''Diplomatic Immunity'' is a New Zealand sitcom that follows the misadventures at the consulate of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe'ausi and a fallen New Zealand Foreign Affairs high-flier who has been sent in to straighten out the consulate staff. The show screened in New Zealand on TV One, every Tuesday night at 10:00.

Synopsis

After a public disgrace, Leighton Mills (

Craig Parker Craig Parker (born 12 November 1970) is a New Zealand actor, known for his roles as Guy Warner in the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'' (1992–96, 2007–08, 2020), Haldir in the ''Lord of the Rings'' films ''The Fellowship of the Ring ...

) is sent to the Royal Consulate of Fe'ausi. He must stop the dodgy dealings of its staff and all the silly behaviour around the office including illegal weddings and April Fool's Day jokes taken too far, and try to encourage the immature ambassador Jonah Fa'auigaese (

David Fane David Rodney Fane (born 28 December 1966) is a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent. Early life and education Fane was educated at St. Pauls College in Grey Lynn. Career Fane got into acting quite late and trained at the New Zealand Drama ...

) to do the right thing. Meanwhile, he is attracted to Jonah's daughter, Leilani (

Lesley-Ann Brandt Lesley-Ann Brandt (born 2 December 1981) is a South African actress. Brandt has acted in a number of New Zealand television series and first came to international notice with her role as a slave girl Naevia in the series ''Spartacus: Blood and Sa ...

), and attempts to avoid the rest of the consulate staff.

Cast and characters

Main

as Jonah Fa'auigaese: Jonah is the Fe'ausi ambassador to New Zealand and brother of King Gideon, the reigning monarch. A Machiavellian master politician who can go from great eloquence to feigned fresh-off-the-boat-ness with consummate skill, he truly believes that all the dodgy deals and morally questionable decisions he makes are for the good of his people. *

as Leighton Mills: Leighton is the fallen rising star of New Zealand Foreign Affairs. Ambitious and urbane, Leighton was an aspiring diplomat. An unfortunate incident involving alcohol; the randy daughter of a minor British Royal; the backseat of the Queen's limo and the paparazzi, saw his fledgling career nipped in the bud. Leighton has been shipped north from Wellington to Auckland, as a diplomatic attaché, attached to the consulate of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe'ausi. *

as Leilani Fa'auigaese: Leilani is an intelligent, outspoken woman. But lately she has become a problem. Leilani has led the men of Fe'ausi on, while forcing them to listen to political ideas. Her popularity with men has made her extremely unpopular with the women. Thus Leilani has been deported to New Zealand, to be with her father; Jonah, who just wants to hide her away because she is severely endangering his chance to land the job of King. She has a phobia of whales. * John Leigh as Mick Fa'auigaese: Mick is a funny wee guy with a mysterious past and an even more mysterious present. With no morals to speak of, he's like a human cockroach, scurrying from one deal to the next and trying at all costs, to avoid the light. Mick is the albino adopted second cousin of the king. *

Mario Gaoa Mario Gaoa (born 1971) is a New Zealand actor, writer and director, best known as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy group. He is of Samoan descent. As part of the group he has appeared in the film Sione's Wedding; provided the voices of ...

as Malepe Fa'auigaese: Malepe is the son of a cousin of the King. He specialises in hanging out and looking cool - and getting parking tickets outside strip clubs, of course. * Kayte Ferguson as Suga Fa'auigaese: Suga is the niece of a cousin of the King. She has come to New Zealand to marry a rich white man, and to have many babies. Suga is officially, the consulate Tourist Affairs liaison. * Hannah Marshall as Kirsty: Kirsty is the effervescent, irreplaceable heart and soul of the embassy. She questions nothing and does everything that is asked of her. Kirsty is pretty much the only one who does any legitimate work round the consulate. She also knows everything that is going on and is quite happy to use her knowledge to stir things up a bit.

Guest

Natalie Medlock Natalie Medlock (born 15 October 1986) is a British-born New Zealand actress and writer best known for her role in '' Shortland Street'' as nurse Jill Kingsbury which she played from 3 February 2011 to 16 January 2012. Biography Medlock was ...

as Princess Grace: The French princess whom Leighton was caught with, which got him sent to the consulate. She marries Mick. *

Jason Hoyte Jason Hoyte is a New Zealand screen and voice actor and radio DJ. He has at least 25 television shows to his credit and is best known for his roles as Steve Mudgeway in ''Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby'' and Malcolm "Smudge" in ''Nothing Trivial' ...

and Johnathan Brugh as Brother Jacob and Brother John: Two brothers who want to marry desperately. They find it okay to marry more than one woman. They have a habit of asking Kirsty to marry them. *

Robbie Magasiva Robbie Joseph Magasiva (born 21 May 1972) is a Samoan-New Zealander actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and in theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Z ...

as Prince To'omai: Prince To'omai is the prince of the country of Fa'akofa. He is very handsome, but extremely stupid. He was to marry Leilani, but Leighton hides the key to the room where the traditional shagashaga is to be held, so the wedding was called off. To'omai likes many wives, who are blonde. *

Pua Magasiva Pua Magasiva (10 August 1980 – 11 May 2019) was a New Zealand actor of Samoan descent, best known for his roles as Shane Clarke, the Red Ranger from ''Power Rangers Ninja Storm'', and Vinnie Kruse in the soap opera ''Shortland Street'', both ...

as The Niu: The Niu is the carrier of the diplomatic pouch. He is an avid surfer and all the women in the consulate are attracted to him. His stupidity leads him to pick up a dangerous spider and bring it to the consulate. Leighton finds out he is gay. * Paul Barrett as Lewis Moorecock: A gay financial advisor whom the consulate adores. He writes them a musical about

Sir Edmund Hillary Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached t ...

. * Sarah Owen as Janice: A whale protestor who chains herself to the consulates fence. She has a vast knowledge of all whales. She also protests seal beatings. *

Michelle Langstone Michelle Langstone (born 30 January 1979) is a New Zealand actress who has been in many films and television series over the years in both New Zealand, and in Australia. She starred as Dr. Katherine "Kat" Manx in the television series ''Power ...

as Svetlana: a woman Jonah falls for. *

Madeleine Sami Madeleine Nalini Sami is a New Zealand actress, director, comedian and musician. She started her acting career in theatre before moving to television, where she created, wrote, and starred in ''Super City''. She co-wrote, co-directed, and starr ...

as Agent Amy Bickler: A secret agent who suspects Leilani of being a terrorist. She is slightly loopy and pretends to be Leighton's girlfriend in case people are secretly watching them.

Episodes

References

External links

* * * at

TVNZ , type = Crown entity , industry = Broadcast television , num_locations = New Zealand , location = Auckland, New Zealand , area_served = Nationally (New Zealand) and some Pacific Island nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, and the So ...

* {{URL, https://southpacificpictures.com/productions/details/348/Diplomatic-Immunity, ''Diplomatic Immunity'' at

South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street'' ...

2009 New Zealand television series debuts 2009 New Zealand television series endings New Zealand television sitcoms TVNZ 1 original programming Television shows funded by NZ on Air Television series by South Pacific Pictures Television series by All3Media