NITV - Programs and Schedules

Troy Kingi Desert Hikoi

Sunday, 1 December at 10.15pm

Multi-award-winning Māori musician and actor, Troy Kingi, is up to his 8th album in his ambitious 10/10/10 mission where he aims to record 10 albums, in 10 genres, in 10 years. However, for the past few years, writer’s block has caused Troy’s creative river to run dry.

In the hopes to source some much-needed inspiration for his upcoming Desert Rock album (a first love genre for him), Troy makes the journey from Kerikeri to Joshua Tree. With the ambitious schedule of writing and recording an entire album in just ten days, Troy and his band need to dig deep. Lucky for them, the Joshua Tree desert is filled with lots of interesting and eccentric locals who are more than happy to help Troy and the band get inspired.

Episode One: Desert Dream
Upon arriving in Joshua Tree, California, Troy Kingi and his band are taken to a sacred site by the local Tangata Whenua in 40 degree Celsius temperatures.

Piri’s Tiki Tour - Season 5

Tuesday, 3 December at 7.30pm

Well-loved former Rugby All Black Piri Weepu is back on the road and out on the water! Piri’s traveling around Aotearoa fishing, diving and gathering kai (food) alongside hardcase hearty locals and some rugby legends. This season, Piri’s adventures will take him deep into the rural heart of the country.

Episode One: Bluff
Piri’s in Motupõhue, Bluff. Hosted by local Dan Tarrant, he’s targeting local delicacy Bluff oysters and Blue Cod. Next he jumps on some big machinery with Ex Southland Stag Jason Kawau.

Episode Two: Wellington
Piri’s in his hometown of Wellington. He’s hosting his own whānau (extended family) for dive targeting mussels. He has a go at waka ama (outrigger canoeing) with ex Rugby Hurricane John Schwalger and his whānau. Then he coaches the Wellington Boys High 1st XV.

Spinal Destination

Thursday, 5 December at 8.30pm

Episode Three:
Tempers flare between the residents, and Tessa becomes suspicious when she discovers a mystery lady is taking over her house and her husband.

Episode Four:
Dan gets the all-clear to go home, but is he ready to leave his fellow Goldfield’s family? Tessa tries to reconnect with Karl.

Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90

Saturday, 7 December at 10.15pm

Fans will have the opportunity to re-live or experience for the first time, the once-in-a-lifetime interpretations of many classics from the Willie Nelson songbook.

This two-hour-plus limited release film features unimaginable collaborations, surprise appearances, music royalty and the man himself. Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 features a selection of the most memorable performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations from the star-studded two-day concert event celebrating his milestone 90th Birthday. Guests include Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Snoop Dogg, Keith Richards and George Strait.

Music season

Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Version

Sunday, 8 December at 8.30pm Premiere
This documentary details the creation of Electric Lady Studios, rising from the rubble of a bankrupt, Greenwich Village nightclub to the state-of-the-art recording facility inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s vision.

Singing Country: Clint Bracknell
Monday, 9 December at 8.30pm
Karla Grant presents Singing Country. As a music-maker and language revivalist from the south coast Noongar region of Western Australia, Clint Bracknell’s work intersects with applied linguistics, ecomusicology and Indigenous studies.

Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche
Monday, 9 December at 9.05pm
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey across the world and through her mother’s archives to reconcile their fraught relationship.

Westwind: Djalu’s Legacy
Monday, 9 December at 10.50pm
Djalu Gurruwiwi is an aging elder who is running out of time to pass on the Yidaki Songlines entrusted to him for the future of his people, before it dies with him. When Djalu breaks with tradition to try and save it, world-famous musician Gotye becomes an unexpected family member and helps amplify Djalu’s songs to the world.

UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell Live Concert
Saturday, 14 December at 10.25pm Premiere
Get a front-row view of UB40’s “In Memory of Astro” concert at Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam. The album was created to inject a little reggae sunshine into even the darkest days, and as a fitting memorial to Astro.


Troy Kingi’s Desert Hikoi

Sunday, 8 December at 10.10pm

Episode Two: Sacred Healing
Troy and Treye meet local shamans, Danny and Jael, to explore plant medicines and learn how these natural medicines can aid creativity and unlock pathways within.

Piri’s Tiki Tour - Season 5

Tuesday, 10 December at 7.30pm

Episode Three: Bluff
Piri’s in Raglan. He’s hosted by his high school friend Jordan and Ex All Black Liam Messam, targeting snapper. Then he learns some jet-ski water safety from the team at Aotearoa Water Patrol.

Episode Four: Wellington
Hosted by local Headmaster Hone Manuel, Piri and team fish for snapper and gather pipi. Next, Piri’s off to train Thames Valley Women’s rugby team and jumps on the Coromandel Zipline tour.

Spinal Destination Final Episodes

Thursday, 12 December at 8.30pm

Episode Five:
Tessa breaks the rules yet again at Goldfields and the consequences of her actions leave everyone shocked.

Episode Six:
Tessa and the gang make a dramatic bid for freedom - to the pub. Then, walking Tessa returns with a vengeance.

Kiwi Christmas - Family Movie


Friday, 13 December at 7.30pm

In this Kiwi Christmas movie, Santa gets sick of the materialism surrounding Christmas and runs away to New Zealand, but two children quickly discover who he is.

Starring Lucy Andrews, Sia Trokenheim and Kari Väänänen.

Is NITV really struggling to fill the schedule with Indigenous content from Canada, USA and NZ? This series of shows should be on SBS Viceland instead.

I’d say so, nothing new there. They can only make / acquire so much Indigenous content with budget vs audience without being repeat city.

Why can’t there be adjacent general supporting content on the channel which airs around Indigenous programming?

Airing shows and movies from other countries is nothing new for NITV. I know it is hard to fill the channel with new indigenous shows 24/7.

I don’t think Volumz has aired for a while, but it would be nice to air in the late slot to fill the void. Or extended versions of Bamay, an aerial footage show. Or even “slow tv” repeats.

Nothing new - once time I noticed that NITV were airing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang