Trade Wars
Formats
Top 10
10 x1/2 hr
The kiwi obsession with real estate, is only topped by that other kiwi obsession – taking real estate and tarting it up a bit, whether by adding the odd bits and bobs like a new kitchen, or just a good ol' slap of paint.
So, who would of thought that our love affair with doing up our houses could lead to some right old argy bargy. Whether it's a new fence, adding a deck, or maybe that bathroom makeover – inevitably, something, or someone, goes horribly wrong…
While most builders and contractors are good, honest, folk, it's the con men, rogue builders, and general dodgy types that are the focus of new factual entertainment show Trade Wars.
The Trade Wars team is called into action when the work isn't quite up to scratch; is half finished, or even worse – not even started. Besides the shoddy work – some rogue builders even do a runner leaving the hapless homeowner out of pocket and in a worst state than when they first parked their ute in the driveway.
Trade Wars building assessor Stan Scott is the first on the scene. With senses as sharp as a whippet, his keen eye will soon spot protruding nails, bad plastering or live wires! If the culprit has done a runner, or won't show to face the music – waiting in the wings is Danny Toresen, Private Investigator. Dodgy types are usually hard to find, so it's handy to have Danny ready to don his designer sunglasses and use whatever means he can to find these cowboys of the building industry.
Once Danny has found them, John Green, our dashing building adjudicator steps in. John has had 20 years experience grouting the rough cracks in communication between angry clients, and rogue builders.
Every case is dealt with fairly and impartially, and a resolution is nearly always agreed upon – even if the parties agree to disagree and have the final decision made by the long arm of the Law.
Trade Wars is a series that uncovers the murky side of the New Zealand building trade, where secrets and lies often rule…. the Trade Wars team use humor and smarts to stand up for kiwis who have had no luck in resolving issues with their builders. So, if you are thinking about a renovating job round the home – remember Trade Wars, it might just save you the earth…
Episode Overview
Episode 1
A new series where the Trade Wars team of building assessor Stan Scott, Private Investigator Danny Thompson, and adjudicator John Green try to resolve building disputes, track runaway tradesmen and bring cowboy builders to heal…
Tonight, the team help three Auckland families left stranded with half finished renovations and out of pocket to a builder, on the run from a mountain of debt.
Episode 2Tonight, it's turf war as the team help Marjorie and Ian from Whangarei deal with a driveway gone horribly wrong – who's to blame? They reckon it's the contractor, not so, says him… Meanwhile, Marjorie bakes cakes for everyone!
Episode 3The team come to the rescue of a Cambridge couple whose house has been chain – sawed in half, and a South Auckland woman gets pushed over the edge by her bathroom contractor.
Episode 4Danny takes a trip to New Plymouth, hot on the trail of an Auckland woman's runaway builder and Stan and John find themselves in the pink bats investigating a leaky roof.
Episode 5Tonight on Trade Wars two former friends go to war over a dodgy deck, and it's back to the 70's as the team track down a builder who walked off a job 30 years ago.
Episode 6A dodgy builder runs off with a daycare's dough but the Trade War's team are determined to track him down for the toddlers, and a rusty roof and flaky paint send an Auckland homeowner into meltdown.
Episode 7The team encounter the hair-raising case of a plumber carrying out bathroom wiring without an electrician's permit, and a couple's dream of a shiny new home ends up being a load of rusty copper.
Episode 8The team are on the trail of tradesman with the 'gift of the gab' and are serenaded by a lounge singer with a very leaky lounge.
Episode 9A pesky pest problem creates havoc in the suburbs and Trade wars team close in on a runway builder.
Episode 10Tonight, the team help an American family left stranded with a half finished bathroom, and with the phones ringing hot with more complaints, we revisit some of the worst tradesmen.
