Hunter's Gold - First Episode

This classic kids’ adventure series follows a boy trying to find his missing father, amidst the 1860s Otago gold rush. The show displayed unprecedented production values, and demonstrated that Kiwi-made kids’ drama could be successfully exported. This first episode sees Scott Hunter (Andrew Hawthorn) steal away to Tucker’s Valley, spurred on by his unsympathetic uncle. In the background pieces, writer Roger Simpson recalls creating 13 scripts at high speed, and director Tom Parkinson writes about the Kiwi landscape as character, and finding the production team. 

The goldfields is no place for a lad of your age - do you realise it would take a grown man three weeks to get there? No Scott, you can not go to Tucker’s Gully, and I'll not hear another word about it.

– Scott's Aunt (Sue Dalison-Ryan) lays down the law

Key Cast & Crew

John McRae

Producer

Andrew Hawthorn

As: Scott Hunter

Ian Watkin

As: Robber

Tom Parkinson

Director

Ken Blackburn

As: Baddock

Roger Simpson

Writer, Creator