30 Best Shows On TVNZ To Watch In Canada! [Most-Updated]

Bored out of your wits whenever you reach home after a long work day? Consider that to be a thing of the past because we have the perfect solution for you: TVNZ!

TVNZ has been around for the longest time but doesn’t get much recognition, probably because it’s unavailable anywhere outside New Zealand. Not a New Zealand resident? Don’t worry! VPNs have you covered. Just invest in a renowned VPN, and you’d easily watch TVNZ in Canada or from anywhere in the world.

You’d be surprised to know that the best shows on TVNZ can be streamed for free! This adds a significant perk to the platform because all other streaming options require you to pay almost an arm and a leg for good content. On the other hand, TVNZ focuses on providing quality without squeezing the customer’s pockets.

Once you’ve decided that TVNZ will be your best friend in the lounge, the next question you’d need to ask yourself is, what can I watch on-demand NZ?

This can get tricky to answer because of the many amazing shows on TVNZ. From 739 to the Dog Squad, the platform has something good to watch in every genre.

Let’s go through some of the best shows on TVNZ to find you a suitable pick:

30 Best Shows On TVNZ

As we know, life can be pretty hectic and it’s hard to find time to watch our favorite shows. That’s why TVNZ is such a great service – we can watch our favorite shows whenever we want!

Here are 30 of the best shows that you can watch on TVNZ in Canada:

This Is Going To Hurt (2022- Till Now)

If you’re looking for a light-hearted comedic watch that also has occasional reality checks, this show is going to be a perfect choice. The story is about a group of junior doctors that have just stepped into the practical aspects of their lives.

From the humorous portrayal of them trying to figure their way out of medical emergencies to how the job becomes mentally draining after some time, this show is sure to give you a satisfactory experience!

It also makes a great choice for people having medical backgrounds.

Shortland Street (1992- Till Now)

Want a show which has a new episode every day? Shortland Street is here to fill up your evenings! The show airs five days a week and has a story set in a hospital. You’d get to see the personal and professional happenings in a medical setup where things aren’t always about sickness or health.

From love triangles to professional rivalries, this show will surely be a treat for anyone who’s experienced a hospital at least once in his life!

Creamerie (2021- Till Now)

Imagine a world without men- that’s what Creamerie is all about! The show, one of TVNZ’s originals, is set in a time when a dangerous plague has claimed the lives of all the men in the world. The few who survived are sent to a remote place to be kept safe, but nobody knows whether they’re still alive or not.

Meanwhile, all the women are left to fend for themselves, and amidst all the chaos, three friends set up a dairy farm as a means of livelihood.

The Brokenwood Mysteries (2014- Till Now)

If you’re a fan of crime dramas, this show is a must-watch. The story is about Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, who has new and complicated mysteries to solve every day. However, as good as he is in his professional life, he fails to achieve the same balance in his personal life.

All of his relationships have to meet a disappointing end, leaving Mike unsure of his capabilities. Things don’t help when he falls madly in love and has to put in tons of effort to keep the relationship from breaking.

Te Karere (1982- Till Now)

Love to watch things in the Māori language? Te Karere is here to give you an all-rounding experience in your mother tongue! The show aired on weekdays and was one of the first mainstream shows based solely on the Māori language. You’d get an up-close insight on the most trending topics in the country with splendid hosts.

From news to discussion on current affairs, Te Karere is your one-stop solution for staying up-to-date with real-time happenings around the world.

The Bad Seed (2018-2019)

Searching for some drama to fill your living room? The Bad Seed will be just the right way of doing that! Rated as one of the best shows on TVNZ, this story is about two brothers who don’t really have a socially acceptable family.

In their struggle to cope with their problematic family relations, they find solace in being with each other and building a separate life for themselves. What finally looks like a normal setting brings them newer troubles that they couldn’t even think of.

The Cult (2009- Till Now)

‘Two Gardens’ is a place where people go and mysteriously disappear. People have no idea what lurks in the gardens but can’t help visiting the place.

Soon, two families who’ve lost relatives in the gardens decide to combine forces to rescue their family members. What follows is a dangerous operation that involves going deep into solving the mystery.

They succeed in finding a few of their loved ones, but it’s not long before they realize they’re not the same anymore.

Q+A (2019- Till Now)

Love to tune into talk shows at dinnertime? This watch is going to keep you company every day! You’re in for an enjoyable ride with this show hosted by Jack Tame. Watch Jack discuss some of the most intriguing questions, the answers to which are sometimes totally unexpected.

Be it local news or current affairs; this show has you covered with all the information! Put up your TVNZ and watch yourself sitting on the couch right till the end of the show!

Sunday (2022- Till Now)

Miriama Kamo collaborates with a group of competent reporters and brings you a current affairs programme like no other. The team sits down and dissects every major event in the country to provide users with informative analysis.

Tuning into Sunday will not only give you an idea of what’s going around the country, it’ll also make you feel like you’re a part of the discussion! The reports are both local and international in every episode, which makes the show all the more interesting.

Dog Squad (2010- Till Now)

Want to see some cute but strong dogs in action? Dog Squad is your best bet! The show is about dog handlers who work in different governmental departments all over the country.

Dog Squad takes you through the adventures these four-legged friends face every day, where some encounters turn out to be downright hilarious! From sniffing around in forests to giving the clear-chit to aircraft, these dogs play a vital role in maintaining law and order.

Jackson’s Wharf (1999-2000)

This TV series deeply delves into the dark aspects of sibling rivalry. The story is about a pair of siblings, Ben and Frank, who excel in their individual lives but fail to mend their bond with each other.

As a way of coping, they settle in different towns until their father mysteriously dies, leaving both of them a fortune of their own.

Ben decides to move back so that he can run the pub his father left behind, but his arrival only means drama and chaos.

Marae (1992- Till Now)

The best part about this show is that it’s available in both English and Māori. The show goes through all the current affairs so that you can stay in touch with all the major happenings around the world.

The hosts discuss a number of informational topics which contribute largely to your awareness of current affairs. Regarded as one of the best shows on TVNZ, Marae is sure to keep you hooked for hours at a time!

Eating Media Lunch (2003- Till Now)

If you want to stay up to date with what’s buzzing in New Zealand without getting bored, this show will be just the right choice for you! The show attempts to present political and current affairs in a way that’s entirely sarcastic and even offensive to some people.

EML hosts take special care in discussing serious news in a taste so satirical that you’ll be torn between disbelief, shock, and laughter all at once! The digs and puns are enough to make it one of the best shows on TVNZ!

Gloss (1987-1990)

Looking for some drama to spice up your streaming? Gloss is here to solve all your worries! The popular show, a favorite of its era, is based on a popular feudal family in New Zealand. The owners of multiple empires, the Redfern family, join forces with a publishing company as a means of expanding their business.

hat follows, though, is a lot of drama, which refuses to stop. You’ll find Gloss a great watch if you’re a fan of people screaming and fighting over petty things.

Mitre 10 Dream Home (1999-Till Now)

Do reality shows always pique your interest? If yes, then this show is a must-watch. The idea is to throw two couples madly in love together into the mix and see which one makes it out successfully without breaking their relationship.

The best challenge about the entire show is that each couple is required to renovate any part of their house every weekend. Their creations then get judged by the judges and also receive public votes.

Whoever wins the renovation game gets to live in their dream house forever.

Top Town (1976-1990)

If a game show qualifies to be one of the best shows on TVNZ, it’s Top Town. The popular show had teams based in different towns of New Zealand, expected to compete in a range of physical challenges.

This show was an attempt to create harmony in the rural areas of New Zealand because, in that era, telephonic communication was only for the elite. Top Town helped people from different regions come on one page for a bit of light competition.

The Son Of A Gunn Show (1992-1995)

Targeted toward kids, this animated TV series used to air after school time and had the popular Jason Gunn as the host. Jason used to bring a puppet to keep the kids entertained, and the show had many different segments to keep them hooked till the end.

From informational segments to hilarious ones like spoofs and mimicry, Jason practiced the unique art of making children sit in one place for a long while. The show continued to be a favorite throughout the 90s.

Let’s Get Inventin’ (2006-2013)

As the name suggests, this show invites children between 8-16 years of age to start inventing anything they want. It can be a functional bulb or even an electricity-generating piece of bread; as long as your ideas are original and lead to the invention of something, the hosts at the show are there to help you out.

All the children in the show don’t just get export help but also have a chance of winning a $10,000 Patent Prize.

McDonald’s Young Entertainers (1997-1999)

Targeted toward teenagers, this series was based on a talent-show concept hosted by Jason Gunn. The youngsters had no bounds; as long as they were willing and confident enough, they were allowed to showcase whatever talent they had in front of a huge audience.

The show also had a troop of professional dancers and singers, which assisted the teenagers from start to finish. The troop also had opening and closing performances in every episode. The show went on to become one of the best shows on TVNZ!

Intrepid Journeys (2003- Till Now)

If you like people who take up some really exotic adventures, this show is for you. The idea is to send multiple celebrities of New Zealand to far-off, sometimes dangerous, places and have them describe their journey later.

Some of the excursions turn out to be downright funny, while others are not so lucky and barely make it out alive. From Vietnam to India, you’ll get to witness a diverse set of experiences that are bound to hold your interest for a very long time.

This Is Your Life (1995-2003)

This Is Your Life is a biographical documentary hosted by Eamonn Andrews. The show consists of the host ringing up the door of different celebrities, accompanied by the Big Red Book. This book contains all the achievements and even embarrassing scenarios of famous residents from all over the country.

Andrews sometimes also surprises the viewers by taking people along from the same circle as the person in the books, which makes the show all the more interesting.

Seven Periods With Mr. Gormsby (2005-)

Imagine a slightly deranged relief teacher getting newly appointed in your institution. Now imagine if he’s the only option available. The madness gets multiplied by ten folds in this show when Mr. Gorsmby, the relief teacher in question, gets a class of the rowdiest boys in the school to look after.

Mr. Gorsmby, who always has a peculiar set of opinions, walks into the job with a carefree attitude, unable to think of anything even possibly going downhill. Soon enough, the boys show Mr. Gormsby who’s the actual charge.

New Zealand Idol (2004-2006)

Love to sing? Tune into New Zealand Idol and watch thousands of Kiwis competing with each other on the basis of their vocals. The show has a reality-tv format where singers are put to the test in each episode. The judges give comments, and the public votes decide which contestant is here to stay.

The contestants range from teenagers to young adults, making the show relatable for many. Many talented singers have got a breakthrough in their careers from the show even if they didn’t manage to win.

Popstar (1999- Till Now)

Popstar started to air in the late ’90s and was based on a reality-tv format, where singers from around the world were made to perform live on a stage. The show became a starting point for some of the most successful bands in the future, including Girls Aloud.

Popstar gained so much popularity in such a short time that many other countries started taking an interest in it, too, getting a lot of investors. However, the show had to close down after a decade because of some issues.

Mercy Peak (2001-2003)

This series has three seasons and was received particularly well by the audience. The story is about a young doctor, Nicky Sommerville. Nicky, who’s frustrated from working at the hospital all day, decides to take a break and settle in a rural settlement for a while.

There, she decides to serve at the country hospital but soon realizes that there’s a lot of drama to follow. All of Nicky’s hopes of having a slow-paced life go down the drain when she realizes that a change of locality wasn’t the answer.

Radio With Pictures (1976-1988)

If you lived in New Zealand in the last century, you’d know how difficult it was to get your hands on any kind of music. Radio With Pictures aimed to bridge that gap by bringing the most trending music to audiences in the form of either audio or videos.

The show became a popular hub for music and also initiated a range of concerts across the country. With this show, you didn’t just get easy access to good music; you also had artist interviews and awesome hosts!

It’s In The Bag (2009-2013)

Based on a game-show format, this show had contestants answer a number of questions before they were eligible to select a ‘bag’ worth thousands of money.

This is where things take a turn, though; the questions only lead you to the bag; what the bag contains is entirely dependent on your luck. It could literally be a bag of dollars or have a couple of sticker sheets.

The host in every episode allows contestants to bargain the prices on behalf of guesswork, and this is exactly where the dopamine kicks in!

Breakfast (2002- Till Now)

Breakfast, as the name suggests, runs early in the morning and is the perfect way of keeping yourself company while getting ready for the day. The show brings you everyday news from all parts of the world and also keeps you up-to-date with the current affairs of the country.

It doesn’t end here, though, because Breakfast also means a lot of entertainment and insight into the sports world. If you want an all-rounding update on the world every morning, this show is your best bet.

New Zealand’s Got Talent (2008- Till Now)

If you haven’t ever tuned into this show, you’re missing out on quite a lot. As the name suggests, this show is a reality-tv show that has people from all over the world competing with each other.

Every contestant has a unique talent up his belt, from dancing to singing to even pulling off magic tricks; all you need is the art of entertaining viewers, and the show will take care of the rest!

Sports Cafe (1996- Till Now)

Picture a cafe where all the sports enthusiasts unite and get discussing the burning topics of the sports world. That’s exactly what this show is about! The hosts sit down with guest celebrities sometimes and dissect the happenings of New Zealand sports.

From discussing controversial happenings on the pitch to casually fighting over which team is the best, Sports Cafe is your go-to if you want a light-hearted insight into what’s happening on the field.

Final Thought

TVNZ has always been a go-to for Kiwis entertainment outlet for Kiwis, making people from different only long to have a platform this awesome. The regional restrictions also make it difficult for New Zealanders who are living abroad to tune into their home content.

Not anymore, though, because, as we’ve said before, VPNs are your friend.

More than accessing the platform is the dilemma of what to watch. Yes, the best shows on TVNZ are available for free, but if an action fan ends up watching a reality soap, his experience will be ruined. To make sure that you don’t end up as that disappointed fan, choose your watch carefully by reading the descriptions above.

The best part about TVNZ is that apart from shows and movies, it provides you with many news shows that do much more than conventional news reporting. From talk shows to satirical portrayals of current affairs, TVNZ has you covered with a diverse experience.

Let’s not keep you waiting anymore so that you can choose your favorite show within a few minutes and get watching!