Axel is the town bogan with a heart of gold. He loves cars motorbikes and his Mum but resents his Dad who left when he was young and he never sees.

Axel makes a huge mistake in his new job, we learn more about how the relationship with his father has affected him & later at a party his unhappiness in his current relationship. All he wants to do is pack his bags and leave town.

Axel is feeling the pressure in his relationship with Katie so meets up with Grandad Pat who has been the main father figure in his life down at the local tavern. Pat hopes one day Axel and his Dad will reconcile.

Axel is starting to reconsider leaving town to travel overseas because his new job fixing trucks is going well. He’s and goes to see Grandad Pat for some advice but he knows what it will be even if he doesn’t like it.

Paige reflects on what turning 16 means as she struggles to get through high school with anxiety by leaning on her love of music and the love of her family.

Paige spends time with Nanny and the horses then sings a song for her that she has just written about her relationship and all the fears that she feels about it. Nanny gives her characteristically blunt feedback and sets her a new songwriting task.

Paige and Joseph tease each other in the school library about their relationship before Paige performs the song she wrote about him at a lunchtime talent concert in front of the school.

Paige has a bonfire party for Joseph’s family to meet hers and she performs her new song which she insists isn’t about a boy but Nanny and everyone else disagrees.

Shontoya is Leons quick witted friend who is heavily pregnant with a boyfriend in jail that shes going to give a second chance.

Louize ia one of the only women apprentice electricians in Taranaki and loves being one of the boys in the male dominated workplace as much as being one of the girls drinking wine Friday nights in her flat.

Louize is sad that her flatmate Breeze is moving out reflecting on relationships when her best friend Russiaan comes over to hang out with a guy he has recently started seeing. Russiaan tells how he was bullied at school for being gay but through pole dancing he is finally comfortable in his skin.

Russiaan and Papa install a pole in the backyard but it doesn’t work out so well so uses a friends pole dancing studio instead where he shows Teone some moves and they discuss how their relationship is going after a recent rough patch.

Teone has moved in with Russiaan and fits in well with family domestic life around the house and a passionate love life in the bedroom.

Russiaan reflects on how far he has come from being ashamed of his sexuality to proudly expressing it through his OnlyFans account.

Brayton’s devastating swimming accident that left him paralysed from the waist down but his friends have never left his side.

Kuru was head boy at high school but now having just left school is feeling lost and the pressure from Mum to get a job but the temptation to “chillax” is sometimes just too great.

Kuru finally got a job stacking shelves at Pak ‘n Save and mum is really happy he is out of the house and keeping busy but wants to make sure he still makes time to keep up his passion for singing.

Kuru gets a promotion to the supermarket butchery and sings a Maori folksong for his workmates. Later, he headlines at the Country Music Club performing the Prince Tui Tekka song ‘Mum’ for the crowd and his Mum.

Jordyn has just started to take the bus on her own and heads off to play basketball for people with disabilities. After the game she hangs out with her best friend Eden and they chat in Eden’s bedroom about boyfriends and pug dogs.

Jordyn lives with her Mum and

Jordyn brings her infectious enthusiasm to work with her preparing vegetables at a hotel restaurant whilst John is still struggling to find the enthusiasm to get a job.

Jordyn and John go on a romantic date at an Indian Restaurant where John fantasises about what kind of wedding they have but Jordyn still has concerns it will happen.

Leon and his best friend Eden drink in the yard and talk about love loss and being bitches.

Leon has got an audition in Auckland and tells Eden that if he is going to make it he is going to have to leave Taranaki.