Storylines of Shortland Street

This article details the various storylines that have occurred on the TVNZ soap opera "Shortland Street" since its debut on May 25,1992.

torylines by year

1992

Highlights

* The first episode airs, featuring the now infamous line "You're not in Guatemala now, Dr Ropata!"
* Kirsty Knight (Angela Dotchin) is the victim of an attempted rape by Darryl Neilson (Mark Ferguson).

1993

Highlights

* Nurse Carrie Burton (Lisa Crittenden) gives birth to triplets.
* Dr. Leonard Dodds (Marton Csokas) and cafe owner Gina Rossi (Josephine Davison) marry.

1994

Highlights

* Nurse Steve Mills (Andrew Binns) and TP Aleni are killed in a car crash.
* The 500th episode of Shortland Street airs in April.
* A kiss between Dr. Meredith Fleming (Stephanie Wilkin) and Nurse Annie Flynn (Rebecca Hobbs) sparks controversy.
* Stuart Neilson (Martin Henderson) objects to the marriage of Kirsty Knight (Angela Dotchin) and Lionel Skeggins (John Leigh).

1995

Highlights
* Sir Bruce Warner (Ken Blackburn) revealed that Margot Warner (Glynis McNicoll) was not Guy's (Craig Parker) mother and that he had an affair which resulted in his conception. "This could explain the hostile nature between Guy and Chris (Michael Galvin)"
* After getting drunk and enraging a truck driver who raped her, scheming bitch Nurse Carla Crozier, Ellen Crozier's sister, managed to persuade him to kill himself by driving his truck into the clinic. Receptionist Kirsty Skeggins (nee Knight), received the full force of the crash, and was put into a coma. On waking a few days later, she could not remember the last two years of her life, including her marriage to, and love for, cafe owner Lionel Skeggins. Kirsty eventually got her memory back, but found her love for Lionel was gone, possibly never there to begin with, and the two eventually divorced amicably.
* In that same crash other characters, including Nurse Carmen Roberts (Theresa Healey), received minor injuries. While Carmen had complained of a bump to the head, she was adamant that she did not need admitting to hospital, choosing instead to be at home with her family on Christmas Eve. Her partner, Guy Warner (Craig Parker) had proposed to Carmen was attending to the baby when she dropped dead due to a brain aneurysm, leaving him to raise their baby daughter Tuesday (Olivia Tennet) alone.

1996

Highlights

* In April, "Shortland Street" marks its 1000th episode with an earthquake storyline and the murder of Bernie Leach, by his psychotic wife Carla (nee Crozier), nurse Ellen Crozier's sister. Carla then attempted suicide by slashing her wrists in the bathtub, only to be discovered by her niece, Minnie Crozier. When Carla eventually came to in hospital and very much alive, she turned even more psychotic and was eventually admitted to a psychiatric facility by Ellen. Carla then tried to strangle Ellen on one of her visits, after which Ellen cut all ties with her sister.
* Future New Zealand Prime Ministers Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark make special appearances in an episode involving Marj Neilson's exit storyline as Marj visits the beehive to begin her new job as an M.P.
* In the first of two one hour episodes of Shortland Street in 1996, the clinic staff are taken hostage.
* The second one hour episode of Shortland Street for that year is the season finale, and features location scenes shot on location in Fiji, the storyline being David Kearney's search for his estranged partner Ellen Crozier.

1997

Highlights

* The fifth Anniversary of Shortland Street is marked by the marriage of Dr. David Kearney (Peter Elliot) and nursing manager, Ellen Crozier (Robyn Malcolm).

1998

Highlights

* Baby Rose Crozier-Kearney dies of SIDS.
* Shortland Street celebrates its 1500th episode in May.
* Oscar Henry, the controlling ex boyfriend of Minnie Crozier (Katrina Devine), rapes her in her home after they split up.
* A pregnant Tiffany Marinovich (Alison James) slipped and fell from the roof of a high-rise while trying to stop a patient attempting suicide. The patient was later admitted to a psychiactric ward.

1999

Highlights

* Lionel Skeggins (John Leigh) is presumed drowned on his wedding day to Dr. Mackenzie Choat (Ingrid Park).
* Mackenzie murders Oscar Henry by making his hospital room explode.

2000

Highlights

* Shortland Street's 2000th episode features the wedding of paramedica Rangi Heremaia (Blair Strang) and medical assistant Donna Heka (Stephanie Tauevihi).
* Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett) and his partner, paramedic Ange Weaver (Katherine Hubbard) celebrate the arrival of their son Lucas.

2001

Highlights

* A cast cull leads to the exits of 14 characters, with new characters such as Nurse Toni Thompson (Laura Hill), The Heywood and Hudson Families coming in to replace them.

2002

Highlights

* Shortland Street celebrates its tenth anniversary in May, followed by its 2500th episode in June.
* After a tumultuous eight year courtship, Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett)and Waverley Wilson (Claire Chitham) finally marry.

2003

Highlights

* Tama Hudson and Shannon Te Ngaru are devastated by the death of their newborn son Ngakau Kahu, to Streptococcus B.
* Nurse Anne Kahu embarks on a scandalous affair with son-in-law Nelson Copeland.
* Dr. Geoff Greenlaw's body is found frozen in a chiller, sparking off a whodunit storyline that becomes Shortland Street's main focus over the following year.
* Nurse Anne Kahu is crushed and killed in a building collapse as the result of business mogul, Rex Treherne's (Raymond Hawthorne) shoddy building practices.

2004

Highlights

* "Shortland Street" celebrates its 3000th episode in June with an episode focusing on the two remaining original cast members, Dr. Chris Warner (Michael Galvin) and Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett). In the episode Chris struggles with his attraction to Lucy Swinton (Sally Stockwell), only to learn that she is sleeping with his old foe Dominic Thompson (Shane Cortese), while Nick and Waverley {Claire Chitham) celebrate the birth of their new baby girl, Tina-Anne.
* Dominic Thompson's return marked his second reign of terror, during which he frames Dr. Victor Kahu for Geoff Greenlaw's murder; murdered his PA, Avril Lucich by drowning her in a bathtub; left teenager Scarlett Valentine (Nicole Thomson) in a coma after pushing her down the stairs to prevent her identifying him; framed Bernadette Lucich (Avril's twin sister) for fraud and finally stealing Chris Warner's identity and money before attempting to kill him in a jealous murder-suicide ploy which resulted in Dominic being severely burnt in an explosion and dying after confessing to Geoff and Avril's murders.
* Shortland Street screens a one hour episode on Christmas Day, featuring the marriage of Tama Hudson and Shannon Te Ngaru.

2005

Highlights

* Chris Warner (Michael Galvin) marries Toni Thompson (Laura Hill).
* Nick, Waverley, Lucas and Tina-Anne depart Ferndale for Taranaki.
* Norman Hansen (Jacob Tomuri) dies following a car accident.

2006

Highlights

* On February 14, 2006, Shortland Street was the first soap opera to feature a Civil Union between lesbian couple, Maia Jeffries and Jay Copeland.
* A deadly virus outbreak in Shortland Street Hospital claims the life of Dr. Li Mei Chen a year after her boyfriend Norman died.
* Shortland Street films two episodes on location in Rotorua.
* The love-triangle between Huia Samuels, Dr. Craig Valentine and Dr. Sarah Potts comes to an explosive end when Huia is killed in a car bombing in the hospital carpark meant for Anthony Richards. Those responsible where never identified.

2007

Highlights

* Scarlett Valentine was a target of schoolyard bullying moved to Australia after she tried to run over ex-boyfriend Hunter McKay who also had his share on problems being underage for a safe sex campaign and for forming a relationship with widow Tess Adamson.
* Maia Jefferies desire for a baby led her use her brother-in-law Mark Weston as a sperm donor. The father's identify was discovered by Jay. After learning of Jay's death, Maia was consoled by her mother Yvonne and sister Tania when Mark announced he was the baby's father. Maia then went into labour.
* Sarah Potts marries TK Samuels, but their honeymoon was short-lived, as she returned to work after ex-boyfriend and E.D. head Craig Valentine suffered a heart attack.

* Toni Warner took son Harry and fled to Australia with brother-in-law Guy and his daughter Tuesday having discovered husband Chris with Rachel McKenna and then learnt of his affair with Justine Jones from Guy. They later returned to New Zealand, but as to what happened during that time has not been revealed. Their return in December 2007 ended with the four upsidedown in a wrecked car driven by Guy.
* From early July, a serial killer dubbed "The Ferndale Strangler", had the women of Shortland Street Hospital living in fear when several were found strangled with surgical procedures carried out on their bodies. The victims: receptionist Claire Solomon found in a rubbish skip outside the hospital; nurse Meg Harris found in a skip outside The I.V.; bar owner Jay Copeland found in bushes near the hospital; nurse Beth Wilson was abducted from her home and found a week later by river; and nurse Brenda Holloway was given a lethal injection on Halloween night by someone in a Halloween mask after discovering crucial evidence regarding mysterious cardiac arrests. Undercover policewoman Tracey Morrison, posing as a nurse, had a narrow escape when she was found sedated in a skip behind The I.V., markings on her torso indicated surgical procedures - she was moved to a safe-house. Gavin Capper and Justin Salt were arrested on an unrelated case. The police assumed Gavin was the Ferndale Strangler, however the last episode for 2007 revealed that the Ferndale Strangler was in fact, nurse Joey Henderson when he pulled IV tubing from his pocket and was seen about strangle nurse Tania Jeffries having learnt she was in a relationship with doctor Kip Denton.

2008

Highlights

* With the identity of the Ferndale Strangler revealed, viewers saw Joey Henderson fail in his attempt to strangle his next victim Tania. Joey then set his sights on nurse Shanti Kumari after finding out that she is betrothed to Dinesh Jivani, while also dating James 'Scotty' Scott. Joey later turned his frustration onto Alice Piper who he kidnapped and performed surgery removing her appendix. Alice managed to escape her 'prison' when she stabbed Joey's femural artery which began bleeding. Craig and Kieran arrived at the lockup. Craig found a bleeding Joey who pretended to die, as Craig turned away Joey limped off only to be pursuited and caught by Kieran on the roof. Rather than surrendering to the police, Joey committed suicide and jumped off the building.

* The aftermath of the high-speed car crash saw Toni, Harry and Tuesday admitted to Shortland Street Hospital and Guy was taken to Central. Tuesday and Harry have minor injuries, Toni lost one of her kidneys and later returned to work. Guy was seriously ill and placed in an induced coma for a time. Eventually Guy started drug rehabilitation at Shortland Street hospital under the care of Scotty and for a time refused to enter a rehabilition centre paid for by his brother. Guy later caused a sensation by publishing a book about the Warners and Chris' relationship with various women alluding to him offering promotion for sex which was incorrect. Guy left for the States and Tuesday followed soon after.

*Teenage cousins, Wiremu Potae and Tane Samuels returned to Ferndale as Shortland Street tackled the issue of teenage driving. This storyline's dramatic climax occurred when the boys along with Sophie McKay and Tuesday Warner become involved in street racing illegally modified cars. Wiremu had been warned by another of the boy racers that his car wasn't safe but ignored that advice and proceeded to race following an incident involving Sophie and one of the other boys. Wiremu with Sophie lost control of his car at high-speed when it hit a pot-hole and hit Tane and left him in a crumpled heap on the road. Justine Jones performed surgery on Tane and later told him he may not walk again. TK Samuels and Sarah Potts learnt from the police that car wasn't unwarranted and had been illegally altered. Wiremu was charged with operating a dangerous vehicle. Both Tuesday and Sophie are having nightmares of the accident. Tuesday admitted that she relives the car crash that involved her father. The two boys fell out and Wiremu drunk a full bottle of whisky which left him in a coma and close to death. Wiremu recovered; Tane spoke to a paralysed counseller about life in a wheelchair and plans to become a nurse.

*Dr Hone Ropata returns for Episode 4000 for 6 Weeks.

*Norovirus was identified on an incoming patient and Toni Warner unwittingly became exposed to the disease but thought it was a stomach bug which Harry had a few days earlier. On June 12, 2008 June, Sarah Potts found Toni asleep and woke her then realised she was severely dehydrated and rushes her to the E.D. Toni's close call stirred Chris' protective instincts and when her test results returned, it became apparent that her surviving kidney was irreparably damaged. Toni was floored at the news that she would need dialysis for the rest of her life. Chris vowed to do everything he could to care for her, and insisted that she moved back home. A reluctant but grateful Toni accepted, and Harry was delighted that Mummy was finally returning home. Due to an unexpected reaction to the dialysis, Toni's blood pressure dropped and Harry watched on in horror as Sarah, TK, Alice and Scotty fought to save Toni's life. Chris arrived too late, it's out on his dreadful shock he struggled to realise that Toni had died. A post mortem determined Toni died from cardiac arrest. A few days later Toni was farewelled at an emotional funeral. With Chris on bereavement leave, Callum was acting CEO a role Riley wants him assume full time.

*Problems with drugs supplied by Scott-Spear were found to have been severely diluted and some patients had died as a result. Among them was Toni Warner. Doctor's Craig Valentine and Justine Jones began to investigate the source. Anthony Richards, a former Scott-Spear employee, alerted Craig and Justine to a journal containing drug cover-ups. When Craig eventually got his hands on the ledger, he was pursued by Scott-Spear thugs who forced his SUV off the road and then chased him around a wooded area. Craig's heart problems resurfaced, which led to him being captured and burnt to death in his SUV. Justine Jones then became a target, and after discovering a bomb in her car, she used it to fake her death and escape with a new identity to Australia.

*The Whitetails gang continue to threaten the residents of Ferndale and several people were attended to by the emergency department. Chris Warner, Morgan Braithwaite, Ethan Black and Tania Jefferies were in the operating of one of the Whitetail stabbing victims when a gang member opened fire shots were fired at them by a Whitetail gang member to had evaded security and the receptionist, Gerald Tippett wounding Ethan, Morgan and Chris .

Births

Marriages

This list contains all the marriages and civil unions that have occurred on Shortland Street. Note that it contains marriages that were aborted at the last minute.

Marriages

Civil Unions

ee also