Is the grass really greener across the ditch?
This month a 1News Special investigates Kiwis who have upped sticks and moved to Australia, chasing higher wages and a better quality of life. Jack Tame hosts this discussion and poses the question – is life in Aussie really better?
Also in May is the launch of BNZ Business Breakfast, live at 6am on weekdays from May 11, as host Mei Heron provides your business advantage to start the day.
A new season of The Brokenwood Mysteries debuts, while an Aussie classic with a Kiwi star lands on TVNZ+ – you can stream every episode of McLeod’s Daughters from May 10.
1 News Special: You, Me & Aussie
(May 11, 8.40pm TVNZ 1)
Thinking of moving across the Tasman? 1News: You, Me & Aussie hosted by Jack Tame dives into the real stories of Kiwis living in Australia – the highs, the lows, and everything in between. With over a million New Zealanders already calling Australia home, this special unpacks whether the money and lifestyle really add up, and helps answer the big question: Should you leave, or should you stay?
BNZ Business Breakfast
Weekdays 6am from May 11 (TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+)
Mei Heron fronts BNZ Business Breakfast, a new weekday morning programme delivering essential business news, the latest economic data, and insights from New Zealand and around the world – helping Kiwis begin their day informed and ahead.
(From May 10, TVNZ 1)
Brokenwood detectives Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and Daniel Chalmers (Jarod Rawiri) continue to grapple with the small town's ever-growing murder rate. From attempted alien abductions to a surfing priest with a dark history, this season’s murders once again capture the darkness, humour and eccentricity of New Zealand’s most lethal town.
Ready Gamer Mum
(May 14, 7.30pm TVNZ 2)
Brand-new local series Ready Gamer Mum pits the best young gamers against each other in a winner takes all competition. The catch? The only person who can touch the controller is their Mum. Host Tegan Yorwarth oversees 10 hardcore gamers as they help take their parents from novice to pro – before stepping back as the mums go it alone, competing in a variety of video games in the hopes of winning a $50,000 prize.
Impossible Builds
(May 15, 9.30pm TVNZ 1)
Meet more ambitious families as they go about building innovative bespoke homes in some of the UK’s most challenging and remote locations, as Impossible Builds returns for its second season. From blown budgets to missed deadlines to extreme weather events, the house builders’ resolve is tested to its limits as they fight to conquer their impossible builds.
Under Salt Marsh
(May 18, TVNZ+)
A tight-knit community is fractured by an unthinkable crime, in this gripping new crime drama. Set the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen as a once-in-a-generation storm threatens to strike, former detective turned teacher Jackie Ellis discovers the body of her 9-year-old pupil, seemingly drowned. The discovery sends shockwaves through the community, reviving the ghost of an unsolved cold case and forcing Jackie to reunite with her former partner, Detective Eric Bull in a race to uncover long-buried secrets before the storm breaks and all the evidence is gone for good.
400 Weddings and a Funeral
(May 16, TVNZ 1)
An insider’s guide to navigating the rich and deeply meaningful world of Pasifika weddings and funerals in Aotearoa. Hosted by Bella Kalolo and Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson, the series unpacks the customs, protocols, and cultural expectations that shape some of the most important moments in Pasifika life. From what to wear and bring, to understanding ceremony structure, gifting, language, and etiquette, this brand-new series breaks down not just what happens, but why it matters – revealing the values of family, faith, service, and connection that sit at the heart of Pasifika communities.
Clarkson's Farm
(May 22, TVNZ+)
Join former Top Gear host-turned-Britain's best-known but least-qualified amateur farmer Jeremy Clarkson for another year in the life of his Diddly Squat Farm. In an effort to increase his annual profit (£144 last year) he's diversifying, in the shape of cows, more chickens and his own restaurant.
(May 22, TVNZ+)
More life, death and drama at 20,000 feet – following the triumphs, heartbreaks and tribulations of budding nurses and pilots flying air ambulances in remote Northern Canada, this season sees the arrival of new rookie pilots and medics unsettle the dynamic – and emotion threatens to override protocol.
The Secret Genius of Modern Life
(May 18, TVNZ 1)
Hannah Fry uncovers more secrets behind the miraculous technologies of the modern world. From the magic of the air fryer to the wild origins of the modern-day rollercoaster, Fry takes a deep dive into the everyday things we take for granted.
Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl
(May 22, TVNZ+)
From Nashville newcomer to international icon, this revealing documentary explores how Shania Twain transcended genres and overcame personal adversity to become one of the world's most beloved performers.
(May 13, TVNZ+)
School Spirits returns for its third season, following Maddie Nears and her friends into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew. Why have so many people died at Split River High? What was Mr Martin warning them about? As they search for answers, new dangers and dark secrets begin to surface.
Handsome Devil: Charming Killer
(May 10, TVNZ+)
This chilling true crime series reveals how Florida murderer Wade Wilson became a viral heartthrob. As his crimes, trial, and fanbase unfold, the series exposes the dark allure of charm, obsession, and the seduction of infamy.
McLeod’s Daughters
(May 10 TVNZ+)
Every episode ever of the classic Australian drama comes to TVNZ+ this week, following the lives of a group of sisters running a cattle station in the Australian outback. Starring Kiwi actor Lisa Chappell.
Spin City
(May 17, TVNZ+)
Every episode of the iconic '90s sitcom comes to TVNZ+, following the hapless Mayor of New York City and his eccentric staff as they attempt to manage all manner of crises, this classic comedy is as hilarious as ever.
Coming attractions: More can’t-miss shows and movies coming to TVNZ+
Ozzy: No Escape From Now (May 1)
Bad Boyfriends S2 (May 1)
Keeping Up with the Kardashians S18 (May 1)
Sold on SLC (May 1)
Ladies of London S3 (May 1)
Below Deck Down Under (May 1)
Below Deck Mediterranean S7 (May 1)
Top Chef S11 (May 1)
Botched S4 (May 1)
Hustlers (May 1)
Queenpins (May 1)
Magic Mike (May 1)
Sherlock (May 7)
The Northman (May 7)
Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows (May 7)
Sex & the City 2 (May 7)
Matrix (May 15)
Matrix Reloaded (May 15)
Get Smart (May 21)
Edge of Tomorrow (May 21)
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