The New Zealand television series Top Town was broadcast on TVNZ from 1976 to 1990 and was revived in 2009. In a format similar to the BBC’s It’s A Knockout, teams from various towns across New Zealand would compete in a variety of physical, skilful and yet amusing games. Taking part in the programme would become a matter of great civic pride for many of these Kiwi towns, some of whom would become regular competitors, and was an experience comparable to many of those places involved in It’s A Knockout.

Initially hosted by Howard Morrison (a popular local entertainer), the first series in 1976 saw Whangarei become New Zealand’s first champion ‘Top Town’.

The Whangarei team captain was Kahu Sutherland, then a meat packer and rugby player for Northland, who would eventually become deputy mayor of the town. Other team members included Olwyn Batger and Alan Wilkinson. Such was the determination and civic pride, the 12-strong team was chosen and coached by ex-All Black, Sid Going and the former sports editor of the Northern Advocate (the regional newspaper for the Whangarei area), Gary Frew. Whangarei, the northern-most city in New Zealand went on to beat Tauranga and Christchurch, before winning the final in Wellington.

The 1977 series saw Howard Morrison host the programme again along with radio host Paddy O'Donnell. One of the perks for winning the series would be the chance to host the final of the next year’s competition, so a large crowd at Okara Park in Whangarei saw Greymouth beat Timaru, Waihi and Woodville to win the title. The Greymouth team captain, Tony Coll, a former New Zealand rugby league international, recalled that the support from the town was inspiring. On the return journey from the final, the bus had been stopped by a very large crowd, like they’d won the Ranfurly Shield, then as now, one of New Zealand’s premier rugby union trophies.

By 1986, the programme was being presented by Bill McCarthy (a popular commentator and presenter) and Paddy O’Donnell (a popular local broadcaster), with, and at least in that year, Melissa (Miss Top Town) and a champion Olympic kayaker, Ian Ferguson, acting as officials. The 1986 final took place in Fraser Park in the city of Lower Hutt, in the Wellington area. The teams were from Alexandra, Timaru (who won), Whangarei (who included in their team a future All Black, Ian Jones) and Waihi.

Kawerau who won in 1988 had to raise $18,500 to cover the cost of getting the team to Timaru for that year’s final. There they competed against Picton, Queenstown and the hosts and reigning champions, Timaru. The following year, 1989, Kawerau reached the final again, and the whole community got behind the fundraising and a song was penned for the occasion. They went on to retain their title by beating Kaikoura, Orewa, Palmerston North and Oamaru, and with it the right to host the 1990 final. There Kawerau again got to the final along with Wairoa, Cambridge, Winton and Ashhurst. This time though New Zealand’s Top Town would be Wairoa, in what would be the last final in that particular format of the competition.

Produced by Eyeworks for NZTV again, the series returned in 2009 although in a slightly different form, with hosts Mikey Havoc, Marc Ellis and Hayley Holt and commentator Nathan Rarere. Due to health and safety regulations the new competition was held at Jellie Park in Christchurch, unlike the previous version, where different towns hosted each week. On its revival, original host Sir Howard Morrison said, "Top Town was heartland New Zealand, where the real people live." There were some familiar towns taking part in the competition in that first revived year: Masterton, Ashburton, Papakura, Queenstown, Greymouth, Whakatane, Motueka, Oamaru, Taupo, Gisborne, Timaru, Whangarei, Christchurch, Otorohanga and Gore, although there was no sign of the 1990 champions, Kawerau. The victors would be Taupo, who beat Whakatane in the final. However, despite the great wave of nostalgia and initially good viewing figures, the series was generally a disappointment and it was not recommissioned.

by Paul Leaver