The Last Man of Mahana 

"A real lonely person is lonely in a crowd" now that is some wisdom...

It's bizarre that I clicked on this vid. I had no idea it was based in NZ and didn't at all recognize the word mahana, but as soon as the video started playing I realized I'd met this man earlier in the year. I was at a family party thing wearing a tye die shirt that I did myself and he was beyond impressed. my father lived at mahana as a rebellious teenager. I really can't believe I accidentally clicked on this.

A house in New Zealand cost $1500 to $3000 per square meter to build and there's a housing shortage, destroying those houses is such a crime.

So it sounds like Arthur is the last free and true person and on the right path

I love how friendly and peaceful this guy is. I hope the community problems can get resolved, because I'm genuinely sad that his beautiful home is being disrupted (especially with him being elderly) in such a way that seems to be clearly depressing him, and no wonder. I couldn't believe how rude the guy was to him at around 9:45. And his response was so measured and polite! I haven't finished watching the video yet, but I felt the need to comment. I'm fascinated and depressed by this at the same time. I hope he's doing okay today, man.

this is the only person who knows how to use ironic shirts...

Arthur's a legend. Honour. I am still trying find a community like this. Would love to live in it for the rest of my days.

I want him as my teacher.. this guy knows things about life that none of the people I've ever encountered will ever know. He has a perfect structure for the society. He is not lonely. Only if he was listened.I could talk to him for ever.

It's called the last man of Mahana because he (Arthur) is the only one to live by its values anymore.

Great documentary Vice. "A real lonely person is lonely in a crowd". Thats a nice closing statement.

What a well spoken, well experienced, humble, noble, charitable, down to earth, peaceful man!!!! The world could do with a lot more Arthur's.... I am going to visit this beautiful place in a week or two

Arthur is a real good old man...his got a good humble heart...your awesome Arthur..👍never mind what people say about you.....you still doing great hats off to u oldman..👍😔

He's old and has ZERO regrets. Goals

His voice needs to be in video games

I wouldn't mind living out in a community like that! If there is ever an apocalypse communities like that will be the ones to thrive and survive

Anyone else glad that this was in their recommended?

What a legend.

Even though he has come to terms with it, I can't imagine how it must feel to watch such a close knit community gradually fade. I'd like to think that even though it's all gone, the base of the ideal upon which it was built on still lives on, in him. Fuck, I think I finally got the title

Lived at Mahana for a few years on & off as a teenager in the 90's was a great place but factionalism & paranoia brought out the worst in a lot of people went to a reunion some years later & was absolutly shocked at the state of how people there had grown into enemies it was never all peace & love hippi dippi but at least there was respect & some bounderies now it looks like a totaly different less pleasent place to be for the sake of residents former & current i hope it finds a way to pull out of feuding snake syndrome (i remember when Rose Arthurs granddaughter was born he would sit with her in his shirtless arms singing out front of cookhouse glad to see he wore clothes for interview)

In terms of the kids leaving, People have to understand this. The only reason that community is there is because a group of like minded people came together, said X, Y and Z is what is wrong with the world and created that community. The kids grew up in that community but didn't share the world grow their parents had adopted. They saw the life and opportunity that the outside world held and rightly left. They're their own people and they hadn't been through the life exspereinces that had shaped their parents. They had to shape their own philosophy and their parents had no right to force theirs on their children. The only way the community would have survived is if their parents went with a cult like approach and isolated themselves fully and kept their children ignorant, in which case they would have failed as parents.

I love how David Prisk goes on about how Arthur is lonely and hasn't established relationships with people in Mahana and then immediately follows that up with " we don't want him around our families". which one is it fucker. those are two very different things.

Happy to see Gandalf is now living in Mahana...

Arthur is the purest human we must protect him at all costs

Arthur reminds me of father time who got stuck in the Jungle and just wanders in the present. It's kind of brilliant.

I love how homeboy had his smoke and wine room lol

In the beginning you kinda feel bad for this man. He is longing for the past, daydreaming of what happened and isolating himself in the hope that maybe one day it will come back. So it makes you feel bad to see him like that - with the dream of what was there. But then I heard his ending lines, and I understood what he said; he's exactly where he wants to be...

He says he's not lonely, but I can feel his pain through the camera. Sadly, a community without rules doesn't quite work. It always collapses in the end.

Maybe living in an anarchist community isn't for you David? Because that's the whole point of a community like that and if you can't deal with it you'd be better off living on a local housing estate. I hope Arthur finds some proper people to move in and protect the place. It's very sad that there are so many Davids in the world and so few Arthurs so that every anarchist community at some point has to fight the Davids.

imagine all the acid trips that were had there from the 70s through to the 90s

Vice is back boys! Great documentary, really reminds me of what vice used to be

Such an interesting accent. I hear Germsm, Australian, New Zealand, Scottish and British. And ribbons of Irish and Welsh.

Fantastic documentary. Such a shame. *Long live King Arthur!! King of Mahana* 👑

must admit this is the first vice videos i've enjoyed in years

"He hasn't established relationships with us....We don't want him around our families." Don't you think THAT MIGHT BE THE REASON why he hasn't established a relationship with you in any tangible way? Because you just tell him to go away all the time? Arthur seems like a genuinely nice guy. The other guy seems like some jackass who wants to live by himself in the woods and not pay taxes.

Gandalf is real😱

Awwe u can see how much he loves children u can see the happiness in his eyes i hope people can live there again so he wont be so lonely

I went to the coromandel in NZ recently and stayed in the Mahana area (tapu-coroglen road) . I was camped with other people who lived there in caravans and old school buses which was really interesting to see. Driving on the dirt roads you come across a load of old hand built houses which always had old buses in the front garden from when they arrived in the 70s and stayed there. very beautiful place and lovely documentary.

Was wondering how this guy supports himself...as soon as he lit up that joint at the end I had my answer.

VICE , WATCHING U LIVE FROM GHANA WEST AFRICA ... I LOVE YOUR DOCUMENTARY ,MY WISH ONE DAY I WILL STAY IN MAHANA

I am really moved by this story of Arthur and the Mahana people... Especially with Covid-19 happening right now... and how the Mahana way of life is a dream of the past, but perhaps it could manifest a new future? An old man, who has remained true, He’s Inspiring, he does not feel loneliness & experiences hostility in his community for being Free! Wow! Arthur you are a beautiful human being. Thank you for doing this documentary, I never knew this place existed.

That Dave guy isn't a wanker, He just isn't respecting the Mahana way of life, It's clear that he prefers to be isolated and private which is the exact opposite of why this land was freed. His reaction with Arthur is very revealing as he tells him he'll do the interview as long as Arthur isn't present, This man wants to govern the community and choose who can and can't live there, this goes against all the Mahana stood for.

The people burning down houses should be tried as criminals. They are destroying free property, and the environment around that property by releasing toxic fumes and waste. Bring back mahana 2017.

very happy for arthur he is doing so well sending him love and gratitude

My heart it's broken such a beautiful place forgotten in time

i don’t understand how people could neglect such a place. it is a paradise. you work for the good of the community, not for money and for yourself. if you could build it up again it would be a thriving community. hopefully it’s still intact by the time i’m old enough to move there. you’re doing great arthur. i respect him

I could sit and listen to him for hours. Very wise man, I can tell

He looks more like Gandalf than Gandalf himself

Not Author or Martha..... Its definately Arthur. I wish all people were as good hearted as Arthur. Wow Mahana is sooooooo beautiful!

Gandalf got himself some badass tattoos

I like this guy a lot he seems really nice and kind and he deserves more respect from other people

Shout out to you ! I hope with all that has happened and all that will , that you get what your searching for.. Good Luck Fam ! Much love from DC.. ☘️✨🏴‍☠️

What a great guy, hope he finds some positive change in his life. Seems like a very wise man, would love to meet him.

This man's philosophy really resonated with me. I hope Mahana gains the success and proper, willing residents it deserves! :)

The guy and his wife didn't want Authur around. Then he goes on to say they think he is lonely and doesn't communicate with others. If you and all the others say :We don't want him around our families etc. How is he suppose to get to know everyone? They keep treating him like dirt. God Bless Aurthur and those who like him. Then bless everyone else who doesnt.

i live in new zealand, ive been near there how have i not heard of this

thank you arthur , i hope you read this you are a grate man

"We don't see eye to eye." What, not even your third eye?

This concept has been around since recorded history. The problem with Mahana is that they had no elected leaders or elders. Every Indian tribe had a chief and the elders had positions of authority due to their age and wisdom. If this process of authority is not established then you start to get manipulation by those that do not pull their weight. You end up with just a few that take care of many and no one has the authority to settle conflicts which will always arise.

I’m from New Zealand and I’m only just hearing about this now. Wow

"THE REAL LONELY PERSON MEANS LONELY IN THE CROWD" this touched my soul.

There are humble & Grateful people commenting here. PEACE to you all.POSITIVE ENERGY ' Thank you & Arthur may the laws of attraction be in your favour.

Im pretty sure that he is the villan from the last airbender that shoots things out of his forehead.

Woww just to imagine so many pure hearted folks who simply wanted to live in peace, then here comes the bad apples. 😞 I'd love to meet Arthur and listen to his stories all night. 💙

These people need to save this before Mahana disappears and that would be a tragedy and a piece of NZ history lost. Wilderland community has a great foundation where people who live there work together and whoever lives there gives and does not take sharing skills with each other. There is way too much hate in this world. This place( Mahana) had amazing ideals and where the housetrucks of NZ started. It needs real people without attitudes that can give and be caring a be an amazing place again. I really hope the dream does not die. Aroha Mahana

David,move and leave Arthur in peace so he can bring Mahana back to it's former glory.

I often times find myself wishing for a life of simplicity such as this, derived of the dogmas and media propaganda and lust for nice shiny new things. The people that are bashing this man, what good does it do you to have such a closed mind about another man's happiness? Some people truly love life more by owning less. I don't know about anyone else, but i believe owning nothing and being absolutely happy with it is worth so much more than having it all and not giving a shit about others. You rock, dude! One of these days i too will live that lifestyle, truly happy and away from all of this modern bs. by the way, to those thinking im some 50 year old wannabe hippie, im 20 years old and have a nice job. It just seems as though modern life isn't where my happiness is. Peace and love

video ad playing but i saw the thumbnail. i love him already

Im going to go to Mahana one day. Looks like a very interesting place. See you in April David

Just the way Arthur looks at people, and talks, you can tell he's the reasonable mind in the matter (and that he's certainly a wonderful person). And the other guy is garbage - the way he looks around, stressed, unable to look in the eye, bringing forth the excuses he uses to exorcize his guilt. Arthur is wiser and the second guy is just weak - free communities, in fact, end up attracting lazy people, and wiseguys, who just stick around to suck the community dry. For the moment, the cicle of Evil has planted it's roots in Mahana (in the same way good triumphed for many years). Another cycle will one day come. Five star documentary.

That is Robin Williams living there in Mahana.

poor arthur, seems like a nice guy to me...

Walking though mahanah must be like visiting the old abandoned fort you and you freinds worked on during the summer.

David: "[Arthur] hasn't really established relationships with a lot of us. We don't want him around our families." The perfect example of the backwards mind of a land monopolist. How do you expect people to establish a relationship with you if you won't give them a chance?

This way of living is beautiful. There should be more communities like this.

I love this guy's crazy Dutch New Zealander accent, I've never heard the combination before.

"Arthur"... today I have found One more hero! Love for the legend❤

memories , still can hear hoppy turning that sax into a fog horn lol , mahana had the best cook house in the country , we lived by the hall in Colville many years ago, still miss the place

I fucking love this man

I’m From Coromandel!...My Father Has Bin a Fisherman All His Life In Coromandel!..and, I Also Lived Oppersite a Commune In Coroglen!..Some Of Us Would Envy This Life Of Arthur’s In 2Days Times!..As, Long As Yer Health Doesn’t Let U Down!

Why can't I be rich instead of being good looking?

more stuff like this please vice

The human condition. They talk about their things getting stolen and being raided but I think the people who live in Mahana completely forgot about the sole purpose of it. Mahana was created because they wanted to have free people to live on free land. Away from society, law, and societal regulations. I think Mahana would've worked if people left their connection with tangle goods and disconnected themselves from ownership of things. If people entered the community with an understanding of "what's mine if yours", to not hurt/ harm one another, and to hold strong communication, I think Mahana would be still flourishing today.

A genuinely endearing story

(English is not my first language, so I’m really sorry if it sounds weird) Just a few days ago I posted something on tumblr about running away, into the woods and live there my own happy live, with a little garden my cats and whatnot, just something like that. And there were other people who wanted to come with me. I don’t mean running away from my problems but living a life where I can be happy. I saw this video. Arthur seems like a nice guy. The way he sees trough his eyes is wonderful. I wish it would be still like the Mahana that it was before. As he said, it’s normal that things change, but why are there people who destroy something like that? Why don’t they just ignore it if they dislike it? And why do people even write their names into this book and want to be a member of Mahana if they don’t live by the rules. I’d love to go there. It would be so cool if the people who know about Mahana and would want to live by the rules would gather and actually fly to New Zealand just to bring Mahana back to live. This is probably not interesting at all but I’m so freaking depressed and O have no one to talk to. The pressure is coming from all sides and I don’t think I can stand it for long. Of course its just for the moment but I just don’t understand why we make our life so hard and complicated with tons of unhealthy stress. It’s not just because I have my exams next week it’s just always like that. I just turned 17 yesterday and I wasn’t happy at all. I want to breathe once in a while. But I can’t because there’s always some stupid problem with school or whatever that is nagging on me. I can’t even relax at home. And of course there are people who feel like that too, I know I’m not alone... but still, I sometimes don’t even know what I’m doing with my life. Seriously, puberty sucks.

Let's get a team of people to help re build this place before a developer comes and ruins it

Real life Gandalf clone!

OMG this is a dream to me!!! I would literally sell everything I own and get on a plane if I knew where this place was exactly and that they would allow me to! Ugh!!!! When the camera panned out his window and drifted further away i just thought OMG what a dream!!! I could almost cry I long for that type of freedom and seclusion. Free from all the chains and limitations of the so called "free world"

Beautiful place wish i could pack up and go there and stay lol love this guy hes so awesome :)

This guy looks like the ice king

Homie got his 3rd eye tatted woke af

I wish your documentaries were longer. 😪😢

That 3rd eye! Amazing video!! 🙏

Beautiful directing I must say. 'Thats the man who burns down houses' I got a whole wizard vs wizard vibe...it also kinds of reminds me of VFD from a Series of Unfortunate events. Where people worked together before a schism happened

I love this old man. Beautiful solid man right there

This guys house is awesome

Looks like my home across the sea, Tasmania

Mahana is a vanilla Minecraft server and David is the griefer

Should I go live there

just beautiful......

Loved this story I'd live there if I was in NZ Respect!!