Westside

New Zealand joins together for the Commonwealth Games as Ted West gets out of jail after a three year stretch for the Smith & Caughey’s cock up. Ted finds he’s been deposed as leader of his gang, and is determined to root out the rat who put him in jail. On the home front, Wolf resents his father being back, and Rita has problems of her own, including a tenacious young admirer. But should Ted go out on his own to prove his mettle? He has a lot to prove if he’s to get back on top of his game.

As Ted’s away on a job, a bored Rita pursues other interests. And Wolf’s act of vandalism starts a war with the Doslic neighbours. Ted’s jewellery tribute to Rita inspires Wolf to make amends to his mother, as Rita embarks on a bold plan to get her own career. But peace making Ted finds the Dallies have more to recommend them than wine . . . One of them has skills Ted can use to best his personal great white whale, the safe at a mine. But the job comes with unexpected complications and Rita will have to work the angles to save her husband, and achieve her dream.

Rita doesn’t take kindly to Phineas giving Carol the bash, as Ted’s latest payroll job in South Auckland is interrupted by cops. Ted finds they’re not after the gang, they’re deporting overstayers in Dawn Raids. Rita takes in Carol, as Ted takes on a homeless disco dancing overstayer by the name of Falani and champions his cause. But their good works backfire - as Mike becomes suspicious about why Ted’s been in South Auckland, and Carol’s newfound recklessness threatens to rebound on Rita and Ngaire. Rita attempts to contain the damage, as Ted seeks justice for Falani, and a way to complete the heist…

When Bert is exposed as a rat, Rita takes extreme action. Ted’s angry response provokes the revelation that Rita once tried to kill someone closer to home: Wolf. Unable to face her son, Rita joins Carol in town for a life of sex, drugs, art and rock and roll. Ted is bereft and the gang are in disarray as Bilkey proposes a new work opportunity through a guy called Marty Johnstone. At a wild party, Ted meets Rita, and embarks on an ambitious robbery, which gets him into hot water. Rita is seeing the downside of party life and fears for Carol, as Ted brokers a deal with the dealers. As Ted and Rita both make a stand, maybe there’s a chance they can be reunited.

Rita goes to Ted’s aid – and he’s covered in blood. How did this happen? Bert, desperate to be back in the gang, offers a lead on an ambitious new heist. As Rita discovers that Wolf has a secret life and a sassy punk girlfriend, Anne-Marie. Rita is determined to be reacquainted with this paragon, and also plays match maker to reunite Phineas and Carol. Anne-Marie’s father has skills that can help the job and it’s full steam ahead - until it all goes horribly wrong. The deadly fallout leads to recriminations, violence and heartbreak. Ted and Rita need to take charge to save the day, and the gang. And they also end up with a foster child, named Sparky.

Ted and Rita are rocked to discover Wolf has knocked up Lefty and Ngaire’s daughter, Desiree. Rita also finds Wolf has keeping secrets from her. He has his own proto crime gang and even has his own fence, Eric. Wolf needs taking in hand and Ted arranges a shotgun wedding and gets Wolf taken on as gang apprentice. Wolf chafes, but Rita counsels that he needs to prove he is cleverer than his father. Wolf heeds his mother’s advice, and pulls off a spectacular stunt to buy his freedom. But when he defends Rita from an enemy - it seems that despite his mother’s best efforts, he will end up in jail.