Airdate: Miriam Margolyes in New Zealand

Two part travel series Miriam Margolyes in New Zealand screens on ABC.

In the opening episode she travels the North Island, from Wellington to the far north of the North Island, where New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed between the Māori tribes and British colonisers.

As a dual British-Australian citizen, celebrated actress Miriam Margolyes has spent the past 40 years coming and going from her home in Sydney. But she’s ashamed to say she knows very little about the nation that is Australia’s closest friend and ally.

Now, Miriam’s been offered her first film role in New Zealand – playing a Kiwi Nun! She’s played a few nuns in her time, but a New Zealander?

Determined to overcome her ignorance and prepare for her new role, Miriam embarks on a road trip across New Zealand’s North and South islands to find out what it means to be a Kiwi today. And to understand how different it is from being an Aussie.

As she explores this far-flung country of just over 5 million people, Miriam uncovers a fierce, passionate and diverse nation that’s unlike any other. Along the way, Miriam confronts some of her own deep-seated prejudices: developing a new appreciation for rugby, a sport she “absolutely loathes”, as a well as a surprising affiliation with hobbits.

Spending time in communities across the country, Miriam digs into what makes New Zealand so unique – including the ways in which it is tackling the challenges it faces in the world today.

As Miriam discovers, New Zealand is a country full of unexpected lessons for us all, herself included. The result is an unforgettable adventure with one of the most keen-eyed observers of people on the planet.

7:30pm Sunday on ABC.