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.
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.
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).
[4] 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 personnel from the police, SAS, armed forces and soldiers competed against each other in the most "extreme" condition in the show history.
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.
This season put 8 celebrity couples[16] against each other; these included former Miss Popularity Vicky-Lee McIntyre & Scotty Rocker,[17] Vadim Dale & Natalie Franzman, Jaimee Provan & Johnny Claxton, Bridgette O'Sullivan and Lance O'Sullivan, Simon Doull & Peggy Bourne, Jay-Jay Feeney & Dominic Harvey, Paula Stockwell & Zane Nicholl and Courtney Robinson & Mark Hewlett.
This season initial featured two tribes – The Buccaneers,[18] which included New Zealand Idol runner-up Michael Murphy, former New Zealand Warriors league player Monty Betham, Aja Rock, Carolyn Taylor, Jay Quinn and Elizabeth Grey; and The Corsairs,[19] which included Australian disgraced rugby union player Wendell Sailor, David Beckham's former assistant Rebecca Loos, April Ieremia, Glen Osbourne, Steve Devine and Li Ming Hu.
The first twist of the season is an additional tribe, also known as The Others – consist of Dancing With The Stars dancer Hayley Holt, DIY Rescue builder Doug Thompson, personal trainer Keri Ropati, Mr India NZ Jay Singh, Miss Hawaiian Tropic Carena West and Cleo Bachelor Of The Year Nick Curnow.
[26] Following the format of TV2's hit show Treasure Island, 14 celebrities divide into two teams to compete for $20,000 for the Youthline charity.
South Team - Blue: Frank Bunce, rugby player; Nicky Watson, model; John "Cocksy" Cocks, My House, My Castle handyman; Katrina Hobbs, actor; Dominic Bowden, music show presenter; Jane Kiely, TV presenter; Trent Bray, swimmer.
North Team - Red: Sally Ridge, Changing Rooms designer; Danny Morrison, NZ Cricketer; Nicki Sunderland, ZM DJ; Anthony Ray Parker, actor; Stacey Daniels, TV presenter; Andy Dye, Changing Rooms builder; Erika Takacs, singer.
[27] The season's contestants[28] included Josh Kronfeld, Simon Barnett, Brent Todd, Ian Roberts, Maz Quinn, Troy Flavell, Torenzo Bozzone, Matthew Ridge, Aja Rock, Charlotte Dawson, Jayne Kiley, Joe Cotton, Lana Coc-Kroft, Wendy Botha, Hayley Marie Byrnes, and Nicky Watson.
The classic Kiwi game show featured 16 celebrity castaways paired up as they completed challenges for the chance to win $100,000 for their charity of choice in Fiji.
After a COVID-19 pandemic enforced break in 2020, the fifth edition of Celebrity Treasure Island was filmed over summer 2021 on the coast of Ngataki, New Zealand, instead of the usual location in Fiji.
In this season, Chisholm and Tomasel returned as hosts, and 21 celebrity castaways go 'head-to-head' for the chance to win $100,000 for their chosen charity.
The sixth edition of Celebrity Treasure Island was filmed in the summer of 2022 on the coast of Northland, New Zealand with Chisholm and Tomasel returned as hosts.
Va'aiga 'Inga' Tuigamala was confirmed to be part of the cast who died ahead of filming Celebrity Treasure Island.
[38] This season premiered on 5 September, and airs weekly, Monday to Wednesday, at 7:30 PM on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+; hosted by Matt Chisholm and Bree Tomasel.
The Australian version, Treasure Island A Quest for Survival,[44] produced by David Mason premiered on the Seven Network following the 2000 Summer Olympics.
[45] 16 plucky Australians are cast adrift on a remote Tongan island in the South Pacific hoping to overcome challenges in the hunt for A$50,000 in treasure.
The 16 castasways were split into two teams[46] – West Team which included Michael "Mike" Kent, Emma Forster, Daniel Popping, Sally Maxwell, Cassandra 'Cassie' Edwards, Justine Salkilld-Campbell, Steve Ibbotson Craig Sharpe; and the East Team[47] which included Tomi Pitra, Gavin Heath, Maggie Dawson, Monika Karwan, Alexandra "Alex" Simpson, Frank Matzka, Kym Clare and James Wirtanen, with James Wirtanen being crowned the winner.
Based on a New Zealand format, two groups of strangers lived and survived on a remote island in Tonga with one winner taking home the £50,000 prize.
[51] A spin-off series was shown on Network 2 named Treasure Island Uncut on Monday nights at 10:35 pm.
[53] Sean O'Brien won the treasure hunt beating Ann Collins, Annette Woolley, Aoife MacCana, Bernadette Duffy, Chantelle McCann, Damian Manning, Dave O'Brien, Ian Tighe, Mark Daly, Mary T. O'Connor, Patricia O'Mahony, Sabine Sheehan, Sean Paul Teeling, Trevor McDaniel and Winston Roberts.