From reality TV meltdowns to Taika Waititi’s rise to Hollywood, NZ On Screen’s new Best of the 10s Collection captures one of the most entertaining decades in New Zealand screen history. Curated by pop culture fanatics Alex Casey and Tara Ward of The Spinoff, the collection revisits the 2010s — a decade that saw the arrival of streaming, Shortland Street go viral, and local reality TV reach dizzying new heights (and mortifying lows).
“The 2010s feel like both yesterday and 100 years ago,” say Casey and Ward, “It was a delight to revisit some of the decade’s defining moments: farewells to beloved favourites like Campbell Live and Good Morning, the launch of international hit The Brokenwood Mysteries, a new dawn of glitzy global reality franchises, a new generation of comedy superstars with shows like Jono and Ben and Funny Girls, and Taika Waititi taking New Zealand film to the world. A packed decade indeed.”
Reality TV Boom and Bust
Many of reality television’s most gripping moments are featured in the collection; from the fairytale finale of The Bachelor New Zealand’s first season with Art and Matilda to The X Factor NZ’s infamous live episode — where judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills verbally attacked a contestant for ‘copying [her] husband’s look’, prompting their immediate dismissal. And in the first episode of The GC we meet the ‘Mozzies’ chasing ‘money, sex and fame’ (and ‘aunties’) on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The End of an Era
The collection includes some emotional farewells that sparked national conversations. The final episode of Campbell Live (29 May 2015) captures the end of a decade of compelling journalism and heartfelt advocacy that prompted public outrage and petitions. The last episode of Good Morning marks the conclusion of nearly two decades of light entertainment, including advertorials, recipes, aerobics and even hypnotism.
Groundbreaking Drama and Comedy
Also included are award-winning dramas and pop culture juggernauts that defined the decade. Watch the first episode of The Casketeers, which brought heart and humour to death, and the premiere of Ahikāroa, which broke ground for te reo Māori storytelling. Westside takes viewers back to the roots of the infamous West family, while The Brokenwood Mysteries offers a taste of the beloved mystery series that has captivated audiences worldwide.
The decade’s comedy chops are on full display with the first episode of TV pranksters Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce’s Jono and Ben at Ten. The satirical news and entertainment series featured comedians including Guy Williams, Rose Matafeo and Laura Daniel. Matafeo and Daniel’s Funny Girls’ is also included — specifically their sharp, feminist NZ Suffragette Special. Also featured: web series Flat3, following Chinese-Kiwi flatmates navigating life and love, and Aroha Bridge, with animated siblings chasing musical dreams.
Taika’s Breakout Era
The collection also celebrates Taika Waititi’s rise. Included are excerpts from Boy (2010) and What We Do in the Shadows (2014) — films that helped define a new era for New Zealand cinema and inspired spinoffs still making audiences laugh both here and abroad. Wellington Paranormal (2018) is represented here with key excerpts.
Viral Moments and Cultural Phenomena
The collection includes some of the most talked-about moments in our screen history — from Shortland Street’s instantly iconic “please tell me that is not your penis” line, which went global and was even re-enacted by Jimmy Kimmel and Alec Baldwin, to the unforgettable scene at Waitangi when a protester hurled a dildo at politician Stephen Joyce.
From farewell shows and franchise spinoffs to vampire flatmates and viral TV moments, The Best of the 10s Collection is a time capsule of a decade that changed how New Zealanders made, watched, and shared stories — and now it’s all available to watch in one place.
