''Shark in the Park'' is a New Zealand police procedural. It revolved around the professional and private lives of a group of officers at a

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

police station under the command of Inspector Brian "Sharky" Finn. The title came from the informal code term used by officers to indicate that the Inspector was about and they should "look busy". The series ran for three series from 1989–92, totalling 38 episodes. Many of the cast had regular roles in the series and several became well known throughout New Zealand as a result of the series. The show also featured actors in guest roles, among them

Lucy Lawless Lucille Frances Lawless (; born 29 March 1968) is a New Zealand actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Xena in the television series '' Xena: Warrior Princess'', as D'Anna Biers on the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' seri ...

Michael Hurst Michael Eric Hurst ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a British-born New Zealand actor, director and writer. He is known internationally for acting in the television programs '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' and companion series '' Xena: ...

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and

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. The series was produced by the Gibson Group and broadcast by Television One – it has since been repeated on

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. Writers for the show included

Fran Walsh Dame Frances Rosemary Walsh (born 10 January 1959) is a New Zealand screenwriter and film producer. The partner of filmmaker Peter Jackson, Walsh has contributed to all of their films since 1989: as co-writer since '' Meet the Feebles'', and ...

, later to become well known through her association with Peter Jackson and her work on films such as the ''

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'' films.

Cast and characters

Main cast

* Jeffrey Thomas as Inspector Brian Finn * K. J. Wilson as Sergeant Ian Jesson *Russell Smith as Detective Bernie Gregory *

William Kircher William Kircher (born 23 May 1958) is a New Zealand actor. William Kircher first came to prominence in New Zealand television in the police drama series ''Shark in the Park''. Life and career Kircher is married to Nicole Chesterman Kircher and t ...

as B.P. *

Rima Te Wiata Heather Rima Te Wiata (born 15 March 1963) is a New Zealand singer, comedian and stage, film and television actress. Early life Te Wiata was born in London, the only child of opera singer Inia Te Wiata and actress Beryl Te Wiata. She is of ...

as Jacko (series 1–2) *Joanna Briant as Margaret "Wally" Wallace * Robert Pollock as Dingo (series 1–2) *Geoffrey Heath as Roger Blackman * Grant Tilly as Inspector Englebretsen (series 2–3) *

Nathaniel Lees Nathaniel Lees is a New Zealand theatre actor and director and film actor of Samoan descent, best known for film roles in ''The Matrix Reloaded'', '' The Matrix Revolutions'' and '' The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' and for starring in '' Y ...

as Barker (series 2–3) *Darren Young as Om (series 2–3)

Recurring cast

*John Wraight as Smudge * David Geary as Gerald *Brett Bailey as UB1 (Uniform Branch 1) *Des Stephens as UB1 (Uniform Branch 1) *Jon Pheloung as Nifty

Guest cast

* Neil Gudsell as Constable Ra (series 1) *

Jenny Ludlam Jennifer Kay "Jenny" Ludlam (born 23 July 1951 in Taumarunui, New Zealand) is a New Zealand-born actress, who remains best known for her roles in Australian television. Acting roles In Australia, she was a regular cast member in the short-li ...

as Diane (series 1) / Josie Tucker (series 2) * Mark Wright as Tony (series 1) *

Robyn Malcolm Robyn Jane Malcolm (born 15 March 1965) is a New Zealand actress, who first gained recognition for her role as nurse Ellen Crozier on the New Zealand soap opera '' Shortland Street''. She is best known for six seasons of playing Cheryl West, ma ...

as Janice (series 1) / Janet Finn (series 2–3) *

Alan Brough Alan Brough (; born 1967) is a New Zealand actor, television and radio host and comedian based in Australia. Career Early life Brough worked as an actor in Wellington and Auckland, mainly in live theatre. He also appeared in a series of butter c ...

(series 1) * Ken Blackburn as Superintendent (series 2–3)

Episodes

Series 1 (1989)

Series 2 (1990)

Series 3 (1991)

References

External links

*
Shark in the ParkThe Gibson GroupNga Taonga Sound & Vision
1980s New Zealand television series 1990s New Zealand television series 1989 New Zealand television series debuts 1991 New Zealand television series endings New Zealand drama television series Police procedural television series Television shows funded by NZ on Air Television shows set in Wellington TVNZ 1 original programming {{NewZealand-tv-prog-stub