Shocking new video confirms a significant number of New Zealanders have been recruited to join The Office Australia.
Across our mojo-less motu, the thought of crossing the ditch is never far from our draining brains. In June, The Guardian reported that New Zealanders are leaving the country in record numbers, with over 53% of those fleeing headed straight for Australia. The nurses are moving to Australia. The police are moving to Australia. The fresh produce fans are moving to Australia.
In keeping with this chilling trend, video seen by The Spinoff reveals that a significant number of New Zealanders have jumped the Tasman for life at Finley Craddick, the packaging company at the centre of The Office Australia. The Spinoff understands that four out of nine, or 44.4%, of the core cast are New Zealanders, with a few of us reportedly lurking behind the scenes as well.
We first raised suspicions way back in 2022, but this new trailer reveals huge developments in the great migration. Here’s what we now know about the NZ takeover of The Office Australia.
Josh Thomson plays it straight
People may be surprised to see Josh Thomson, beloved for being a completely unhinged addition to any panel show, in a more straight-laced role. Playing Martin Katavake, head of human resources, Thomson appears to get hit by his boss’ rogue hula hoop in an “HR nightmare”. The Spinoff was disturbed to hear the H of HR pronounced like “haytch”.
Speaking with My Life in TV earlier this year, Thomson revealed this exciting secret from life at Finley Craddick: “It was filmed in a real office and all our computers worked, but mine was the only computer that the cameras couldn’t really see,” he explains. “So I did about eight months worth of taxes and edited my wife’s web series.” Better work opportunities indeed.
Edith Poor is the Keenan/Schrute
You may recognise her from Rings of Power, Power of the Dog, and those Powerful Trade Me ads, but Edith Poor is about to be better known as Lizzie Moyle. Juggling many demanding roles such as receptionist, front desk executive and productivity manager, Moyle appears to be very much the Gareth Keenan or Dwight Schrute of The Office Australia.
“Do I want to support the vision of my branch manager?” she hypothetically asks the camera, unblinking like Hannibal Lecter. “At all costs.” Hopefully that vision includes raising crow awareness in the form of her pet crow Russell, who appears to be let loose with the gusto of Dwight’s bat nemesis. No crows in New Zealand, just saying.
Jonny Brugh is… a squatter?
Jonny Brugh (What We Do in the Shadows, Educators) plays Lloyd Kneath, the IT guy who sometimes sleeps at work. “The daily commute is killing me,” he says, surreptitiously walking through the office holding a trash bag of clothes. “It’s not a big deal, it’s been four nights this week, it’s nothing!” Maybe we should stop romanticizing Oz after all.
Lucy Schmidt is head of finance
She’s been in Shortland Street, Being Eve, Mercy Peak, and Maddigan’s Quest, but now New Zealander Lucy Schmidt is Deborah Leonard, head of finance. Surely a great job to have in a country reported to be much cheaper than NZ, but at what cost when your boss is apparently “a riddle, swallowed by an idiot, and shat out by a moron”?
Jackie Van Beek is co-creator
Jackie van Beek, known for The Breaker Upperers, Educators and the extremely Brent-esque Pauline on Funny Girls, has had a huge hand in The Office Australia. Developing it with Julie De Fina (Aftertaste) and also directing alongside Christiaan Van Vuuren and Jesse Griffin (Educators), she said she took the job from a place of outrage, rather than mojo-seeking.
“Thirteen versions of The Office exist around the world with this being the FIRST to put a female in the lead!” wrote van Beek on Instagram last month. “I took the job because I was OUTRAGED it hadn’t happened sooner, and I love The Office because I’m obsessed with mockumentary.” If Educators is anything to go by, we are hopefully in for a treat.
The Office Australia begins October 18 on Prime Video.