My holidays: Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi on holiday in Hawaii. Photo / Taika Waititi

What was your greatest holiday?
This current one. I'm in Hawaii at the moment and although I'm trying to work while I'm here, it feels more like a holiday.

And the worst?
I went camping once with a girlfriend. We argued a lot, eventually broke up, and then had to drive for six hours together back to town.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
Trying not to get bumped into. I don't understand how you could have found me. I was hiding.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?
East Coast, New Zealand. Home.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?
I'd like to stay somewhere in a jungle. But a jungle that's free of mosquitoes and deadly things. Also I don't want it to be too humid. I think my room should be really high up in the tree canopy, surrounded by friendly (not vicious) birds and monkeys. And lots of flowers. There also needs to be a salt-water pool up in the trees. And I want a refrigerator so I can have cold coconut water when I wake up. And if possible, I'd like ceiling fans in my room. That's all.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?
I once passed out in the aisle of a plane. It was two hours into the trip and I hadn't eaten anything and was dehydrated. I thought I was going to puke so I tried to get to the bathroom but ended up collapsing in the aisle. They kept me lying on the floor of the cabin with an oxygen mask attached to my face for an hour. I guess I felt pretty dumb then.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without...
Permission from my wife.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?
If possible, try to pack light and only take carry-on luggage. That's a pretty obvious and boring tip but if you hate airports as much as I do, you'll embrace anything that gets you out of the terminal faster.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?
The common American cheeseburger is probably the best food thing ever invented.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
Cheeseburger abs. They're like normal abs except they're in the shape of one giant cheeseburger across your midsection.

Favourite airport to land at?
Whakatane Airport.

What's the next trip you've got planned?
I have to come home in a few weeks and probably won't leave until my new film is finished. I end up spending so much time overseas that my idea of relaxing is to be at home. I'm looking forward to a New Zealand summer with friends and family, and I have an outdoor pizza oven that I'm excited to burn lots of food in.

Taika Waititi hosts the 2015 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards on Thursday, November 19 at Vector Arena, screening live on TV3.