Following the departures of Rachel McKenna, Ellen Crozier, Kirsty Knight, Jenny Harrison and the axing of David Kearney, in 1998 and 1999, ratings for the show dropped dramatically in 2000 and producers decided to reinvent the show to boost audience interest. Jason Daniel was hired as a consultant to drastically alter the show, making it more representative of the social climate of the time. This included eliminating several characters, redesigning the hospital, toning down make up and clothing choices, and introducing a new cast. One of the characters created by Daniel was 'Melanie Thompson', who would be renamed 'Toni' by her debut in early 2001. Laura Hill was cast in the role. Toni was the first of the new cast to appear. In 2007, Hill took 6 months leave to appear in a play in Christchurch. However Toni's exit on screen was left ambiguous so as to appear she may have left permanently. Hill published an open letter assuring her fans that this was not the case and pressed her imminent return. Hill returned to the show in late 2007 but acknowledged that, "they weren't going to have too many options with the character". Instead of using the show as a "net" and under the desire to expand her acting resume, Hill quit the show. She cited health reasons under her resignation and stated, "Shortland Street’s been a big part of my professional life and a time of enormous change and growth for me. That has been great and, although I was ready to leave, it still was a passing of an era." The character was killed off in June 2008 after coming down with norovirus.
Storylines
Toni arrived in early 2001 and quickly started a relationship with Matt though she later dumped him and moved in with Donna Heka. After a short lived relationship with Adam, Toni started a purely sexual partnership with senior surgeon Chris Warner. She fell pregnant and was unsure whether the baby was Chris' or Adam's. In May 2002 she gave birth to Harry and got back together with Adam after Chris was proven as the father. The two broke up but reconciled when Adam was stabbed, before breaking up again in 2003. In 2003 Toni decided she loved Matt and the two married while on holiday. With the arrival of Chris' mother Margot Warner, Toni and Chris' relationship was deemed possibly incestuous but the rumour was proved wrong when Toni's brother Dom insisted he was really Chris' half brother. Toni divorced a cheating Matt and got back with Adam, only for him to leave her later that year. She briefly dated Logan but he went psychotic and kidnapped Harry. Toni and Chris reunited in Fiji and after Dom died while trying to murder Chris, he and Toni got engaged and she found out she was pregnant. The two married in 2005 but Toni miscarried and they separated. Toni decided to try the marriage again only to nearly get murdered by Chris' mistress Greta Saunders. In 2007 Toni discovered Chris had cheated on her multiple times and having found her previous fun life with Chris' half brother Guy, she fled with him, Harry and Tuesday. Chris tracked them down 6 months later, but Toni and Guy fled and ended up nearly dying after getting in a serious car crash. Toni survived however, only suffering a burst kidney. Toni and Guy continued their relationship in 2008 however she dumps him and eventually reconciles with Chris, only to suddenly die after contracting Norovirus.
Character development
Characterisation
Upon arrival, Toni was labelled a "good time girl". It was said she; "throws herself into the hurly-burly of a wild social life." She was also said to make friends and enemies easily and despite her love of social activity, she is a commitment phobe. Laura Hill found it interesting how fast Toni transformed from a "party girl" to a hardworking mother in such a short time but said it was hardly surprising following the "roller coaster" of a time the character experienced.
Reception
Toni was described as "popular" by producer Jason Daniel. However actress, Laura Hill stated she thought Toni had lost popularity following her final story lines.
