| AUCKLAND: TVNZ is happy that Pioneer House II has lived up to the ratings successes of the original Pioneer House. Pioneer House II is similar in theme to the original series with the exception that the family is now living on a farm. Producers have also added some more spice to the show by having the Pakeha family use the Native Lands Act of 1862 to take 300ha from a local Maori tribe to establish the farm.
Producers were particularly happy with the conflict that this land transaction caused between members of the local Iwi and the Pioneer family. These conflicts were quickly resolved, however, when the local militia rounded up the various Maori troublemakers and sent them to a forced labour camp in the Hutt Vally to build a railroad. With the removal of the disruptive elements, the Pioneer family has been free to get into numerous adventures trying to cope with life on a 19th Century farm. The success comes as a relief for TVNZ after their African version of the popular show, starring the Thompson family of Napier attracted less viewers than they had initially hoped. The production which was set in the war torn African nation of Burkina Faso ran into difficulties when the Thompson family's 14 year old son Roy was sold into slavery. A further snag hit the show when the father Max Thompson was executed for being a political undesirable and the teenage daughter Tina contracted aids after being forced into prostitution to support the remaining members of the family. TVNZ is hopeful that ratings will improve, however, when Roy is reunited with his family after the Red Cross rescued him from the hold of a slave boat off the coast of Ghana. |
| Pioneer House Sequel Proves Popular |
Sunday, 01 July 2001 12:00
