Erik Thomson plays George Turner, whose 800-word newspaper column once ruled Sydney mornings, but after his wife's death he clicks 'buy' on an unseen house in the fictional coastal town of Weld, New Zealand. His teenage children Melina Vidler as Shay and Benson Jack Anthony as Arlo discover the move via whiteboard announcement, their mother's ashes still in a box on the dashboard. The series mines comedy from small-town surveillance culture, where real estate agent Monty volunteers as firefighter, gallery owner Katie is part-Māori artist, and surf-obsessed builder Woody has traded Australia's waves for Weld's inconsistent swell.
Created by James Griffin and Maxine Fleming for the Seven Network, the show filmed across Auckland's west coast beaches standing in for Weld, with cinematographer Fred Renata capturing the collision between urban grief and rural curiosity. Three seasons chart the Turners' integration into a community where the local newspaper is called News of the Weld, the boat club doubles as social hub, and every McNamara family member holds a position of questionable authority. The series premiered 15 September 2015 and ended 2 October 2018, its cancellation announced via press release while season three was still airing.
The format proved exportable, spawning Dutch remake Zomer in Zeeland set in the province that gave New Zealand its name, though the original's specific charm lay in the mismatch between George's need for control and a town where the supermarket cashier knows your internet search history. The 800-word constraint that defined his Sydney column becomes metaphor for the narrow parameters within which he attempts to rebuild family life, while Weld's residents rewrite his story in real time.
Production Details
Seven Network / 3 Seasons / 40 Episodes / 2015
Created by: Maxine Fleming, James Griffin
Showrunner(s): James Griffin
Writer(s): James Griffin, Kate McDermott, Timothy Balme
Producer(s): Chris Hampson Chris Bailey
Main Cast
Erik Thomson as George Turner
Melina Vidler as Shay Turner
Benson Jack Anthony as Arlo Turner
Reon Bell as Billy
Paul Glover as Bill Jnr
Alex Tarrant as Ike
Rob Kipa-Williams as Zac
Jesse Griffin as Sean
Renee Lyons as Brenda
Rick Donald as Woody
Anna Jullienne as Katie
Michelle Langstone as Fiona
