TVNZ is introducing a local edition of the popular quiz show The Chase, commissioning a short, four-episode run titled The Chase New Zealand. Interestingly, the Kiwi version will be filmed in Sydney using the production team and Chasers from the Australian iteration.
Here’s the Lowdown: Produced by ITV Studios Australia, the team behind Channel 7’s The Chase Australia, this new version seeks contestants from New Zealand. While the UK original remains popular in NZ, the Australian version hosted by Larry Emdur has had less traction there. No host or specific airdate for the NZ edition has been revealed yet.
What This Means Now: New Zealand quiz enthusiasts have until May 30, 2025, to apply. The casting notice indicates contestants will face Chasers from the Australian show, potentially including Anne Hegerty (‘The Governess’). However, applicants must cover their own travel costs to Sydney for filming.
The Bigger Picture: This production setup suggests a cautious approach by TVNZ, utilizing existing Australian resources for a limited run rather than investing in a full-scale local production immediately. The requirement for contestants to self-fund travel further points to this being an initial test of the format’s appeal with a distinctly Kiwi flavour.
