Ten TV shows we were all talking about in 2020

From the comforting to the confronting, the uplifting to the bizarre, telly kept us sane in this godawful year.  Of all the heroes we looked to this year, there’s one that doesn’t get the respect it deserves: the humble television screen. This year when we retreated to our homes to stay safe, old mate telly … Read more

Review: Taranaki Hard is a compelling tribute to small-town brilliance

Many of Waitara’s residents want to escape their small New Zealand town, but exceptional new documentary Taranaki Hard proves they might not have to. When Fati finishes a set of squats, bench presses or an early morning swim, his mum is right there to cheer him on. “Shake it out,” she’ll direct, while ticking his … Read more

Just a small-town boy: Taranaki Hard shines a light on being young in regional Aotearoa

Three’s new docu-series Taranaki Hard follows a diverse group of young people in Waitara, ranging from factory workers to pole dancers, students to sheep shearers. Series co-director Ian Hart hopes it changes the way city folk view small-town New Zealand. As a young boy my parents, looking for a new start, moved my family from … Read more