NZ On Air backs two Kiwi primetime drama series, comedy show for TVNZ, Three

New Zealand funding body NZ On Air has backed two primetime drama series and a comedy panel show that will air on TVNZ and Warner Bros Discovery-owned Three.

Amie Mills

The Bishop (6×45′) will air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ and centres on a charismatic young pastor who forms an unlikely alliance with a queer podcaster to challenge his father’s mega-church, with explosive results.

The Warner Bros International Television Production NZ-produced show will receive up to NZ$5.5m (US$3.4m) in funding from NZ On Air.

Funded for Three is Dry Creek (6×44′), set after the earthquake that hit the town of Kaikōura in 2016. Described as a fast-paced drama “full of quintessential Kiwi optimism,” the series explores a friendship that goes sour when a surrogacy deal goes wrong. It is produced by Great Southern Television and will receive up to NZ$6.6m.

NZ On Air’s head of funding Amie Mills described the dramas as “timely and relevant New Zealand stories” that “will resonate with local audiences.”

Also on Three will be comedy panel series Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee (8×45′), which puts NZ comedians through their paces as they attempt to be crowned best speller in front of a live audience. It comes from Kevin & Co and will receive up to NZ$400,000.

NZ On Air is also contributing up to NZ$1.4m towards the second season of the Pax Assadi-penned comedy Raised by Refugees (6×22′), which airs on Sky Network Television-owned Prime.

Meanwhile, the country’s top-rated comedy 7 Days (20×44′) will be back on Three, pitting top comedians against the week’s news and each other. It is produced by Warner Bros Discovery ANZ for Three and will receive up to NZ$1.1m from NZ On Air.