Warning: hosted by Fair Go’s Matt Chisholm, local reality blockbuster Survivor New Zealand premieres on TVNZ 2 on 7 May.

In the lead up to the big event, TVNZ’s rolling out a national campaign preparing the public of the dangers that lie ahead.

TVNZ has set up camp with broadcast sponsor GEM Finance to bring the ultimate challenge of survival to New Zealand screens, along with commercial partners Pizza Hut, Alison’s Pantry, Spark and Repel.

More than 8000 Kiwi hopefuls were whittled down to band of 16 remarkable individuals vying to be New Zealand’s inaugural sole survivor. The series follows the survivors as they are marooned on the Central American island of Nicaragua. With little more than the clothes on their backs, the survivors are deprived of basic comforts and must build their own shelter, light their own fires, gather their own food and fend for themselves.

They’ll compete in reward challenges – with coveted prizes supplied by the in-show sponsors Pizza Hutt, Alison’s Pantry and Spark. Repel products will be integrated into the show as an everyday essential to keep the tropical bugs and insects at bay.

The winner of Survivor New Zealand will walk away with a life-changing experience and a life-changing cash prize of $100,000.

TVNZ’s Andrew Shaw, General Manager of Acquisitions, Commissioning and Production says: “Survivor is the ultimate test of endurance, strength and strategy. To win Survivor will take determination intelligence and tenacity. These Kiwis will be put under extreme pressure.

“It’s unpredictable, full of twists and turns, and highly addictive. Our production partners Warner Bros have made a world class show with high production standards in an extraordinary setting.”

TVNZ’s Commercial Director Paul Maher says: “Survivor’s a big, adventurous format and it’s attracted big, adventurous brands. We’ve loved working with our main broadcast sponsor GEM Finance and key commercial partners Pizza Hut, Alison’s Pantry, Spark and Repel to create the big local show everyone’s going to be talking about for months to come.”

TVNZ is supporting the show’s launch with a major TV, outdoor and digital marketing campaign, says Maher. “We’re confident we’ve made a blockbuster series that audiences are going to really respond to and we’re fully invested in making Survivor a must watch for viewers and a big success for our commercial partners.”

TVNZ Blacksand has created the high impact cautionary marketing campaign which includes TV spots, outdoor promotion and digital executions. TVNZ will also construct a Survivor HQ on its central Auckland site – a converted shipping container, which will be the setting for promotional activity, and extra content such as post show analysis and interviews for TVNZ’s online channels.

GEM Marketing Director, Kate Tinkler, says: “GEM is about Kiwis making smarter money choices and, like Survivor, that means getting ahead and making the most out of every opportunity.

“GEM is entering into the spirit and excitement of the Survivor brand, and will be engaging with Kiwis to find out the top 10 items they need to survive, with the opportunity for a lucky winner to receive their list. And as the show progresses GEM also has a surprise in store for fans.”

In coming weeks, TVNZ’s commercial partners will be rolling out a range of multi-channel campaigns that leverage their show profile, including complementary TVCs, internal marketing, digital and point of sale executions.

Survivor New Zealand is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand.

Survivor New Zealand

Creative: TVNZ Blacksand

Broadcast sponsor: GEM Finance

In show sponsors:

Pizza Hut

Alison’s Pantry

Spark

Repel

TVNZ 2’s Survivor New Zealand airs Sundays and Mondays from May 7

Sunday 7pm (90 minutes)

Monday 7.30pm (60 minutes)

Or stream all the twists and turns on TVNZ OnDemand

ENDS