Savage Play - Full Series

This three-part miniseries was inspired by the NZ Natives rugby team, who in 1888 played the first of 107 games in Great Britain and Australasia. At front and centre is the romance between Pony (Peter Kaa, from movie Te Rua) — grandson of a Māori chief — and Charlotte (Liza Walker), the granddaughter of an enthusiastic English Earl (Scots actor Ian Richardson, from House of Cards). The tour provided the first exposure to Māori people for many in the United Kingdom. Savage Play makes the encounter look far more harmonious in the music hall than in the manor. The 1995 miniseries was shot in Scotland and Aotearoa. Peter Bland (Came a Hot Friday) cameos as the Prince of Wales. Check out the episode guide here. 

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

– Pony (Peter Kaa), early in episode one

Key Cast & Crew

Peter Kaa

As: Pony

Alan Lindsay

Director, Writer, Producer

Piripi Waretini

As: Tabby

Rena Owen

As: Takiora

Liza Walker

As: Charlotte

David Hannay

Producer