Best Kiwi drama series

Shortland Street (1992)

The lives and loves of the residents of Ferndale.

Gloss (1987)

Gloss was a television drama series in New Zealand that screened from 1987-1990. The series was about a fictional publishing empire run by the Redfern family.It was a starting point for many actors who went on to many productions in New Zealand, Australia and around the world including Temuera Morrison, Miranda Harcourt, Peter Elliott, Lisa Chappell, Danielle Cormack and Kevin Smith.Writers for the show included James Griffin, who went on to write Outrageous Fortune, Rosemary McLeod and Ian Mune.The show's title theme song was performed by Beaver Morrison.The show has not been rescreened since its original screening, but selected extracts have been made available for viewing on NZ On Screen.

Mataku (2002)

The Ridges (2012)

They are the most talked about mother and daughter duo in New Zealand; tabloid fodder and twitter targets who are famous for being famous. But who are Sally and Jaime Ridge…really?Meet the real people behind all those headlines in this surprisingly candid, funny and heart-warming reality series, from the producers of Secret Lives of Dancers.

The Luminaries (2020)

The 19th-century tale of love, murder and revenge as men and women travel across the world to make their fortunes on the wild West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

After the Party (2023)

Penny’s world implodes when she accuses her husband Phil of a sex crime against her daughter’s teenage friend and nobody believes her.

One Lane Bridge (2020)

During a murder investigation in Queenstown, an ambitious young detective reawakens a spiritual gift that endangers the case, his career and his life.

This Is Not My Life (2010)

This Is Not My Life is a 2010 New Zealand television mystery thriller which originally aired on Television New Zealand's TV ONE channel on Thursday nights.Set in the 2020s, the show centres on Alec Ross who awakes one morning to find that he doesn't know who or where he is and doesn't recognise his wife or children. The story is set in the fictional town of Waimoana.The series is written by Rachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan and directed by Robert Sarkies and Peter Salmon. Thirteen episodes have been produced.Though the show only lasted one season, it has been announced American network ABC has purchased the series to adapt for an American audience.

Rūrangi (2020)

After skipping town a decade ago, transgender activist Caz Davis returns to the remote, politically divided dairy community of Rurangi, hoping to reconnect with his estranged father, who hasn't heard from him since before Caz transitioned.

Head High (2020)

This drama charts the rise of high school rugby stars, Mana and Tai. Under the guidance of their step-father coach Vince and police officer mum Renee, the brothers fight to achieve the Kiwi dream of the black jersey.

Filthy Rich (2016)

Three illegitimate children discover they each have a claim to the fortune of one of NZ's wealthiest men, John Truebridge. With so much money on the line, John's legitimate family will do anything to stop these new, unexpected heirs!

The Panthers (2021)

Auckland, 1974 - in the face of increased racial-targeting, a group of Polynesian students and street gangsters form a revolutionary movement for justice and equality.

Friends Like Her (2024)

A surrogacy deal goes wrong when pregnant Nicole changes her mind about giving best friend Tessa the baby she is carrying for her. The ensuing emotional rift splits the small New Zealand town of Kaikōura - already physically torn apart from a recent earthquake.

Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud (2011)

Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud is a six-part New Zealand television mini-series. The series originally aired from 17 August 2011 to 21 September 2011. It was the first Underbelly series to be created outside of Australia, and depicts events prior to and concurrent with Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.

The Bad Seed (2019)

Two brothers from the same dysfunctional family, having escaped the desperate days of their early childhood, find their newly ordered lives falling apart when one becomes a suspect in a murder.

The Legend of William Tell (1998)

The Legend of William Tell is a 16-part television fantasy/drama series produced in 1998 by Cloud 9 Productions in New Zealand. The basic premise of the series — a crossbow-wielding rebel defies a corrupt governor — and the name of the title character were adopted from the traditional story, but the series was set in a fantasy world and featured supernatural themes.Described by executive producer Raymond Thompson as "Star Wars on the planet Earth", this is a fantasy saga of bravery, magic, myth and romance. William Tell is the youthful leader of a band of young, ‘brat pack' outlaws, forever hunted by the forces of darkness, led by Xax and Kreel, who have usurped power in their homeland. The series of self-contained stories follows Will's quest to restore young Princess Vara to her rightful place on the royal throne and defeat Xax and Kreel's forces — and by doing so, bring back peace and order to the Kingdom of Kale.There is action and adventure along the way, magic, creatures, mystery, intrigue — but also much human drama and interplay among Will's rebel band who must support each other in their quest. The group encounter a diverse range of people and situations on their journey — some help the resistance movement, others are cohorts of Xax and Kreel.

The Cult (2009)

The Cult is a New Zealand serial drama television series in which a group of people try to rescue their loved ones from a mysterious cult called Two Gardens.The Cult held the 8:30-9:30 spot on TV2 in New Zealand. The series debuted in New Zealand on September 24, 2009 and finished with a 2 hour season finale on December 10. It was airing on Polish and Portuguese television in 2011, and commenced screening on Australian television from December 2012.

When We Go to War (2015)

A historical saga, it tells the story of six young men and women who, in 1914, are full of plans and dreams for the future. Cutting between life at home, Gallipoli and Egypt, this spectacular drama begins in a time of optimism and hope, on the eve of war.

Hillary (2016)

The life of the legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, from his lonely childhood, to the man he became - Hillary the climber - a man that conquered Mt Everest, a man loved by a nation.

Dirty Laundry (2016)

The Raffertys are a typical NZ family. But their entire life is based on a very dirty secret...

The New Tomorrow (2005)

The New Tomorrow is a New Zealand-based television series produced by Cloud 9 and is a sequel to the cult television series The Tribe. The show was created by Raymond Thompson and premiered on 17 September 2005 on the Seven Network in Australia.The events of The New Tomorrow follow the final episode of series five of The Tribe but specific details of this link are yet to be revealed. It is unclear how much time has passed since The Tribe ended or what connections exist between the two shows.

Reservoir Hill (2009)

Uprooted from her home life in rural Ruakowhai, Beth Connolly is forced to move to a strange new suburb when her parents separate. Starting in a new town, in a new school, is a daunting process - especially when the place is filled with freaks who keep inexplicably staring at her.Scared and lonely, she needs the support of her mates to help her figure out what's going on.

Testify (2024)

A charismatic young pastor clashes with his father’s powerful evangelical church. He forms an unlikely alliance with a queer podcaster, and they uncover a conspiracy of historic sexual abuse.

The Lost Children (2006)

Ethan and his sister Amy are travelling by ship from England with their mother Charlotte, to join their father, who has gone ahead of them to establish the family farm. A storm hits, their vessel begins to take on water, and the captain issues the order to abandon ship. Meg, a young thief, is lowered into the lifeboat along with Ethan and Amy. A freak wave washes the life-boat away from the ship. The children wake on a wild shore and begin the battle for survival. Meg is captured by a Maori raiding party and makes contact with a young Maori slave, Tama. After being caught up in armed conflict between Maori and European forces the four children decide to band together to make an epic journey.

City Life (1996)

City Life was a New Zealand soap opera that screened on TVNZ from 1996-1998. It was portrayed the lives and loves of ten singles who lived in an upmarket apartment building in Auckland, New Zealand. The show was touted as New Zealand's answer to Melrose Place.The show starred Claudia Black, Lisa Chappell, Laurie Foell and Oliver Driver and featured a guest appearance by well known New Zealand actor, Kevin Smith.The show had a long development period, and the original treatment for the show had it set in Wellington with the working title 96 Oriental Parade. However, it was decided to produce the show in Auckland instead, and as such, the shows setting was changed along with the name to City Life.The first episode began with a controversial first scene, featuring a drunken Damon who owned the apartment building, in a homosexual kiss with his former lover Ryan on the night before his wedding. Damon was later killed off in the same episode after being hit by a car on the way to his wedding, and he left his apartment building to all of his friends. However, Damon's fianceè vowed to fight for her share of Damon's estate, leading to a storyline that would span the show's first five episodes.

The Insiders Guide To Love (2005)

This seven-part series is based around a diverse group of young people whose lives become inextricably inter-linked. When they are all implicated in a bizarre incident, the outcome of which forces them to examine and explore the loves that are at the core of their own lives - and not just romantic love - but love of life, love of self, love for children and parents, love of God, love of art, love gone wrong, love lost and unrequited love

Dear Murderer (2017)

A drama about the life and times of larger than life barrister, Michael Bungay. Spanning several decades chronicling good, evil, rights, wrongs, strengths and flaws, all centred around one of NZ's most infamous characters.

Children of Fire Mountain (1981)

Children of Fire Mountain was a 13 part miniseries from New Zealand.

The Insider's Guide To Happiness (2004)

The Insiders Guide To Happiness is a New Zealand drama series that explores the lives of a group of six previously unconnected people. Each life is connected by a bizarre car accident, the outcome of which forces them to examine and explore the happiness in their own lives. The series was followed by a prequel, The Insider's Guide To Love, with James the only character in common.

Orange Roughies (2006)

New Zealand crime drama series about a group of police and customs officers working to keep the country's borders secure.The core cast includes Nicholas Coghlan as Detective Sergeant Danny Wilder, Zoe Naylor as Senior Customs Officer Jane Durant, Mark Ruka as Detective Constable Zack Wiki, Stephen Hall as Superintendent Ron Maddock, and Nick Klempton as Officer Noel Bullerton.