The Life and Times of Te Tutu - Series Two

Episode One - News
It’s the 1840s and Māori rangatira Te Tutu (Pio Terei) and colonial settler Henry Vole (Jason Hoyte) are tired of the lacklustre news circuit in their town. They create their own newspapers, featuring sensationalised stories of pig slaughter, cricket games, and provocative illustrations of Mrs Vole (Alison Routledge). Meanwhile, upper-class fool Herrick (Jonny Brugh) introduces the members of Ngāti Pāti to the 'sophisticated' new hobby of smoking tobacco, leading to complications for Ka Pai Marae.

Episode Two - Marriage
Chief Te Tutu decides that it’s time for his daughter Hine Toa (Rachel House) to marry. He arranges a marriage between Hine and the vainest Māori in the country, Tame Whakahihi (Areta Ransfield). However, when Henry Vole’s brother Noel (Colin Moy) arrives to tend to his prized horse, Hine falls in love with him instead. Things go awry when the concerned Te Tutu and greedy Henry Vole get involved in their wedding plans.

Episode Three - Wires
Henry Vole installs telegraph wires in the town but is disappointed when a majority of the messages are for Chief Te Tutu and his family. Herrick and Tu Meke (William Davis) are inspired to become inventors, while the town’s fastest runner, Tere (Alvin Fitisemanu), comes to grips with losing his job as local message-carrier. Meanwhile, Te Tutu get his wires crossed when misinterpretations of telegraphs by Governor George Grey and Hone Heke spiral into the outbreak of war in the North.

Episode Four - Tourists
Henry Vole introduces the members of Ngāti Pāti to the great British game of golf, and tricks Te Tutu into giving him 200 acres of land to build a golf course. Vole invites crotchety Scotsman Angus McDonald (Bruce Hopkins) to test out his new golf course, in the hopes that McDonald will build a resort to attract more European tourists. But Te Tutu and his family are not convinced this golf resort would be of any benefit to them.

Episode Five - Art
Molly Vole’s disapproving sister Gertrude (both played by Alison Routledge) comes to visit. Herrick asks Tutu for advice on how to become a warrior to win over the woman he loves. Gertrude is enamoured with Te Tutu, and with the Māori art at Ka Pai Marae. She commissions Tu Meke to create an artwork for her to take back to England. Molly Vole hatches a plan to get rid of her unsuspecting sister.

Episode Six - Cop
Henry Vole tells the residents of Ka Pai Marae that they must start paying dog tax, which he calls MMP (Māoris Must Pay). He decides to hire policeman Larry Callaghan (Michael Saccente) to enforce his rules. But after being ticketed and fined for going about their lives, the members of Ngāti Pāti begin to feel that having a local cop isn’t such a great idea. Te Tutu warns Henry Vole that Callaghan may have designs on Mrs Vole. 

Episode Seven - The Candidate
When Te Tutu agrees to sell Henry Vole a square yard of land, Vole decides that this entitles him — and only him — to the vote. Henry Vole decides to run for a seat in government. Te Tutu receives a message from Chief Te Kino Nui (Peter Kaa) that he must marry Te Kino’s daughter (also played by Peter Kaa). When news arrives that women have been given the right to vote, Henry Vole becomes rattled, and is shocked when he sees who the new Prime Minister is.