A group of New Zealand forklift drivers working for a number of local companies will go head-to-head in a new reality television series to find the best forklift operator.
The World Forklift League is the world’s first nationally televised forklift driver championship says Maori Television and it will premier on the channel on Thursday, August 6 at 8pm.
Five teams, made up of a forklift operator plus one or two support crew, from companies including Fonterra, Cadbury and PlaceMakers will take part in the 11-week elimination series hosted by comedian Mike King.
King, a former forklift driver “from way back in the days when you didn’t need a licence”, says the competition was great fun.
“I was pretty good at it, but these guys were absolutely fantastic and very skilled,” he says.
Broadcaster Dale Husband provides commentary during the series, which is set in Dunedin at seven locations including The Octagon, Port Otago, Taieri Airfield, the Chinese Garden, Gasworks Museum, Vogel Street, and the Dunedin Railway Station.
All teams use a Crown C-5 Series LPG truck to perform challenges including “forklift golf”, which requires drivers to lift and navigate a giant golf ball around obstacles, and onto the green and “sugar rush”, where drivers must pick-up and drop giant sugar cubes into an oversized cup of coffee.
Produced by Dunedin-based Kahawai Productions, founder and company owner Brendan Butt says World Forklift League is a show the whole family can enjoy.
“It’s a good fun celebration of the factory floor workers who are often the unsung heroes in our community,” says Butt.
