Treasure Island is a reality competition television franchise. The programme originated in New Zealand in 1997, where it was originally produced by Touchdown Television and broadcast by TVNZ, with later editions produced for broadcasters in Australia and Ireland. In the programme, contestants are isolated on a remote Fijian island (early shows were filmed in Tonga) and compete for a cash prize of NZ$25,000. From the 2019 edition, the winner of the Celebrity Treasure Island will receive NZ$100,000 and NZ$50,000 for the regular season their chosen charity.
Concept history The Treasure Island concept was created by former Touchdown producer Darryl McEwen after searching in the local library for a story on which he could base a reality gameshow before the successful Swedish programme Expedition Robinson – the original version of the Survivor format.
Challenges 1997–2001: Contestants are required to complete a quiz on a computer about Treasure Island and about their teammates during an elimination challenge. Once both teams finished the quiz, the computer would generate the two lowest-scoring members (one from each tribe) as to who will be leaving the island. 2002–2007: In 2002, the winning team eliminated one person from their own tribe. The eliminated person will eliminate one of their opposition team members. In 2003, Terminator/Elimination challenge was introduced. One selected member of the team would compete with one selected member of the opposing team in a 'terminator' challenge. The winner would become the terminator and would eliminate one member from both teams at the end of each day. 2019–present: Tribes competed for various challenges including Rewards, face-offs and Captain's Test. Charity Challenges were introduced as individual challenges and rotated between teams daily. $170,000 was raised in the 2019 edition while 2021 season raised $215,000 for various charities across New Zealand.
Series franchise overview Legend: Currently airing franchise Franchise with an upcoming season Franchise no longer aired Status unknown
Country Title Network(s) Winners Host(s) Treasure Island: A Quest for Survival Seven Network Series 1, 2000: James Wirtanen Treasure Island RTÉ One Series 1, 2001: Yvonne Cronin Series 2, 2002: Sean O’Brien Treasure Island (1–2)Treasure Island: Extreme (4)Superstars of Treasure Island (7)Treasure Island: Couples at War (8)Treasure Island: Pirates of the Pacific (9)Treasure Island: Fans vs Favs (13) TVNZ 2 Series 1, 1997: Levi Bowen Series 2, 1999: Tanya Pouwhare Series 4, 2002: John "Horse" McLeod Series 7, 2005: Josh Kronfeld Series 8, 2006: Lance O'Sullivan & Bridgette O'Sullivan Series 9, 2007: Hayley Holt Series 13, 2023: Matty McLeanMark Perry (Narrator) (1-2) Pieta Keating (2) Jacqui Rickards (4) Jon Stevens (7–8) Matthew Ridge (9) Bree Tomasel (13) Jayden Daniels (13) Celebrity Treasure IslandSeries 3, 2001: John "Cocksy" Cocks† Series 5, 2003: Greer Robson Series 6, 2004: Josh Kronfeld Series 10, 2019: Sam Wallace Series 11, 2021: Chris Parker Series 12, 2022: Jesse Tuke Series 14, 2023: James Mustapic Series 15, 2024: JP Foliaki Series 16, 2026: Nicola "Nix" Adams Series 17, 2027: Upcoming seriesCurrent Bree Tomasel (10–present) Jayden Daniels (14, 16) Former Pieta Keating (3, 5) John 'Horse' McLeod (5) Louise Wallace (6) Matt Chisholm (10–12) Jayden Daniels (14) Lance Savali (15)
New Zealand series overview +List of Treasure Island and Celebrity Treasure Island seasons No. Title Premiere Finale Location Days Winner Runner(s)-up Grand Prize 1 June 1, 1997 July 13, 1997 Mamanuca Islands, Fiji21 $25,000 2 1999 1999Vavaʻu, Tonga $25,000 3 26 August 2001 14 October 2001 $20,000 (Charity: Youthline) 4 15 October 2002 3 December 2002 Mamanuca Islands, Fiji 24 $30,000 5 5 October 2003 30 November 2003 Vavaʻu, Tonga $30,000 (Charity: First Foundation) 6 13 June 2004 22 August 2004 Mamanuca Islands, Fiji $30,000 (Charity) 7 24 April 2005 26 June 2005Vavaʻu, Tonga $50,000 8 5 February 2006 23 April 2006 $50,000 9 11 February 2007 6 May 2007Mamanuca Islands, Fiji $50,000 10 18 August 2019 24 September 2019 18 $100,000 (Charity: Starship Hospital) 11 6 September 2021 3 November 2021Ngataki, New Zealand $100,000 (Charity: Rainbow Youth Inc) 12 5 September 2022 2 November 2022 $100,000 (Charity: Live Ocean) 13 30 January 2023 1 March 2023Mamanuca Islands, Fiji 15 Two tribes of eight $50,000 (Charity: Zeal Education Trust) 14 18 September 2023 25 October 2023Wanaka, New Zealand 18 Two tribes of nine James Mustapic $100,000(Chosen Charity: Gender Minorities Aotearoa)15 9 September 2024 16 October 2024 Mercury Bay, New Zealand 18 Two tribes of nine JP Foliaki Christian "Cully" CullenJames Rolleston $100,000(Chosen Charity: Childfund – Water Run)16 27 April 2026 26 May 2026 Ngataki, New Zealand 18 Two tribes of eight Nicola "Nix" Adams Liv ParkerLouis Davis $105,000(Chosen Charity: Child Abuse Prevention Foundation)
Treasure Island (1997–2007, 2023–present)
Season 1 (1997) Also called Treasure Island 1, Season 1 was shot in Fiji in 1997. Levi Bowen was the season's winner with Pieta Keating coming in second.
This season consists of 5 episodes. In Episode 1, 19 people were shortlisted from 3,000 applicants. They spend a weekend doing some team activities before 12 castaways were officially cast. The remaining 7 who didn't make the cast include Nikki (37, Farmer & Mother of 4 from Temuka), Daniel (25, Lawyer from Wellington), Hugo (22, Student from Dunedin), Ana (23, Special need teacher from Rakaia), Paul (25, Internet Technologist from Auckland), Clint (19, Student from Te Kauwhata) & Anneke (21, Trainee teacher from Devonport, Auckland) who withdrew from casting and was replaced by Loretta (20, Media Studies student).
They cast flew to Nadi, Fiji, and travelled westward to an inhabited island. Castaways were divided into 2 teams of six (3 men and 3 women). North (red) Team consist of Angus (32, Insurance Loss Adjuster from North Shore Auckland), Debbie (36, Stay-at-home Mother from Whangarei), Matt (28, PhD Genetics Student from Dunedin), Pieta (22, Writer/TV presenter from Auckland), Sunny (20, Advertising Clerk from New Plymouth) and Tama (24, Webpage designer). South (Blue) Team consist of Ally (24, Account Manager from Auckland), Chris (43, IT project manager from West Auckland), Herbie (22, Youth worker from Auckland), Levi Bowen (24yo, Trainee pilot and kitchen fitter from Hamilton East), Loretta (20, Media Studies student) and Susan Hornsby (29, Lawyer from Wellington). Every five days, two people were eliminated by a test. Day 5 - Tama (North) & Susan (South). Day 10 - Matt (North) & Chris (South). Day 13 (Unschedule elimination test) - Sunny (North) & Loretta (South). Day 15 - Debbie (North) & Herbie (South). Day 20 - Angus (North) & Ally (South). Day 21 - Pieta lost the treasure hunt. Levi won $25,000.
An additional special episode Treasure Island Revisited were showcased 2 weeks after the grand finale.
Episode 1 – A reality series in which 12 people are deposited on a Pacific Island, with four weeks to survive and find hidden treasure. Today 19 New Zealanders participate in outdoor challenges, where only 12 will be selected to continue with the adventure. Episode 2 – Two teams made up of 12 people try to crack coded messages to find more parts of treasure map, the two eliminated contestants are Tama Keane and Susan Hornsby. Episode 3 – Two teams made up of 10 people try to crack coded messages to find more parts of treasure map, the two eliminated contestants are Matt Lambeth and Chris Robinson. Episode 4 – Two teams made up of eight people try to crack coded messages to find more parts of treasure map, the eliminated contestants are Sunita Torrance, Loretta Blackburn, Debbie Ujdur and Herbert Sherman. Episode 5 – Two teams made up of four people try to crack coded messages to find more parts of treasure map, the eliminated contestants are Angus Bradley, Ally Fox and Pieta Keating, the winner of the $25,000 is Levi Bowen. Episode 6 – A behind the scenes look at the reality series in which 12 people are deposited on a Pacific Island, with four weeks to survive and find hidden treasure.
Season 2 (1999) A reality series in which 16 people are deposited on a Pacific Island in Tonga with four weeks to survive and find hidden treasure and hosted by previous contestant Pieta Keating. The 16 people were separated into two tribes with Tongan names based on the geographical camp base; Hahake (East) and Hihifo (West)
Radio DJ Tanya Pouwhare from Palmerston North was the season's winner against Graham. Gisborne C4 music TV host Clarke Gayford and Chad made it to the final 4.
Episode 1 – 20 people endure the audition weekend and the final 16 are selected. Episode 2 – The 16 people arrive at their island and divide into two groups. Episode 3 – Teams struggle to understand a cryptic message and personality conflicts ensue, lack of food causes a snake fest, and Nikki and Maea are eliminated. Episode 4 – Teams are desperate for food, Hihifo suffer the effects of poorly prepared kape (Tongan taro), a pig is caught, tempers flare as there are difficulties decoding the clues, and Mia Pistorius and Daile are eliminated. Episode 5 – Team Hihifo delay their rivals through trade and speed ahead to their second part of the map, Harry and Hayden are eliminated. Episode 6 – Team internal conflicts continue, Hihifo find the fifth part of the treasure map, but lose equipment and food to Hahake in tough trade talks, Ngaio McGee and Sandra are eliminated. Episode 7 – Tensions arise between Revell and his Hihifo teammates, Michele braves a 15-metre climb up a palm tree, Diana and Michele are eliminated. Episode 8 – Hahake and Hihifo both race to the Kava Altar to find the seventh piece of the treasure map, Hahake are angry that their outrigger canoe was taken without their knowledge, Revell and Kane Stanford are eliminated. Episode 9 – Today, Chad Carter and Clarke Gayford are eliminated, the last two contestants Tanya Pouwhare and Graham Sayer fight it out for the $25,000 by following a series of clues, Hahake team member Tanya is the winner. Episode 10 – The last time they met they were battling it out on a deserted island in the pacific, now they meet again on TREASURE ISLAND 2: THE REUNION.
Season 3 (2002) Treasure Island: Extreme was hosted by model Jacqui Rickards. The 16 personnel from the police, SAS, armed forces and soldiers competed against each other in the most "extreme" condition in the show history. They were marooned offshore of the island without any food, water or shelter and were separated into Blue Team and Red Team. On each elimination day, both teams lost a team player. John "Horse" McLeod was the season's winner.
A notable incident happened when the SAS contestant Baz Rice was eliminated from the game and refused to leave, instead of hiding in the jungle. Because of previous threats made to rival contestants, a security warning was issued to other competitors. He eventually returned from the jungle and left the island.
Episode 1 – A reality series in which 16 of New Zealand's armed services elite arrive at their island and divide into two groups. Episode 2 – Red win the challenge and Roo and Red are eliminated. Episode 3 – Red win the third challenge, Baz and Tomo are eliminated but Baz goes missing. Episode 4 – Blue win the fourth challenge, Jeff considers leaving the island, Barry collapses in the water, Hayden breaks rules by swimming out to a yacht at night, Baz is found and Jeff and Nancy are eliminated. Episode 5 – Red win the fifth challenge, Hayden and Phill are eliminated. Episode 6 – Blue team win the sixth challenge, Red win bonus water, AJ and Barry Duffield are eliminated. Episode 7 – Blue win the challenge and Daz and Muddi are eliminated. Episode 8 – Blue win the challenge, Blue win bonus water and food, Aroha and Kelvin are eliminated, Horse finds the hidden treasure against Paul.
Season 4 (2005)