A contest designed to lift the nation's best forklift driver from obscurity began in Dunedin yesterday.
Kahawai Productions director Brendon Butt, of Dunedin, said the filming of reality sports series World Forklift League began in the Octagon's central carriageway yesterday.
''We are looking for the best forklift driver in the country.''
In the league, three forklift drivers from companies in Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and two Dunedin drivers - from the Cadbury factory and PlaceMakers - are competing for the grand champion crown.
The locations for the eight days of filming were the Octagon yesterday and today, Port Otago tomorrow, Dunedin Chinese Garden on Thursday, Dunedin Gasworks Museum on Friday, a car park in Water St on Sunday, Taieri Airfield next Monday and the grand final at Dunedin Railway Station the next day.
''I've been blown away by the locations,'' Mr Butt said.
A forklift golf challenge filmed yesterday and today had drivers lift a large ball with a forklift, drive through an obstacle course and place the balls on mock golf greens.
In the first heat, Mondelez International forklift driver Penny Yurjevic, of Dunedin, beat Fonterra forklift driver Kane Tekooro, of Christchurch.
Miss Yurjevic said she had been a forklift driver for the past nine years and her daily duties included shifting pallets of chocolate at the Cadbury factory. She was confident she had the skills to make the grand final.
''I didn't come here to lose.''
Comedian Mike King, who is hosting the series, worked as a forklift driver ''many moons ago''.
He recalled accidentally tipping over a shipping container as two men worked inside.
Mr Butt said the series would air on Maori Television later this year.
