This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview John looks at the 1978 Otautau Floods and how these affected him and his family who were farming at Bayswater on the banks of the Aparima River. He recalls what he had to do keep family, stock and feed safe. Compares this flood with the 1984 and 1987 floods and looks back on floods in 1913 and 1916 and how mechanisms were put in place after these to try and prevent further damage from any other floods. During 1984 he had community involvement having been elected to the Catchment Board in the 1980s. He tells of lobbying the Government for funds for the Flood Protection Scheme. He also gives a brief timeline of the Catchment Board moving to become the Regional Council and then Environment Southland.