Fire-Raiser, the (1986)

A five-part series about a group of children who set out to uncover an arsonist who is destroying their small New Zealand town.

1) The Red Balaclava (24/8/1986)
Jessop, 1915. Who is the mysterious fire-raiser, and where will he strike next?
Edgar Marwick JON TRIMMER
Mrs Marwick ELIZABETH MOODY
Clippy Hedges PETER HAYDEN
Phil Miller MILES MURPHY
Kitty Wix ALIX CHAPMAN
Noel Wix DARRYL BEATTIE
Irene Chalmers EMMA VERE-JONES
Frau Stauffel DONNA AKERSTEN
Mrs Bolton ANNE BUDD
Mr Wix GERALD BRYAN
Mrs Wix JANE WADDELL
Mr Chalmers DAVID CAMERON
Mrs Chalmers HELEN MOULDER
Sergeant McCaa EDWARD CAMPBELL
Writer MAURICE GEE
Producer GINETTE MCDONALD
Director PETER SHARP

2) Chalmers Warehouse
Kitty recognises the fire-raiser, while the situation heats up for Noel and Phil.
Edgar Marwick JON TRIMMER
Mrs Marwick ELIZABETH MOODY
Clippy Hedges PETER HAYDEN
Phil Miller MILES MURPHY
Kitty Wix ALIX CHAPMAN
Noel Wix DARRYL BEATTIE
Irene Chalmers EMMA VERE-JONES
Frau Stauffel DONNA AKERSTEN
Mrs Bolton ANNE BUDD
Mr Wix GERALD BRYAN
Mr Chalmers DAVID CAMERON
Mrs Chalmers HELEN MOULDER
Sergeant McCaa EDWARD CAMPBELL
Writer MAURICE GEE
Producer GINETTE MCDONALD
Director PETER SHARP

3) Kitty Plays the Piano
Irene jams the works and the boys are hot on the trail.
Edgar Marwick JON TRIMMER
Mrs Marwick ELIZABETH MOODY
Clippy Hedges PETER HAYDEN
Phil Miller MILES MURPHY
Kitty Wix ALIX CHAPMAN
Noel Wix DARRYL BEATTIE
Irene Chalmers EMMA VERE-JONES
Mr Wix GERALD BRYAN
Mr Chalmers DAVID CAMERON
Mrs Chalmers HELEN MOULDER
Sergeant McCaa EDWARD CAMPBELL
Writer MAURICE GEE
Producer GINETTE MCDONALD
Director PETER SHARP

4) Britannia Meets the Kaiser: War fever smoulders in Jessop and Clippy makes a proposal.
Edgar Marwick JON TRIMMER
Mrs Marwick ELIZABETH MOODY
Clippy Hedges PETER HAYDEN
Phil Miller MILES MURPHY
Kitty Wix ALIX CHAPMAN
Noel Wix DARRYL BEATTIE
Irene Chalmers EMMA VERE-JONES
Mr Wix GERALD BRYAN
Mr Chalmers DAVID CAMERON
Mrs Chalmers HELEN MOULDER
Sergeant McCaa EDWARD CAMPBELL
Writer MAURICE GEE
Producer GINETTE MCDONALD
Director PETER SHARP

5) The White Lady
The school goes swimming and Miss Perez lends a hand. (Final)
Edgar Marwick JON TRIMMER
Mrs Marwick ELIZABETH MOODY
Clippy Hedges PETER HAYDEN
Phil Miller MILES MURPHY
Kitty Wix ALIX CHAPMAN
Noel Wix DARRYL BEATTIE
Irene Chalmers EMMA VERE-JONES
Mr Wix GERALD BRYAN
Mr Chalmers DAVID CAMERON
Mrs Chalmers HELEN MOULDER
Sergeant McCaa EDWARD CAMPBELL
Writer MAURICE GEE
Producer GINETTE MCDONALD
Director PETER SHARP

A visitor to the site many years ago reported that TVNZ advised that 'The Fire Raiser' was not available for purchase. However, it might be on a list of kid-ult dramas from that time that the team at TVNZ were hoping to clear and release. It is a complicated (and time consuming) process clearing such series so there there was no specific release date and nothing ever turned up.

The show was voted NZ Best Children's Programme for 1986 

It was screen overseas in the UK and Canada, where it was released as the edited telemove Undercover Gang on VHS.

Thanks to Giles Lavery for the information about the VHS release.