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Testify: episode guide

Episode 1

April 08, 2024 (TVNZ 2)
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by David Stubbs

A Mega Church grows rampant by the charismatic youth Paster David and the entrepreneurial Jacobson family. When an estranged son returns from exile, hard truths and crimes of the past are exposed.

Note: the cast credits are the same for all episodes and are listed at the end of the guide

Episode 2

April 09, 2024
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by David Stubbs

Paster Scott goes into damage control after a brutal murder takes place. Meanwhile, podcasters Dana and Eden clash with the church at their attempts to out a young AVOW dancer.

Episode 3

April 09, 2024
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by David Stubbs

David, now disillusioned with his family’s church, looks to Dana’s podcast to preach his personal faith. Paul is investigating AVOW’s business dealings and searches his and David’s birth mother.

Episode 4

April 15, 2024
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Paula Whetu Jones

Paul’s childhood trauma is triggered when his birth mother is discovered. Then David struggles with the lies which, in an emotional outburst on Dana’s podcast, forces her to face her own family demons.

Episode 5

April 16, 2024
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Paula Whetu Jones

David’s birth father finally agrees to meet him, and is instantly enamoured. Paul loses his temper and forces David to take sides.

Episode 6

April 22, 2024
Written by Paula Whetu Jones, Gavin Strawhan
Directed by David Stubbs

Faced with the dark truth about his family’s past, David leads his followers to occupy iwi land and begin a new religious movement. Then Dana must choose a side as her friendships begin to unravel.

Cast:

  • Vinnie Bennett as David Jacobson
  • Ari Boyland as Paul Jacobson
  • Paipera Hayes as Dana
  • Craig Hall as Scott Jacobson
  •  
  • Jessica Grace-Smith as Emmaline
  • Holly Pretorius as Eden
  • Molly Curnow as Isla
  • Matthew Lee as Leon
  • Kat Browne as Jen
  • Kieran Charnock as Isaac
  • James Tito as Sol
  • Kael Munro-Nonoa as Mux
  • Joseph Rye as Henry
  • Antonio Te Maioha as Tohu
  • Trendall Pulini as Prince
  • TJ Snow as Hunter
  • Hans Masoe as Coast
  • Christina Asher as Nana Ivy
  • Kirk Torrance as Pā Heta
  • Peter Muller as Nate Young
  • Jacelyn Heta as Dj
  • Syah Stoffels as David 6yo
  • Eric Sharp as Isaac 6yo
  • Nixon Bingley as Paul 9yo
  • Kasina Campbell as Kali
  • Jackson Blomfield as Reporter #1
  • Zoey Wang as Yan
  • Ross McKellar as Snr Sergeant Bob
  • Comfrey Sanders as Cop #1
  • Tom Kane as Angry Guy
  • Syd Jackson as Manager
  • Oribé Maipi as Pania
  • Billie McKessar as Emmaline 14yo
  • Otis Cregh-Leslie as Paul 14yo
  • Becky Kuek as Reporter #2
  • Connor Amor-Bendall as Celia
  • Finlay Te Kaha Grey as Paul 4yo
  • Taika Bay Blair as Daniel 6yo
  • Briar Rose as Nation