The Life and Times of Te Tutu - 5 (Series One, Episode Five)

In the tradition of Billy T's 'first encounter' skits, this series used satire to examine pre-Treaty of Waitangi relations between tangata whenua and Pākehā settlers. The topic of this fifth episode is health. After Te Tutu (Pio Terei) wakes with a bad back, his daughter Hine Toa (Rachel House) suggests trying out some alternative medicine: Pākehā bedding. Newly arrived Nurse Veruca (a cameo from Susan Brady) clashes with comical tohunga Tu Meke (William Davis) and stirs up symptoms in Henry Vole. Terei has commented that the show's take-no-prisoners humour was ahead of its time.

It’s like a waka that you sleep in…

– Hine Toa (Rachel House) describes a Pākehā bed

Key Cast & Crew

Matt Bowkett

Director, Writer

Pio Terei

As: Te Tutu, Music - Vocals

William Davis

As: Tu Meke

Ray Lillis

Producer, Creator

Susan Brady

As: Nurse Veruca

Alvin Fitisemanu

As: Tere