Goodbye Pork Pie

Goodbye Pork Pie

Year: 1980

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Geoff Murphy

ComedyAdventure

Gerry hires a car in Kaitaia with a stolen licence and travels to Invercargill with John, whose wife has just left him. The ultimate New Zealand road trip adventure.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Goodbye Pork Pie (1980)

Trace every key event in Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Gerry steals a wallet and rents a yellow Mini

In Kaitaia, spring 1978, Gerry Austin, nicknamed Blondini, steals a wallet and uses the cash and a driver’s license to rent a bright yellow Mini. With no plan beyond wandering, he heads south toward Auckland. The car becomes the catalyst for a cross-country spree.

Spring 1978 Kaitaia
2

John and Sue's unresolved relationship

In Auckland, John tries to persuade his girlfriend Sue to stay with him, but fails to win her over. His attempt to salvage the relationship sets the stage for a broader escape to Invercargill. The tension between personal life and a roadbound plan weighs on both men.

Spring 1978 Auckland
3

John saves Gerry from a seat belt ticket

While searching for transport, John intervenes when Gerry nearly gets fined for not wearing a seat belt. Grateful, Gerry offers John a ride for part of the way. The two men form an uneasy alliance that kicks off their shared journey.

Spring 1978 Auckland area
4

Unpaid petrol and a growing police tail

The pair stop for petrol in northern Waikato but drive off without paying, drawing police attention. They scramble to stay ahead as the heat tightens around them. This petty theft marks the start of a pattern that defines their reckless road trip.

Spring 1978 Northern Waikato
5

Shirl joins, Gerry bets on changing her status

Gerry and John pick up Shirl, a virgin traveling to Wanganui, and Gerry bets he can alter her status before they reach the city. They keep stealing petrol in the central North Island, triggering a motorcycle pursuit. They avoid arrest by driving into a car wrecker, continuing their odyssey.

Spring 1978 Central North Island/Wanganui
6

Mulvaney funds the trip; reunion with Shirl

Arriving in Wellington, Mulvaney, an old associate of John, funds them with money and drugs in exchange for parts of the car. Gerry reunites with Shirl at Mulvaney's garage, cementing their makeshift crew. The trio prepares for the Interislander crossing.

Next morning Mulvaney's garage, Wellington
7

Escape onto the Interislander ferry

As dawn breaks, Gerry runs a red light and they are chased by police through central Wellington. They evade capture by driving through Wellington railway station and stowing the Mini in an empty boxcar being shunted toward the ferry. The escape marks a turning point as they cross to the South Island.

Morning Wellington
8

Boxcar journey to Christchurch; a wild night

In Picton, the boxcar is attached to a train bound for Christchurch, and the trio turns the ride into a moving party, decorating the interior with Blondini branding. After a night of revelry, Gerry wins his bet with Shirl and feels the journey might end soon. They discover the wagon won't leave until that night, so they press on to Christchurch.

Picton–Christchurch, night Picton to Christchurch
9

Shirl's arrest and the Lake Hawea pursuit

Stopping at a tearoom along the coast, they learn Shirl has been arrested for shoplifting and that a national manhunt is underway for the Blondini Gang. The Mini is pursued along the Lake Hawea corridor, and a policeman nearly catches them before a combine harvester blocks the road. Gerry stops to help the officer and mocks the radio chatter about the chase.

South Island leg Lake Hawea, Otago
10

Cromwell and Dunedin: Snout and the flags

At Cromwell and later Dunedin, they meet Snout, a volatile character who buys Gerry’s flags and helps them dodge roadblocks. Gerry initially resists the superstition of the flags, but relents under John's urging to stay safe. Snout then tips off the police that they are heading for Invercargill.

South Island leg Cromwell to Dunedin
11

McNab confrontation and the PIT

In McNab, John is spotted by the police and drives off in the Mini, unaware that Gerry is hidden underneath. Gerry is eventually arrested, but escapes from the police car and leaps onto the fleeing Mini. The pursuit ends with a PIT maneuver that hurls him off the car, leaving John to press on toward Invercargill.

Late Journey McNab, Southland
12

Invercargill finale: explosion and surrender

John arrives in Invercargill to a cheering crowd as the Blondini legend grows. Armed Offenders Squad shoot a hole in his petrol can, forcing a desperate sprint through a cemetery. The leaking petrol ignites and destroys the Mini as John reunites with Sue; police surround the scene and John surrenders, joking for the onlookers as he is taken away.

Ending Invercargill

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:59

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Goodbye Pork Pie Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Goodbye Pork Pie

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