When Outrageous Fortune debuted on New Zealand TV screens 20 years ago, west Auckland was as much a star of the show as its stellar cast. Two decades on, Te Kōpua Henderson continues to be a centre for creativity and entertainment beyond the fictional West family.
On 18 July, old and new west Auckland will celebrate together at a special, open-to-the public ticketed event to celebrate Outrageous Fortune’s 20th anniversary. Fans will have the chance to relive some of the show’s drama, laughs and antics and get the inside goss from its talented creators.
Book your tickets now.
‘Outrageous Fortune – In Conversation with Rachel Lang & James Griffin’, will be hosted by Auckland Council’s Te Puna Creative Hub and the New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) in Te Puna Creative Hub’s Kōmanawa Theatre.
Te Puna Creative Hub, at the heart of Te Puna Creative Innovation Quarter, is housed in the former Whoa! Studios building on Henderson Valley Road. The hub is homebase for a growing number of long- and short-term creative industries tenants.
“With west Auckland’s pedigree as a sought-after centre for local and international screen productions, it’s perfect that a celebration of one of our most enduring TV shows is happening at Te Puna Creative Hub,” says Jasmine Millet, Head of Sector Development at the Economic Development Office in Auckland Council.
Kate Rodger will MC the Friday-night event, and there will be prizes for the best Outrageous-inspired westie costumes.
Actor Antonia Prebble, who played Loretta West, says the first Outrageous Fortune episode aired “half my age ago.” She adds that if she ever watches an episode she is transported straight back to that time.
“We felt a kind of magic on set. That the legacy has endured is quite startling,” Prebble told Newstalk ZB.
Fans are encouraged to book their tickets now and get their best Cheryl West-style costumes sorted.
“This is a one-night-only live conversation. The writers are expected to share behind-the-scenes stories, iconic clips from the show, wild moments, and the writing magic that made Outrageous Fortune and its prequel Westside cultural phenomena,” Millet says.
Whether you're a diehard fan, a writer, or just love Kiwi screen successes, join the writers, fans and some of the actors in the heart of west Auckland at the Kōmanawa Theatre, Te Puna Creative Hub, Henderson.
Step back to 2005 and celebrate Outrageous Fortune on Friday, 18 July 2025.
More information about this event is available on OurAuckland.
With Te Kōpua Henderson at its centre, Auckland’s screen production sector is a vital part of the local economy, delivering $940 million to the region’s economy in 2024, with 1700 businesses employing 4300 people. Source: Infometrics
Learn more about Auckland Council’s Te Puna Creative Hub via the video below, a new home for screen, media, digital and creative technology, art, game development, music and performing arts.
