Anne Kahu

Upon the soap opera's revamp in 2000, part of the producers plan was to present a more community based setting with steady family links between characters.[1][2] It was decided to introduce a daughter for Judy whom she had adopted out at birth, the character of Anne was created to serve this purpose.[2] Upon her arrival Anne initially gets on the bad side of Judy with Hawthorne stating; "I come along very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with a whole lot of ideas about how the old people shouldn’t be on the sleeping pills... I make the mistake about the old people and take the signs off their backs and one of them goes wandering. So Judy Brownlee automatically thinks I’m useless and I have to do all the terrible jobs, like cleaning up the sluice room and emptying the linen skips and doing tea rounds.”[3] The adopted Anne then set out on a "standard soap opera story" to find her biological mother.[2] Both the characters and the audience were shocked when it was discovered Anne's mother was none other than the head of nursing, Judy Brownlee.[2][5] Part of the reason for the pairing, was that with the tense situation between characters, any situation could potentially be explosive.[2] Despite a shaky start, the two bonded well and Judy was devastated when Anne was killed.[6]

In 2002 Anne and Victor Kahu embarked on a relationship. There was huge contrast between the middle aged head of hospital and the young nurse, but Tuteao praised the relationship saying; "Love knows no age, no colour... She sort of makes him want to be a better man. Or try to be."[7] The two got engaged despite Anne developing feelings for Victor's son Nelson, who was the same age.[7] Despite not acting on her feelings, Anne continued to grow attracted to Nelson as the wedding drew closer.[7] The filming of the wedding meant three days of filming in cold conditions whilst onscreen it was to be a picturesque ceremony that was to be the soap's biggest wedding since Gina and Leonard's in 1993.[7] Victor's actor, Calvin Tuteao, enjoyed the experience saying; "Had loads of extras, making heaps of noise out here, the place was rocking."[7] The two married but after the vows Victor was arrested for murder after being framed by nemesis Kurt.[8] However Anne did end up having an affair with Nelson and when Victor found out, he was infuriated and ended the relationship.[8] When Anne was crushed by a collapsing building in the 2003 cliffhanger, Tuteao agreed that the two were too different, stating; "They're not really compatible, I suppose. They're totally different. Maybe he just wanted a younger woman, a trophy wife. But I think Victor would miss her, too, if she dies."[9] When Anne died, despite having moved on to Donna, Victor was devastated and was forced to reevaluate his life.[8]