Waverley Harrison
Encyclopedia
Waverley Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. She was portrayed by Claire Chitham
and was introduced as a love interest for Nick Harrison
who she eventually married 8 years after her arrival to the show.
was annoyed when her wacky country cousin Waverley Wilson (Alex
's Niece) began living with the McKennas after moving to Ferndale from the Taranaki. Kirsty was also annoyed when Waverley began working at Reception with her and even copied her hairstyle in a misguided attempt to befriend her. On the other hand, Nick
was quite taken with Waverley but unfortunately for him Waverley only seemed to have eyes for Stuart though her feelings for Stuart
were not reciprocated. After deciding that she needed some experience to make Stuart attracted to her, Waverley promptly marched Nick off to bed so she could lose her virginity. Nick was upset to learn that he had been used but Waverley soon realized that Nick was the man for her and the two began a relationship.
In 1994 Nick and Waverley managed to form a close relationship, however it was not without its hitches. Waverley thought she was pregnant, and so Nick proposed. However, when Waverley discovered that she wasn't pregnant, Nick quickly retracted the proposal.
Nick's best friend, Rachel, convinced Nick to take part in a wedding scheme designed to alert people to the unfairness of the student-allowance system. Nick and Rachel married, and while it was a marriage of convenience, Waverley was incensed and humiliated and decided to leave for Australia. Nick tried to go after her, but was stopped when airport authorities found marijuana in his backpack. Nick was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing with drug possession and gave up on Waverley.
In 1999, Nick and Waverley were preparing to get married after they discovered that Roger had another wife and his marriage to Waverley was illegal. However, Roger ended up returning to town in an effort to explain himself and Waverley slept with him. Nick forgave Waverley for her indiscretion, but couldn't forgive her when she cut all of his hair off. The two broke up.
In 2000, Waverley had flings with Jed Ferris and Fergus Kearney, eventually she chose Fergus over Jed and the two got engaged.
In 2002 Waverley decided that she couldn't leave Adam while his mother was injured. Nick and his son, Lucas left Ferndale for London. Waverley ended her relationship with Adam when she realised that it wasn't going anywhere. Waverley dreamed that Nick returned, but wasn't in love with her anymore and that he was with someone else. When Waverley awoke from her nightmare, she learned that her Nick had indeed returned! But unlike in her nightmare, Nick told Waverley that he wouldn't take no for an answer - she had to marry him! Waverley was overjoyed and accepted the proposal. However their first attempt to get married in a registry office was a bust, Fergus turned up and kidnapped the bride! Waverley convinced Fergus that she didn't love him anymore and Nick, Waverley, Chris and Donna helped Fergus escape from the police once again! Rachel eventually organized the wedding that her cousin had always dreamed of and Nick and Waverley were finally married. There was only one question remaining though, was the marriage legal? Nick had lost the marriage license and had made a fraudulent one so the marriage could still take place. The two got married in front of friends and family. Waverley organized Dr Marvin Ho to come into the clinic and organize a series of mammograms for the clinic's staff. Waverley was devastated when she learned that she had what appeared to be a tumor in her breast.
In 2003 Waverley initially hid her diagnosis from her husband Nick, not wanting him to go through what he went through with Ange and Jenny when they had been diagnosed with cancer. Nurse Anne Kahu eventually convinced Waverley to tell Nick the truth and Nick supported her when she learned that her tumour was malignant. However, Waverley underwent an operation to remove the cancer and was soon told that she was in remission. A thrilled Nick and Waverley decided to put their energies into something worthwhile and Dr. Marvin Ho (Daniel Sing) suggested that they try taking in homestay students. The Harrison's took Marvin up on his advice and soon Chinese medical student Li Mei Chen arrived. Waverley discovered that she was pregnant but she and Nick were suffering financial problems at the time and because of this Waverley mistakenly believed that Nick didn't want another child and considered having an abortion. In the end Nick found out about the pregnancy but Waverley's pregnancy was ectopic and she suffered a miscarriage. In the end, Waverley and Nick decided that they both wanted another child and agreed to try again.
In 2004 Nick and Waverley Harrison were thrilled by the news that Waverley was pregnant. In Shortland Street's 3000th episode, Waverley gave birth to a girl that she and Nick named Tina-Anne. Meanwhile, Avril Lucich joined Waverley at reception.
In 2005, a home invader broke into Nick and Waves house. When Nick heard noises one night, he assumed the home invader was back and aimed a gun at the intruder. It turned out to be Waverley back late however. The two decided to leave Ferndale for Taranaki after Chris and Toni's wedding. They had an emotional goodbye to their friends but Wave was shocked to learn Nick had forged their marriage certificate and they marriage may or may not be legal. They renewed their vowels and the Harrison family left Ferndale.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. She was portrayed by Claire Chitham
Claire Chitham
Claire Margaret Chitham is a New Zealand television actress. She is best known for having played Waverley Harrison in the New Zealand TV show Shortland Street, from 1994–5 and 1997–2005 and Aurora Bay in Outrageous Fortune from 2006-2007.She was already acting by the age of nine, when she...
and was introduced as a love interest for Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
who she eventually married 8 years after her arrival to the show.
1994-1995
RachelRachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
was annoyed when her wacky country cousin Waverley Wilson (Alex
Alex McKenna (character)
Alexandra "Alex" McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Liddy Holloway from 1993 until 1995 and again for a guest role in 2002.-Creation and casting:...
's Niece) began living with the McKennas after moving to Ferndale from the Taranaki. Kirsty was also annoyed when Waverley began working at Reception with her and even copied her hairstyle in a misguided attempt to befriend her. On the other hand, Nick
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
was quite taken with Waverley but unfortunately for him Waverley only seemed to have eyes for Stuart though her feelings for Stuart
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
were not reciprocated. After deciding that she needed some experience to make Stuart attracted to her, Waverley promptly marched Nick off to bed so she could lose her virginity. Nick was upset to learn that he had been used but Waverley soon realized that Nick was the man for her and the two began a relationship.
In 1994 Nick and Waverley managed to form a close relationship, however it was not without its hitches. Waverley thought she was pregnant, and so Nick proposed. However, when Waverley discovered that she wasn't pregnant, Nick quickly retracted the proposal.
Nick's best friend, Rachel, convinced Nick to take part in a wedding scheme designed to alert people to the unfairness of the student-allowance system. Nick and Rachel married, and while it was a marriage of convenience, Waverley was incensed and humiliated and decided to leave for Australia. Nick tried to go after her, but was stopped when airport authorities found marijuana in his backpack. Nick was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing with drug possession and gave up on Waverley.
1998-2000
Nick got a surprise when his former girlfriend Waverley returned to Ferndale after being away for more than two years. Nick was already in a relationship with Vanessa and took weeks to decide who he really wanted. By the time Nick had chosen Waverley, Waverley's husband Roger had shown up. Waverley got fed up with her dueling suitors and ended up running off to join a tour bus company in Rotorua. Waverley returned in the aftermath of a bus crash that injured Luke. It took several months, but Waverley and Nick reconciled and decided to get married. Only one problem remained, Waverley was still married to Roger and would have to wait a while until she could get a divorce.In 1999, Nick and Waverley were preparing to get married after they discovered that Roger had another wife and his marriage to Waverley was illegal. However, Roger ended up returning to town in an effort to explain himself and Waverley slept with him. Nick forgave Waverley for her indiscretion, but couldn't forgive her when she cut all of his hair off. The two broke up.
In 2000, Waverley had flings with Jed Ferris and Fergus Kearney, eventually she chose Fergus over Jed and the two got engaged.
2001-2005
In 2001 Fergus got caught up in an illegal immigration scam which resulted in the death of one of the illegal immigrants. Fergus was left to take the fall for the scam but was determined to marry Waverley and kept from her the news that he was wanted by the police for his involvement in the scam. Rachel returned for her cousin's wedding and quickly became suspicious of Fergus' dubious behaviour. As Fergus and Waverley were due to be married, the police arrived to arrest Fergus. Fergus fled from the cops, and poor Waverley was left jilted at the altar. Waverley soon started to grow closer towards Nick and soon Nick developed feelings for her again but it was too late, Waverley had started dating Adam. Nick gave her an ultimatium, date him or he will leave. Waverley was torn.In 2002 Waverley decided that she couldn't leave Adam while his mother was injured. Nick and his son, Lucas left Ferndale for London. Waverley ended her relationship with Adam when she realised that it wasn't going anywhere. Waverley dreamed that Nick returned, but wasn't in love with her anymore and that he was with someone else. When Waverley awoke from her nightmare, she learned that her Nick had indeed returned! But unlike in her nightmare, Nick told Waverley that he wouldn't take no for an answer - she had to marry him! Waverley was overjoyed and accepted the proposal. However their first attempt to get married in a registry office was a bust, Fergus turned up and kidnapped the bride! Waverley convinced Fergus that she didn't love him anymore and Nick, Waverley, Chris and Donna helped Fergus escape from the police once again! Rachel eventually organized the wedding that her cousin had always dreamed of and Nick and Waverley were finally married. There was only one question remaining though, was the marriage legal? Nick had lost the marriage license and had made a fraudulent one so the marriage could still take place. The two got married in front of friends and family. Waverley organized Dr Marvin Ho to come into the clinic and organize a series of mammograms for the clinic's staff. Waverley was devastated when she learned that she had what appeared to be a tumor in her breast.
In 2003 Waverley initially hid her diagnosis from her husband Nick, not wanting him to go through what he went through with Ange and Jenny when they had been diagnosed with cancer. Nurse Anne Kahu eventually convinced Waverley to tell Nick the truth and Nick supported her when she learned that her tumour was malignant. However, Waverley underwent an operation to remove the cancer and was soon told that she was in remission. A thrilled Nick and Waverley decided to put their energies into something worthwhile and Dr. Marvin Ho (Daniel Sing) suggested that they try taking in homestay students. The Harrison's took Marvin up on his advice and soon Chinese medical student Li Mei Chen arrived. Waverley discovered that she was pregnant but she and Nick were suffering financial problems at the time and because of this Waverley mistakenly believed that Nick didn't want another child and considered having an abortion. In the end Nick found out about the pregnancy but Waverley's pregnancy was ectopic and she suffered a miscarriage. In the end, Waverley and Nick decided that they both wanted another child and agreed to try again.
In 2004 Nick and Waverley Harrison were thrilled by the news that Waverley was pregnant. In Shortland Street's 3000th episode, Waverley gave birth to a girl that she and Nick named Tina-Anne. Meanwhile, Avril Lucich joined Waverley at reception.
In 2005, a home invader broke into Nick and Waves house. When Nick heard noises one night, he assumed the home invader was back and aimed a gun at the intruder. It turned out to be Waverley back late however. The two decided to leave Ferndale for Taranaki after Chris and Toni's wedding. They had an emotional goodbye to their friends but Wave was shocked to learn Nick had forged their marriage certificate and they marriage may or may not be legal. They renewed their vowels and the Harrison family left Ferndale.