About
Police drama Mortimer's Patch included a Māori sergeant (played by Don Selwyn) among its quartet of rural coppers, yet the series only rarely explored Māori topics. Penned by Greg McGee, this episode plots a small-town twist on questions of racism, abuse of privilege, and the horse-trading behind which cases go to court. After a theft at the local takeaways, one of a trio of young Māori reacts to the racist perpetrator — a Pākehā businessman — by breaking the law himself. The guest cast includes Frank Whitten (Outrageous Fortune), Selwyn Muru and Temuera Morrison, whose only line is "Honky. Smooth honky. Nasty".
Key Cast & Crew
Related images
Bruce Allpress as Sparky, on TV series Mortimer’s Patch.
Photo supplied by Brian ‘Sarge’ Walden
Practical jokes on the set of Mortimer’s Patch: actor Sean Duffy is left at the wrong end of a camera crane with his book, after the crew break for lunch.
Photo supplied by Brian ‘Sarge’ Walden
A behind the scenes shot from TV series Mortimer’s Patch, taken on location in Helensville. From left to right: First assistant director Richard Barker, actor Terence Cooper (as Sergeant Doug Mortimer), and actor Don Selwyn (Sergeant Bob Storey).
Photo supplied by Brian ‘Sarge’ Walden
Terence Cooper takes time to catch-up on a book by Edward Everett Tanner (aka Patrick Dennis), inbetween shots on the set of TV series Mortimer’s Patch.
Photo supplied by Brian ‘The Sarge’ Walden
A mock-up of Cobham’s local newspaper created for TV series Mortimer’s Patch.
A mock-up of The Auckland Star created for TV’s Mortimer’s Patch.
A shot from an episode of Mortimer's Patch. Detective Sergeant Doug Mortimer (Terence Cooper) and primary school teacher Jenny Coombes (Shirley Duke).
Supplied by Michael O'Connor
