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Bust Up: episode guide

Joy Ride

Episode 1
May 27, 2026
Written by Donna Malane, Paula Boock
Directed by Max Currie

A bank robbery shatters the quiet town of Waitote. Local cop Deb tries to stop panicked customers from taking vigilante action. Mihi has a shocking first day on the job.

Cast: Morgana O'reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata Fox as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sot Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matu Ngaropo as Matili (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Xavier Horan as Snr Sgt Batistich (Batty), Caleb Nazzer as Tyson Pivac, Renee Sheridan as Chick Pivag, Tatum Warren-Ngata as Shontel Bouzaid, Aaron Mcgregor as Fox Muirhead, Unaiki Stephens-Jones as Zalia Morris, Jodie Rimmer as Rita Brighton, John Landreth as Dave Brighton, Josh Thomson as Alex Macdonald, Molly Curnow as Deedee (Dank Teller), Kate Ward-Smythe as Bernadette (Bank Teller), Brian Rankin as Stuart (Bank Manager), Kerynn Walsh as Linda (Bank Customer), Emile Boyle as Stoner (Bank Customer), Peter Hambleton as Roundy Kelsey, Sienna Tiller as Maisie Rich

Deep Vein

Episode 2
June 3, 2026
Written by Annette Tahitahi Fifield, Paula Boock, Donna Malane
Directed by Max Currie

Deb and Mihi discover two young children left home alone and suspect their mother’s meth addiction has forced her into drug running. The cops step in to try to keep the family together.

Cast: Morgana O'Reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sgt Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matij Ngaropo as Matili (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Xavier Horan as Snr Sgt Batistich (Batty), Renee Sheridan as Chick Pivac, Unaiki Stephens-Jones as Zalia Morris, Peter Hambleton as Roundy Kelsey, Sienna Tiller as Maisie Rich, Sophie Hambleton as Lisa Morris, Matariki Whatarau as Cody Woods, Noah Law as Rocky Morris, Clementine Mills as Lena, Maateiwarangi Heta-Morris as Sonny Renata, Awhina-Rose Ashby as Anahera Renata, TJ Snow as Carlos, Christina Asher as Rawinia Renata, Naatana Mika as Tookie, Claire Dougan as Tamara (Dairy Owner)

Undiagnosed

Episode 3
June 10, 2026
Written by Donna Malane, Paula Boock
Directed by Max Currie

Les’ stepdaughter, Nicole, is involved in a car crash. Was it an accident or did someone deliberately move the road cones? And why is Nicole lying?

Cast: Morgana O'Reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata Fox as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sgt Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matu Ngaropo as Matili (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Xavier Horan as Snr Sgt Batistich (Batty), Jodie Rimmer as Rita Brighton, John Landreth as Dave Brighton, Peter Hambleton as Roundy Kelsey, Amelia Reid-Meredith as Nicole Kelsey, Matariki Whatarau as Cody Woods, Clementine Mills as Lana, Bryony Skillington as Officer Walcom, Tim Carlsen as Simon Tipple, Antonio Te Maioha as Tricky (Te Ariki) Renata

A Surprising 24 Hours!

Episode 4
June 17, 2026
Written by Holly Hudson
Directed by Awanui Simich-Pene

An out-of-control hen's night trashes the town, and it's not only the "liberated" crayfish that suffer the consequences. Mihi unwittingly outs her and Deb's history to the entire station.

Cast: Morgana O'Reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata Fox as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sgt Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matu Ngaropo as Matili (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Amelia Reid-Meredith as Nicole Kelsey, Matariki Whatarau as Cody Woods, Molly Curnow as Deedee (Bank Teller), Linyije (Ally) Xue as Sarah, Holly Shervey as Rebecca, Johanna Cosgrove as Caitlyn, Rhiannon Mccall as Amy, Courtney Dawson as Sophie, Bronwyn Bradley as Aunty Jo

Bucket List

Episode 5
June 24, 2026
Written by Donna Malane
Directed by Awanui Simich-Pene

Kelvin arrives in Waitote with a bucket list to complete before he dies. His first wish delivers a moment of pure joy, but his second proves much more complicated.

Cast: Morgana O'Reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sot Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matu Ngaropo as Matili (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Xavier Horan as Snr Sgt Batistich (Batty), Naatana Mika as Tookie, Antonio Te Maioha as Tricky (Te Ariki) Renata, Matt Sunderland as Kelvin, Mark Scott as Morgan, Paul Paice as Bob / Aaron, Ben Mitchell as Julian, Elisabeth Easther as Maddy, Celeste De-Freitas as Anika, Elisabeth Thomson as Dawn, Janine Burchett as Cherie

Gnoming In

Episode 6
July 01, 2026
Written by Paula Boock, Donna Malane, Holly Hudson, Annette Tahitahi Fifield
Directed by Awanui Simich-Pene

The mystery of Waitote’s wandering garden gnomes is finally cracked open. When Les is forced to step down, Mihi must step up.

Cast: Morgana O'Reilly as PC Deb Brighton, Roimata Fox as DC Mihi Renata, Nicola Kawana as Snr Sgt Lesley Kelsey, Arlo Green as Milan Haddad, Matu Ngaropo as Matiu (Much) Pohatu, Kura Forrester as Galatea (Gala) Rich, Henry Rolleston as PC Keith Cliff, Geoffrey Dolan as Sgt Peter Titley (Tits), Amelia Reid-Meredith as Nicole Kelsey, Matariki Whatarau as Cody Woods, Tim Carlsen as Simon Tipple, Maateiwarangi Heta-Morris as Sonny Renata, Kate Mcgill as Dr Vick Livingston, Ben Porter as Dre Davies