelson proper, deep in the heart of wine country. At least I think it's east, all I know for sure was that we were driving to the left for 40 minutes and it felt like east. I was surprised to find ourselves driving past New Zealand's oldest pub, thinking for sure that honour would belong to a West Coast gold rush era Ale House or some dingey dockland boozer.

Neudorf means "New Village", or so says Jorg our German security guard. He tells me the Germans came to the area in the mid 1800s bringing with them German architecture, leiderhosen and fruits and hops to make beer. God bless the Germans! 

We've had two days in sunny Nelson, the bohemian jewel in the South Island's crown. I've always thought of Nelson as being home to retirees and hippies and maybe even the odd retired hippy. This is a place where if you're walking down the main street you're as likely to find a Bavarian sausage shop as a Japanese caligraphy supply store.

There's one other thing that Nelson should be, but isn't famous for. Nelson is the soul of the New Zealand music. Sorry Auckland I'm going to call your bluff on this one. Sure, the business of the industry is conducted in Auckland but I believe in all earnestness that it all starts here.

Nestled behind a Beaurepairs right next to NZ's oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal, is the unassuming ex-mechanics shop that is home to team Rock Quest. A team led with dedication and passion by Pete Rainey and Glen Common.

With little to no government funding the high school music competition has been churning out young musical talent for two decades. This year Rock Quest turns 20.

I think I can quite confidently say that if it weren't for Rock Quest and for the work that these two men and their team have invested in NZ music over the years, the level and amount of musical talent in this country would not be as strong as it is. 

Our hearts go out to Glen as he deals with a difficult illness that sees him temporarily confined to a wheelchair.  This hasn't stopped him working though, even from his chair he was overheard lobbying the head of Rianz for funding for this year's competition.

These guys are not shy about asking for money for the arts. They even got Helen Clark to part with 3 million dollars to restore their neighbouring Theatre Royal to its former glory. Will someone give these guys a NZ Order of Merit for services to the arts already!

I was witness to a special and moving moment when I saw Dave Dobbyn helping to push Glen in his wheelchair as he was enjoying his first day out of the house in a month. Get better soon mate.

I took an unexpected but welcomed trip down memory lane yesterday. Pete Rainey was mine and Clint's music teacher at Hornby High school in Christchurch. He was the one who started us both down this rocky road to (poverty) a career in music. When he left Christchurch to plant his roots back in his hometown of Nelson we gave him a photo album of memories to take with him.

Aside from being proof that I once had a mullet, the photos offered up another wee gem. There's a photo of my High School rock band being led in song by a precocious little eight year old girl who just jumped up on the day and asked if she could sing with us. Turns out that girl was Anika Moa.

Thanks for the memories, Nelson.

Cheers,
Bobby

Find out more about Nelson.

Read more of Opshop's adventures on the road.