Kiwiana - Sneak Preview (Years 1-8) Release due 12 September 2025

Kiwiana - Plot Summary

First Half

Poppa Snodgrass is in hospital after collapsing into a coma. Cuts to health spending mean that if he does not regain consciousness within the next 24 hours, his publicly funded medical care will cease. When medical science has been unsuccessful, the hospital staff are required to offer ‘alternative’ potential remedies to the patient’s family. The Snodgrass family engage the services of a crazy Kiwi inventor (Professor Windbottom) who has developed a prototype machine to enable families to experience important memories in a patient’s life. What follows is a series of memories re-enacted in song, that could only ever be experienced in New Zealand.

Professor Windbottom explains to the family how he created his invention ((Song 1. Number 8 Wire). The first memory retrieved is when Poppa Snodgrass’ twins are born and his dream that they’ll captain the Silver Ferns and All Blacks (Song 2. Hold onto the Faith). However, as the twins grow up it soon becomes evident that representive sport is not where their passions lie. His son (Aaron, a music teacher) is inspired by the tales of Fredd Dagg and lives on a lifestyle block with pampered sheep (Song 3. She’ll be Right).  His daughter (Kelly) devotes her life to promoting animal rights (Song 4. There’s a Weta in my Gumboot). The first half concludes with Poppa Snodgrass reminiscing about his beloved Holden Kingswood (HQ) which he has owned from new in 1973 (Song 5. Holden HQ).

Second half

As the family’s desperation intensifies, they embrace a raft of increasingly bizarre remedies. None of which have any impact. A ‘chance’ visit from the local funeral director, only heightens stress levels. Meanwhile the memory machine continues to work successfully. Camping holidays at the local D.O.C. camping ground result in an unromanticised recollection of the quintessential Kiwi camping experience (Song 6. The Long Drop).

Poppa Snodgrass is an avid train buff. As an annual ‘pilgrimage’ he took Aaron and Kelly on the Silver Fern train between Auckland and Wellington. (Song 7. Main Trunk Line).

Long summer school holidays, when days were spent between the beach and homegrown entertainment are recalled (Song 8. Kiwi Summer). As Poppa Snodgrass’ deadline approaches, Nana Snodgrass decides that she must share with her family, the darkest family secret. Despite a 50 year grudge against the Aussies (Song 9. Keep Your Underarms to Yourself), Poppa Snodgrass is actually Australian by birth!

As the family struggle to deal with the earth shattering revelation, the hospital staff advise that time is up, and the life support system must be switched off. The only remaining option is for the family to pay privately for ongoing life support at a cost of $40,000 per month. Nana Snodgrass is beyond desperate, but they have no savings to pay for the ongoing treatment. Aaron suggests that they sell Poppa’s Holden HQ to pay for another month of care. This suggestion is outrageous enough to awaken Poppa Snodgrass from his coma. The family and hospital staff celebrate Poppa’s miraculous recovery (Song 10. Darkest Before the Dawn).