Heartland - Te Kuiti

Television (Full Length Episode) – 1993

This episode of Heartland gets political — presenter Gary McCormick is in Te Kuiti, the heart of King Country, during the lead up to the 1993 general election. There's an array of friendly locals, including antique toy collector Alf George, weaver Diggeress Te Kanawa, shearer David Fagan and All Black legend Colin Meads (the latter gets interviewed while drenching sheep.) Te Kuiti is Prime Minister Jim Bolger's turf, but the country's last first-past-the-post ballot is a nail-biter, leaving the 'true blues' sweating it. Meanwhile, Labour Party candidate Murray Simpson's night goes in unexpected directions.

I think Te Kuiti, this place here, is still the original New Zealand, you know? Everybody gets on, regardless of what social structure they are, they all get on very well. I think it's still a bit of old New Zealand.
– Murray Simpson, Labour Party candidate for Te Kuiti