The Real Housewives of Auckland (abbreviated RHOAKL) is a New Zealand reality television series that premiered on Bravo on 22 August 2016.

[2] In May 2016, Anne Batley-Burton, Michelle Blanchard, Gilda Kirkpatrick, Julia Sloane, Angela Stone, and Louise Wallace were announced as the cast members for the show's debut season.

[12] During the first season's episode 6, titled "Healing Hands" which aired on 20 September 2016, cast member Julia Sloane made a racial slur against fellow cast member Michelle Blanchard, referring to her as "boat nigger".

While the nature of Bravo programming is unscripted, it is a deeply regrettable incident which we are endeavoring to deal with in a responsible manner".

[20][21] Since the racial slur was made and broadcast, Sloane's husband Michael Lorimer has claimed the remark was taken out of context to make his wife look bad and said that the couple also had taken legal action to contact Bravo to have the episode amended.

[23] On 26 September 2016, Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy was contacted by The New Zealand Herald and commented, "I do not think that overt racist behaviour is a part of kiwi culture so we all need to call it out when it rears its very ugly head, People like Julia need to understand that using words like that is not how we roll here.

[26] During the season in episode 8, titled "You Drive Me Crazy" which aired on 4 October 2016, it was revealed that Kirk Hope, chief executive of Business New Zealand, had allegedly left Angela Stone on 12 occasions.

[27] Mr Hope was criticised for telling Angela that he wanted to spend more time with "his mates".

[28] Anne Batley-Burton, Michelle Blanchard, Gilda Kirkpatrick, Julia Sloane, Angela Stone, and Louise Wallace are introduced as series regulars.