Writer/director David White (This Town) based this comedy-tinged drama on real life events: a major 2016 drug bust that played out in and around the town of Ahipara and Ninety Mile Beach. In this 15 minute excerpt from episode three, Ed (Temuera Morrison) attempts to help Stevie (Maaka Pohata) and his 'bereaved friends' launch their boat. Drug smuggler Cai (Fei Li) and his hapless translator (Dennis Zhang) thoroughly botch the job. Ed and wife Heather (Robyn Malcolm) nurse their suspicions. Offshore, four Chinese crew members are desperate and adrift, awaiting news and water from the ruthless Cai.
Can you at least have a look at it? We wanna get finished up ASAP like...money's no issue.– Mack (John Paul Foliaki) begs Ed (Temuera Morrison) for help with their damaged boat
White Balance Pictures
Made in association with the government's Te Puna Kairangi Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund, and NZ On Air
Completed with the assistance of the Screen Production Recovery Fund, and the Screen Production Grant
Made in association with Sundance Now
Excerpt from David White's book about the events that inspired Far North, The Post, August 2023
Interview with Far North creator David White, The Spinoff, August 2023
Interview with actors Robyn Malcolm and Temuera Morrison, The NZ Herald, August 2023
Radio and print interview with David White & Robyn Malcolm, RNZ, August 2023
Log in
×