Savage Play - Full Series

I'm not as big as some rugby players, so I have to be twice as smart.

– Pony (Peter Kaa), early in episode one

Forget about your father. He's English. You can't expect much of him.

– Rewi (Wi Kuki Kaa) to his grandson Pony (Peter Kaa), early in episode one

You'll whip the British? Give them a hiding like I did?

– Rewi (Wi Kuki Kaa) encourages his grandson Pony (Peter Kaa), early in episode one

Why was I invited? Perhaps the Earl wanted a novelty for his guests. See how unusual the savage is. He stands upright. He speaks, and is relatively safe to touch and prod.

– Pony (Peter Kaa) is invited to the Earl's hunting lodge, in episode one

Their ferocious looks and midnight skins may startle you, but they'll be stimulating rivals for our local team. The unique Māori...

– The Earl (Ian Richardson) reads about the upcoming rugby game with the NZ Natives team, in episode one

He’s eccentric. He’s aristocratic, not necessarily like me, but it’s something I do rather well, I suppose. He’s a grandfather like I am. He has a troublesome granddaughter, which I sort of have.

– Ian Richardson describes his character of the Earl, in The Listener, 13 April 1996, page 36

One loss after I don’t know how many wins, and we’re back to being heathens.

– Pony (Peter Kaa), in episode two

I had never worked in my home country — which is Scotland — on any major project, so I jumped at the chance. It was an enormously pleasurable film to make. I’d never met Māoris before and I found them absolutely enchanting.

– Scottish actor Ian Richardson in The Listener, 13 April 1996, page 36

I would be delighted to receive your particular attention.

– Pony (Peter Kaa) after Charlotte (Liza Walker) tells him she will look after him, in episode one

Sir, you do realise I love your granddaughter?

– Pony (Peter Kaa) to the Earl (Ian Richardson), in episode three

There is actually a railway that runs under the city. True. In tunnels choked with smoke. You ride a train under the roads and buildings...

– Pony (Peter Kaa) describes London after returning to Aotearoa, in episode three

I'm told it is my fault that the reaction against us in Cambridge was so extreme. Those young men of aristocratic families took exception to my getting close to one of their women. It was up to them to put me in my place.

– Pony (Peter Kaa) on getting beaten up by players from Cambridge University, in episode three

By the time the Natives dispersed at Auckland in August 1889, they had played a staggering 107 rugby matches in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain (winning 78 of them), plus 11 fixtures played under Australian Rules. For much of the time no more than 20 of the touring party were fit, forcing those who were into a playing schedule that no modern team would contemplate.

– David Green, on website NZ History, 1 August 1889

The New Zealand Native Football Representatives’ tour of Britain is relatively unknown. The first New Zealand representative rugby team to tour beyond Australia, they played their first game in Britain on 3 October 1888 . . . the Natives′ tour was to have enduring significance for New Zealand rugby and society. The Natives had originally been called New Zealand Māori. After five Pākehā (non-Māori) were selected to strengthen the touring party it was renamed by its promoter on the basis that all 26 team members were New Zealand-born. This was untrue: two of the ring-ins had been born overseas.

– David Green, on website NZ History, 1 August 1889