Race relations and Wanganui's insecurity over its own worth were twin themes that emerged. But there was lots of fun along the way.
Who knew, for example, that female kiwi could be twice the size of males and did the business of competing for territory while the males sat on the eggs? Or that Marianne Archibald met her Waverley partner at Boogie Wonderland? Or that Katie Brown likes a big bonfire?
On the race theme, Ms Hill said Wanganui's future would be dictated by its Maori youth, and they would need skills. Ms Tuaine said tertiary education results were improving.
She predicted Maori and Pakeha would heal the rifts between them, as upper and lower river hapu had done, "but still recognise our diversity. Not make us into one."
Ms Hill conducts her interviews with an almost ferocious energy and intensity. Her tolerance for boredom was slight. She became impatient with what she called "boosterism" from council representatives, and jibed that Wanganui people must go to bed early when she heard the day's orchestra concert started at 4pm.
On the insecurity theme, she wondered whether people were more dismissive of rural places in New Zealand than they were in other countries. She asked an Afghani Red Cross volunteer a question she said he must get a lot: how did he like New Zealand?
Others were asked how they liked Wanganui, and whether they were staying. Mr Visser said he probably would, because he was getting older.
"Just what Wanganui needs. More old people," said Ms Hill.
For artist Paul Rayner, who said he "had been known to don the frock", Wanganui was not a matter of love at first sight but he said "you find your own community if you dig deep enough". Wanganui's cheap houses enabled artists like him to live happily and harmoniously, but would not make them rich.
"They can do what they like, and stay poor," he said.
Jack Mitchell-Anyon had a similar take. Ms Hill wondered at a young person like him wanting to stay in Wanganui. "Have you found a lot to like, or are you just a freak?" she asked.
He said Wanganui was a good "project town".
"You can live really cheaply in a nice environment."