Episode
1
NZ Screening date 11 February 2004
Five city girls - Kristy, Alexa, Kate, Jo & Lou - are
about to turn their backs on their Auckland existence for
six weeks of farming in Onga Onga, Central Hawkes Bay - a
grassroots community deep in the heartland of NZ.
There will be no contact with any urbanites, besides each
other. No cellphones, no shopping malls, no cafés!
This is the real thing! The girls selected for the farming
challenge meet each other for the first time, when they are
picked up at their Auckland homes, by nothing less than a
stretch limo. The last taste of city life they experience
before taking off to Onga Onga.
The girls arrive at Napier airport and one of the local
farmers, Presto, has agreed to pick them up - but the amount
of city girl luggage takes him by surprise! He manages to
squeeze them all in his ute and off they go, into the night,
on a windy road that takes them up towards the mountains to
the farm they will be living on.
The girls arrive anxiously at the house, but they have nothing
to be worried about - the house is warm, cosy and they think
they can cope with only 3 bedrooms! Alexa very kindly offers
the double room with the double bed to Lou.
The next day they head to the nearest town, 35km away, to
pick some haute couture - farming style. You can't go mucking
out the pigs in high heels and designer jeans!
Once they've got their farming fashions, they head back home,
eager to explore the farm right outside their back door. But
they are not ready for the shocking sights in store. As all
the farmers say, "where there is livestock, there is
deadstock!"
They come across a dead lamb in a freezing creek. They are
all upset by this and Kristy's first thought is to say a prayer
for it, but just around the corner is a huge pile of dead
lambs, which really grosses them out! But Matt, the owner
of the farm, turns up on his ATV with his little Jack Russell
on the back. Seeing Arthur wagging his tail, cheers the girls
up immensely.
The girls have an early start to their first day - 5.30am!
Alexa, the gym bunny, is the only one who seems to cope with
this time of day.
Lou and Alexa are working with Matt on his farm - learning
to drive ATV's, finding dead lambs, loading a dead ewe onto
the trailer, slitting the throat of a sick ewe.
While Jo, Kate & Kristy go to Presto's farm, a good 15
min drive away, to experience mothering on, caste ewes, slipped
twins and tractor driving.
Well it's been an interesting start to farming life for
the city girls - even the vegetarian, Jo has managed to survive!
But do the Aucklanders really have any idea of what is in
store for them over the next six weeks?
Can city girls really live in the city without the creature
comforts of home?
Find out on the next episode of "City Girls" -
Wednesday, 7.30pm TV2 |
