Marlin Bay – Nostalgia Central

1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 4 (New Zealand)
39 x 60 minute episodes

Marlin Bay Lodge is a luxurious, hideaway paradise with a world-class casino, situated in the picturesque, subtropical Far North region of New Zealand.

Wealthy international tourists, rich corporate weekenders, corrupt property developers, and elite staff visit the resort, gambling and living glamorous lives.

Conversely, the local community (many of whom are Māori) are working-class people who work at the resort or fish the waters, and fiercely defend their land from outside exploitation with their own brand of bush justice.

The show’s overarching plot revolves around Charlotte Kincaid (Ilona Rodgers), the lodge’s fierce manager, who desperately gambles everything she owns to secure full ownership of the property.

She constantly fights off ruthless corporate developers, like Robert Glass (Mark Ferguson), who arrive with aggressive plans to permanently alter and exploit the bay’s natural beauty.

Kevin Smith starred as the slick villain Paul Cosic before he achieved international fame as Ares in Xena: Warrior Princess. Smith died in a 2002 film-set accident in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. He was 38.

Lucy Lawless made a prominent guest appearance during the show’s second season in 1993, just a couple of years before landing her era-defining starring role as Xena.

The series was created by acclaimed New Zealand playwright and screenwriter Greg McGee – who also wrote for Mortimer’s Patch and Betty’s Bunch – alongside co-writers Dean Parker and Chris Hampson.

Charlotte Kincaid
Ilona Rodgers
Steve Gannaway
Andy Anderson
Ginny Gannaway
Katie Wolfe
Gene Toomey
Mark Ferguson
Paul Cosic
Kevin Smith
Matiu Burrows
Pete Smith
Laurel Spence
May Lloyd
David Spence
Lani John Tupu
Hamish Saunders
Kevin J. Wilson
Michael Weston
Ian Mune
Gabriel Mayo
Jeff Thomas
Arnie
Ray Woolf