I live in Motueka which is a small town in Northwest Nelson,  New Zealand.   I am now (2001) in my late 30's and started to tie flies when I started to fly fish way back in the mid 1970's.

The one thing that really appeals to me about fly tying is that you can never stop learning.  There will always be some new fly, some new technique, or some new material to play about with.  

If I was ever in the awful position to choose between fly fishing or fly tying, I think the fly tying would win out.  I love fly swaps, and never cease to delight in opening a package from somewhere else in the world to reveal little masterpieces from some distant tier's vice.

New Zealand's first trout flies were made by settlers from Great Britain in the mid to late 1800's and the early patterns reflected  the styles used there.  As time evolved New Zealand fly tiers started to perfect their own styles and as a result some unique patterns and techniques have emanated from our shores.  For example, the 'Matuku', 'Killer', and 'Pukeko' styles of streamers, amongst others, came about as a result of local fishermen needing to imitate the small bullies, Koura  (Freshwater Crayfish) and smelt that abound in our waters.

I like to solve fly fishing problems.  I have a local river that has a significant mayfly emerger hatch.  The browns are incredibly fussy in what they will and will not take.  The biggest joy is trying to find out what the fish are taking and why.  

I have started with a basic emerger pattern and am constantly changing, altering and trying to improve an as yet inconsistent pattern.  That to me is fly tying at it's best.  You have to look at so many things that factor in making a fly successful:  thread, size, colour, movement, materials and so on.  One day I might find the right pattern, but in a way I hope I never do.