Shortland Street

The series is a long‑running hospital drama situated in the accident and emergency department of a New Zealand hospital. It follows the staff as they navigate their professional responsibilities while also dealing with the complexities of their private lives, offering insight into both work and personal challenges.

The series is a long‑running hospital drama presented as a programme of episodes. Set in the accident and emergency department of a New Zealand hospital, it centres on the staff who work there, offering viewers a glimpse into both their professional duties and their private lives. Each instalment follows the day‑to‑day rhythm of the A&E ward, showing how the team deals with urgent medical cases while simultaneously navigating the personal relationships and challenges that arise behind the scenes. The narrative intertwines the pressures of emergency care with the more intimate moments that shape the characters’ lives outside the hospital. Because the setting is firmly rooted in a New Zealand emergency department, the show consistently highlights the unique environment of that ward – the fast‑paced, high‑stakes atmosphere that defines the work of doctors, nurses and support staff. At the same time, it gives equal weight to the off‑duty experiences of the same people, portraying how their personal stories intersect with their professional responsibilities. Overall, the programme offers a sustained look at the dual worlds of its characters, balancing the intensity of medical emergencies with the everyday realities of their private lives, all within the familiar backdrop of a New Zealand A&E ward.