Celebrity Treasure Island is officially back, and the first episode of season seven delivered the usual mix of twists, competition and chaos. But it was a touching reunion between veteran broadcaster Simon Barnett and actor Vinnie Bennett that became the standout moment.
This year’s cast features 16 well-known Kiwi broadcasters, sporting legends, actors, musicians, comedians and social media personalities, all dropped into the Northland wilderness in the hope of outlasting one another and winning money for their chosen charities.
Season seven has been split into two tribes — orange team Kahu (fury) and blue team Takapu (wisdom) — with the new group arriving by boat before the game got under way.
The drama started almost immediately.
Media personality Polly Gillespie injured her knee within minutes of stepping off the boat, prompting an early call for medics before camp had even been set up.
Once the castaways were assembled on the beach, hosts Bree Tomasel and Jayden Daniels wasted little time introducing the first major twist.
The two teams would compete for the chance to choose between mystery captains, later revealed to be Barnett and rugby star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
Kahu claimed the opening challenge and selected “radio guy” Barnett as their leader, leaving Woodman-Wickliffe to captain Takapu.
But the blue team quickly bounced back in a slingshot challenge, with TVNZ sports reporter Zion Dayal helping guide Takapu to victory and putting pressure back on the orange side.
While the early competition delivered plenty of banter and the usual scramble for advantage, it was a quieter moment later in the episode that gave the premiere its heart.
Bennett pulled Barnett aside to reveal the pair had met nearly two decades earlier at a youth group when Bennett was a teenager.
The Fast & Furious star told Barnett that during the visit, the broadcaster had singled him out, encouraged him and said he believed Bennett would go on to make a difference.
“It really played a part in completely changing my life,” Bennett said. “I never had another man give me that confidence or belief in myself.”
An emotional Barnett embraced Bennett and thanked him for sharing the story.
“You don’t know how much that means,” Barnett replied.
No castaways were sent home in the premiere, but with captains now forced to make tough early decisions, battle lines have already been drawn.
Celebrity Treasure Island airs 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+.
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