TVNZ+ is Aotearoa’s biggest free-to-stream local platform packed with fresh New Zealand series, massive shows from overseas, and heaps of gems to discover. No matter your tastes, there are plenty of shows to sink yourself into, with Liam Maguren highlighting 20 of the best TV shows on TVNZ+.
See also
* The best movies on TVNZ+
* All new movies & series on TVNZ+
* All new streaming movies & series
The Adventures of Tumeke Space (2021, one season)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Aotearoa animation studio Mukpuddy channelled their love of Star Wars and Billy T James into this very pretty, very New Zealand sci-fi adventure series. Māori space hero Tumeke Space (Glen-Paul Waru), first seen in Mukpuddy’s own Barefoot Bandits, travels the galaxy in search of his missing Koro, picking up clues to his whereabouts while trying to avoid the unbearably fragile Pink Menace (who may or may not be loosely based on a real-life historical figure). Also features the voices of prominent Kiwi comedians Josh Thomson, Urzila Carlson and Billy T award-winner Kura Forrester.
After the Party (2023, one season)
WATCH ON TVNZ+The great Robyn Malcolm leads this morally complex six-part drama as a woman fighting to be believed after accusing her husband of a sex crime against her daughter’s teenage friend. Quickly making itself known as one of the best New Zealand series of the past few years, After the Party has been heralded as “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” from The Spinoff, with Stuff praising the show for creating “a complex, complicated and sometimes confounding character, one that is most definitely not only not a mere victim, but will keep the viewer guessing…”
Bluey (2018, three seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+This award-winning, critically-lauded, Australian force of nature transcends its made-for-preschoolers trappings to become the most-watched series ever on Aussie platform iView. Yes, it’s a bright and colourful talking animal show about a child doing child things, but allow it to creep in and you’ll likely be gripped by its gentle and truthful observations on everyday family life. Take it from me: a childless man who’s engaged with multiple dad friends about Bluey‘s potent power.
Broadchurch (2013, three seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and two Doctors—David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker—star in this BAFTA-winning murder mystery series. With the town of Broadchurch shaken by the murder of an 11-year-old child, the ongoing investigation must contend with a media frenzy and sharpening societal tensions that threaten to cut the community in half.
The Casketeers (2018, six seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+A humble international hit, this Aotearoa docuseries follows the heartwarming end-of-life stories revolving around professional Onehunga funeral coordinators Francis and Kaiora Tipene. Largely avoiding the dreariness of its subject matter, the show’s powered by the charm of the endlessly likeable Tipenes as they go through the everyday dealings and quirks of the business. A funny, fascinating, and touching series about the people who make death and grief a little easier.
Creamerie (2021, two seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Years after a virus supposedly kills all men on Earth, a particular part of rural New Zealand descends into wellness hell in this comedically dark dystopian series. Reuniting with Friday Night Bites stars Ally Xue, Perlina Lau and JJ Fong, Roseanne Liang (Shadow in the Cloud) crafts a distinctive and delightfully disturbing world that owes a lot to Tandi Wright’s superbly savage performance as a manipulative, yoga-posing deity wannabe.
Hacks (2021, two seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+When this wickedly funny series first aired, there was no doubt Jean Smart would land an Emmy for her role as Deborah Vance, a legendary Vegas comedian reluctantly paired with disgruntled twentysomething writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder). While their relationship slowly transforms from antagonistic to genuine mentorship, you’re really in it for the ruthless digs between Deborah and Ava.
Normal People (2020, miniseries)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where the Crawdads Sing) and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) lead this palpable adaptation of author Sally Rooney’s acclaimed love story. Steamy enough to warrant a dehumidifier, this Emmy-nominated romance saga weaves through the constant entanglements and periods of longing between two people in a small Irish town. It proved a big enough hit to greenlight another Potter adaptation, Conversations with Friends.
The Office (2005, nine seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+The era-defining American workplace comedy shot many of its stars into the stratosphere. Before he became an Oscar-nominated thespian, Steve Carell played an oblivious goofball with way too much power and influence. And before he became an action star and notable horror director, John Krasinski was the world’s most meme-able mean mugger. As for Rainn Wilson? He went on to lead a James Gunn superhero movie (sort of). Every episode of The Office is on TVNZ+ along with both seasons of the original British series.
Orphan Black (2013, five seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Before she became She-Hulk, Tatiana Maslany delivered an Emmy-winning performance—or performances—in this hugely addictive sci-fi mystery series. Maslany plays a hustler who, after witnessing the death of a woman with a remarkable resemblence to herself, goes snooping to learn more. This DIY investigation leads to a unique kind of self-discovery—the existence of her own dopplegangers.
The Panthers (2021, miniseries)
WATCH ON TVNZ+This six-part historical series charts the rise of The Polynesian Panthers movement in 1970s Aotearoa. Produced by Halaifonua Finau (Baby Mama’s Club) and Tom Hern (The Dark Horse), the show finds a great lead in Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (Red, White & Brass) as the very flawed but incredibly persistent head of the young radicals looking to challenge PM Robert Muldoon (the ever-excellent Roy Billing). For a deeper dive into the history, follow it up with post-show series The Panthers Rapp: The Next Chapter.
Players (2022, one season)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Hating the players and not the game, this constantly funny mockumentary series happily dunks on egomania wrought from fame while outlining the world of eSports with genuine respect. Misha Brooks excels as a League of Legends star named Creamcheese, pushing the douche-metre to an extraordinary level that allows a deeper dive into the character’s buried insecurities—the kind that feels specific to the sport.
Poker Face (2022, one season)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Oscar-nominated Knives Out writer-director Rian Johnson let his love for Columbo loose with this addictive mystery-of-the-week series. Emmy-nominee Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) leads the series as a woman who uses a very particular skill—the ability to sniff out a lie—to catch killers who may or may not be played one of the many guest stars including Academy Award-calibre actors Adrian Brody, Hong Chau, Chloë Sevigny, and Nick Nolte alongside Emmy-nominees Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ron Perlman.
Primal (2019, two seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+One of Genndy Tartakovsky’s great action-adventure series that isn’t Star Wars: Clone Wars, Primal is an unapologetically vicious and extremely metal survival series centred on the unlikely friendship between a caveman and a dinosaur. Winner of several Primetime Emmys including Outstanding Animated Program, this gorgeous-looking, beautiful-sounding, almost wordless cinematic saga makes for a brutal but unforgettable watch, where fight-or-flight is a daily occurance.
Samurai Jack (2001, five seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+And then there’s Tartakovsky’s other great Emmy-winning action-adventure series that isn’t Star Wars: Clone Wars. Bringing cinema to kids television, this game-changing Cartoon Network series made its epic intentions known with a feature-length pilot following a noble samurai who, just moments away from slaying a horrendous demon, is flung into the future and must find a way back home. For a while, it seemed like the fifth and final season would never appear, but thanks to the show’s enduring legacy, it was able to conclude over a decade later.
Sherwood (2022, miniseries)
WATCH ON TVNZ+A seemingly straightforward murder investigation explodes into a rattling, eras-spanning piece on a broken community in this exquisite, emotionally-enthralling British series. Featuring a sublime ensemble cast, headlined by David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) and Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), Sherwood is less about the Prince of Thieves and more about a small town still unable to heal from the Miners’ Strike that divided them during Margaret Thatcher’s reign.
Starstruck (2021, three seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+Rose Matafeo (Baby Done) leads this romantic comedy series as a young woman who, after a bold move to London, finds herself juggling jobs, struggling with rent, and generally losing purpose in life. Then she finds out her one-night stand is actually a massive movie star. Created by Matafeo and fellow Aotearoa comedian Alice Snedden, the pair merges painfully relatable comedy in Millenial angst with sterling observations of the vapidness of fame. And unlike a lot of romcoms, the actual romance feels like it comes from the heart, moulded by wisdom.
Tales of Nai Nai (2019, two seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+This very fun family series follows twin siblings in New Zealand who, along with their never-not-hungry pet dog Baobao, travel the Eastern world via their grandmother’s magical purse. Packed with earnest humour and Eastern history, this series from Becky Kuek and Mukpuddy makes for a very breezy and completely loveable all-ages adventure.
Taskmaster (2015, sixteen seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+This British comedy phenomenon fuses the competitive spirit of game shows with the unpredictable/embarrassing nature of improv. Ruthless host Greg Davies and creator Alex Horne make for a great dominant-subordinate duo as they test five comedians (a new group per season) with a series of incredibly absurd tasks, then mercilessly grill their performance. The consistently hilarious formula’s proven to be so successful, it holds different iterations in numerous countries—including the very good Taskmaster NZ and Taskmaster AU, also streaming on TVNZ+.
Wellington Paranormal (2018, four seasons)
WATCH ON TVNZ+The seminal 2014 comedy flick from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement didn’t spawn just one great spinoff series (re: the very good FX show) but two. Expanding on their bit roles from the movie, Mike Minogue and Karen O’Leary lead the series as not-too-phased police officers tasked with investigating paranormal phenomena including but not limited to goat-worshipping cults, an interdimensional BBQ vortex, and ghost rugby fans.
