First Hand - A New Breed of Hero

Television (Full Length) – 1993

This extended episode of First Hand sees a couple at an economic crossroads, and making the decision to move into self-employment. After finding their jobs in Auckland compromised, Alec and Sheena McDonald set out to find and buy their own dairy in a small North Island town. They end up in Awakeri, near Whakatāne. The lifestyle transition is far from trouble-free, as the couple must negotiate the worlds of bureaucracy and banking to insure their new business stays afloat. The documentary provides insights into running a small business during a time of economic reform.

We're known as far as Wellington for our ice creams, and Brisbane. They come down as far as Australia. We have people from Sweden come in. We get a lot of backpackers come through and stop for ice cream.
– Previous Awakeri Store owners Francis and Peter Dingle, on their famous ice creams