The irreverent six-part series follows the lives of five twenty-something Māori & Pāsifika friends as they crash through life in urban Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, warring first with their cultural identities and then with each other. They are messy-ass bitches, doing messy-ass things. Season two see the series core cast return, with Scotty Cotter as Taaps, Aria Dehar as Ma, Manu Vaea as Pua, Rongopai Tickell as Liz, Tāne Rolfe as Heps, Tanea Heke as Mas mother, Amo, and Patrick Kuhtze as Mas father, Bruce.
While season one left them questioning Who am I? and audiences wondering if these friends could ever reconcile their differences, season two sees the gang explore their bad decisions made with good intentions as they try to discover Where do I belong?” They are still as petty, selfish, confused and making just as many hella-bad choices, but theyre trying…Where previously they were struggling to understand their cultural identities, they now embrace self-destruction and impulsivity in an attempt to own who they are. Community is rongoā – easy in theory, so much harder in practice.
Creator, writer and director Dana Leaming says, At the core of my Māori modern city existence has been my Māori brothers and sisters from different mothers and misters. My found community of friends in the city made us who we are. We fought, we drifted apart, some never got back to where they were, and some became lifelong friendships. We were safe, heard, seen and loved. Season two delves into what is important for our group of young Māori and Pasifika, what they mean to each other and why they have to fight for their friendships. They are their rongoā to each other, their sustenance amongst the chaos and isolation of our big capital city.
The show is produced for Sky New Zealand Originals by Ainsley Gardiner (since announced as the NZFC’s new Head of Funding) and Georgina Conder for Miss Conception Films (The Breaker Upperers, Cousins).
Head of Sky New Zealand Originals, Thomas Robins says, We are thrilled to return Not Even to screens across New Zealand. It was an honour to work with Dana and Miss Conception Films again to make irreverent comedy that showcases unique talent and authentic storytelling through a wonderful Māori and Pasifika lens that pushes the envelope of content in Aotearoa.
The show’s first season took the win for Best Script: Comedy at last years NZTV Awards. Season 2 premieres on Sky Open on Wednesday, 4 September, with all episodes available on Neon and Sky Go on the same day.
