Graham Norton sits down for a world exclusive interview with pop doyenne Madonna and July is a bonanza for sports fans as the Fifa World Cup continues, NPC rugby kicks off and Conor McGregor returns to the UFC octagon.
(Wednesday July 1, TVNZ 1 8.30pm and TVNZ+)
Pop music royalty Madonna joins Graham Norton for an intimate and career-spanning interview, from early days in New York to her recent Coachella performance and everything between.
Recorded at London’s Koko music venue, Madonna discusses her life and career ahead of her anticipated new album Confessions II this month.
(TVNZ+ Event Pass and selected matches on TVNZ 1)
The world’s largest sports tournament continues with the must-win knockout stages, culminating in the final on July 20.
All matches can be watched live on TVNZ+ with an Event Pass, while TVNZ 1 will also screen two Round of 16 clashes, one quarterfinal, one semifinal and the final.
UFC 329: Conor McGregor v Max Holloway
(July 12)
UFC International Fight Week returns to Las Vegas, headlined by the rematch that will see former two-division champion Conor McGregor collide with former featherweight titleholder Max Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making.
The UFC 329 prelim fights are available on TVNZ+ live and free, while the main card can be watched with a one-off purchase of a TVNZ+ Event Pass, https://www.tvnz.co.nz/passes available closer to the live event
NPC Rugby
(Starts July 30, TVNZ+)
National Provincial Championship rugby returns to TVNZ with every match streaming free to air on TVNZ+, along with selected games on TVNZ 1.
The competition kicks off with Waikato v Bay of Plenty (July 30) and Tasman v North Harbour (July 31).
NZ International Football Festival
(From July 26)
Iconic English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur takes on Auckland FC at Eden Park (screening on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+).
Sydney Super Cup '26
(TVNZ+)
Chelsea FC v West Sydney Wanderers, July 28
Tottenham Hotspur v Sydney FC, July 29
(July 10, TVNZ+)
A story of courage, brotherhood and legacy, following Māori Battalion hero Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi, whose extraordinary leadership turned the tide of a pivotal WWII battle.
Blending dramatic re‑enactment with the voices of descendants, the film explores legacy, whakapapa and remembrance.
M.I.A
(July 15, TVNZ+)
From the co-creator of Ozark comes this gripping revenge thriller.
Restless in the Florida Keys, Etta Tiger Jonze dreams of a life in Miami’s glittering, sub-tropical kingdom. But when her family’s drug-running business shatters in tragedy, Etta embarks on a dangerous journey through Miami’s neon-lit underbelly that will define who she is and what she’s ultimately capable of.
Launching with three episodes, followed by double eps weekly.
A Woman of Substance
(July 26, TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+)
Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse. A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she's given and smashing glass ceilings.
Based on the multi-million bestselling novel written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Babies
(July 30, TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+)
Babies is a gripping, tender and urgent love story that explores the resilience of a couple navigating the heartbreak of pregnancy loss. The series follows Lisa (Siobhán Cullen) and Stephen (Paapa Essiedu), a couple in their 30s whose hope is tested as they endure multiple miscarriages. While confronting unimaginable grief, their bond shines through with humour, warmth, and unwavering love.
(July 27, TVNZ+)
They're single, and ready to mingle. Your favourite sexy reality show has landed stateside. Hot American singles looking for love travel to a tropical paradise for the ultimate summer of fun in the sun. Hosted by Ariana Madix.
(July 15, TVNZ+)
Wilder, tougher and more brutal than ever, Alone Australia is back for a fourth season and Kiwi sheep and cattle farmer Clint (57) is here to make NZ proud.
Set against a breathtaking backdrop of dancing Northern Lights in Sápmi, Finland, this season delivers a brand-new spectacle of bushcraft, ingenuity and survival.
Thrust into an unfamiliar Arctic environment, participants must navigate unknown flora, risky first-time foraging challenges, where a single mistake identifying fungi could turn a life-saving meal into a lethal one, and rapidly dwindling resources - all while coexisting with formidable predators.
Thirst Trap: The Fame, The Fantasy, The Fallout
(July 16, TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+)
A TikTok lip-sync to Barry Manilow's 'Mandy' unexpectedly launches William White into viral stardom, and into the hearts of a generation of women. This two-part documentary unpacks the rise, the fandom and the chaos that follows when fantasy crashes into reality.
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