What to watch on TVNZ in 2025: Stranded on Honeymoon Island, Suits LA, summer sport and more

Francis and Kaiora Tipene return in The Casketeers: Life and Death Around the Globe. Photo / TVNZ

TVNZ has revealed its slate of local and international shows for 2025 for the sports lovers, news junkies and reality TV buffs.

According to the broadcaster, streaming platform TVNZ+ had its biggest year to date in 2024, with almost 1.5 million Kiwis tuning in each week and TVNZ channels reaching a total of 4.4 million New Zealanders aged 5 and over.

TVNZ’s chief content officer Nevak Rogers said, “From flagship content to whānau favourites, trusted news, and free-to-air sports, we take pride in delivering a compelling mix of homegrown and international programming that keeps viewers coming back, day after day”.

“As we look ahead to 2025, TVNZ is dedicated to bringing viewers authentic stories and fresh perspectives on life in Aotearoa, as well as the must-watch entertainment shows from here and overseas.”

So, here’s what to expect on our screens in 2025 — from classic Kiwi comedy to cooking shows and crime dramas.

Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel go Off the Grid. Photo / TVNZ

Reality TV and documentaries

Whether Love Island is your guilty TV pleasure or you simply can’t go past a David Attenborough nature doco, there’s plenty of real-life content to choose from this year.

My Kitchen Rules' dynamic duo Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge return to New Zealand and our screens this year in all-new road trip series Off the Grid. Meanwhile, Francis and Kaiora Tipene head overseas in The Casketeers: Life & Death Around the Globe to learn about grief in different cultures.

TVNZ’s own Tāmati Rimene-Sproat examines Kiwis' attitudes to the issues we all face today in The Devil’s in the Data, while beloved Bubbah enlists her fellow comedians to explore the challenges facing young people in Aotearoa in Don’t.

Beloved Comedian Bubbah stars in Don't. Photo / TVNZ

Then there’s Kiwi reality shows Dadolescence, following a group of teenage fathers taking on new responsibilities, and Diary of a Junior Doctor, showing the lives and experiences of young Middlemore Hospital doctors.

For the real estate buffs, there’s Love It or List It NZ, Grand Designs NZ and another series of NZ’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer. Down for Love, Endangered Species Aotearoa and Eat Well for Less NZ are all set to return. The legendary David Attenborough is also back with two new series, Parenthood, documenting the lives of animal parents, and Asia.

From the makers of Married at First Sight comes Stranded on Honeymoon Island. Photo / TVNZ

As for international reality shows, get ready for Stranded on Honeymoon Island, from the minds behind Married at First Sight. Singles looking for love will be coupled up and then left stranded on a desert island. Will they — and their relationships — survive?

Meanwhile, our own Rose Matafeo stars in Junior Taskmaster, while Love Island legend Olivia Attwood presents Bad Boyfriends, pitting eight men against each other to see who can become the best boyfriend material.

Rose Matafeo is the Junior Taskmaster. Photo / TVNZ

Bradley Walsh’s Kiwi fans rejoice as The Chase is set to return once again, as well as MasterChef Australia, My Kitchen Rules, Love Island Games and Travel Guides.

Local and international dramas

For those of us who love a bit of escapism, there are plenty of drama-filled series and comedies set to screen this year.

The new-look Shortland Street is here, albeit in a new format — screening just three nights a week instead of five and split into four “mini seasons”, according to TVNZ.

The new-look Shortland Street returns. Photo / Andi Crown Photography

The Brokenwood Mysteries is back, along with Hui Hoppers, The Gone, Educators and My Life is Murder.

And the makers of Wellington Paranormal will debut brand new comedy series Warren’s Vortex. A regular Kiwi dad from Lower Hutt, Warren finds a vortex in his garden shed leading to some twisted parallel realities.

Brand-new medical series DOC and St Denis Medical are arriving on TVNZ+, as well as the hotly-anticipated Suits LA, The Hunting Party, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Grosse Pointe Garden Society, Laid, Dope Girls, Invisible Boys and new seasons of NCIS: Sydney, Twisted Metal and Poker Face.

Stephen Amell as Ted Black in Suits LA. Photo / NBC

News and sports

As for news and current affairs, 1News at Six returns in 2025 - as well as Breakfast, Seven Sharp, Te Karere+, Q+A with Jack Tame, Marae+ and Tagata Pasifika.

For Kiwi sports fans, the White Ferns and Black Caps cricket teams continue to keep us entertained, as well as the BNZ Breakers and FIBA basketball.

Later in 2025, we’ll see the ANZ Premiership Netball, domestic Premier League Hockey, NFL — including the highly-anticipated Super Bowl — the Arnold Clark Cup and FIFA+.

The International Triathlon World Cup will also screen in February, while champion mountain bikers hit the track in Crankworx Summer Series Christchurch.