At an undisclosed Northland location, Alex Casey sits down with every cast member of Celebrity Treasure Island for 2026. 

Celebrity Treasure Island has a habit of arriving on our screens just when we need it the most. Whether it was Chris Parker’s triumphant underdog win during the height of Omicron ruining our lives, or James Mustapic and Tamē Iti’s unforgettable vision of modern day Aotearoa, the reality TV competition in which celebrities are marooned on an island for charity often feels like the best of us. And now, at a time where the national mood remains firmly in the toilet, a new bumper crop of familiar faces has arrived to provide a welcome family-friendly escape. 

Starting on Monday April 27, this ‘Wisdom vs Fury’ themed season will see 16 new personalities enter the thunderdome of strategy, physical challenges, and food deprivation in the name of their chosen charity. With $100,000 on the line for the last person standing, Celebrity Treasure Island (CTI) heads back to the Far North with hosts Bree Tomasel and Jayden Daniels at the helm in various shades of khaki. Returning for the first time with NZ On Air funding, the stakes have never been higher for both New Zealand’s premiere original reality series, nor the people stepping up to play. 

Here are the brave souls entering the competition this year.

Ben Barrington

Whomst? Best known for playing Dr Drew McAskill on Shortland Street for over a decade, providing such memorable soap opera moments as “it’s a poo-nami”, being shot by the father of a patient who wanted breast implants, and being arrested for driving while under the influence of marijuana. Announcing just last week that he is leaving Shortland Street for good, Barrington told The Spinoff on the island that CTI is a chance to shake off his “homebody” lifestyle. “We don’t lead particularly adventurous lives and I haven’t been camping since I was at school,” he said. But in true Shortland Street cliffhanger style, there’s more to this story – read on to find out which powerful Ferndale ally Barrington has lurking in this very cast. 

David Correos

Whomst? Probably best known as the Burger King guy, comedian David Correos gave us one of the television moments of 2021 when he unleashed an unforgettable diss rap on his fellow Taskmaster contestants, including the jovial threat to drown them in their own blood (good luck to his opposing team on CTI). Also popping up in everything from 7 Days, to Creamerie, to The Weed Eaters, Correos revealed he is going to use his unpredictable, comedic persona to his advantage. “I’m going to play up that I don’t know what’s going on, because then I can get more information from everyone else,” he told The Spinoff. “Playing the fool comes so naturally to me, so I’m hoping to tag along to the end and then just go crazy.” You have been warned. 

Frank Bunce

Whomst? A 55-cap All Black legend and returning Celebrity Treasure Island cast member, Bunce first washed up on the series back in 2001 on the shores of Fiji. Flaunting a floral bandanna and a “lethal set of lenses” at the time, Bunce recalls the first iteration being much rougher than the CTI you see today. “We had to make our own shelters, but I don’t remember it being too uncomfortable,” he said. “But then again that was over 20 odd years ago and I was 20 years younger.” One of the elders of the island at 64 years old, Bunce added he was keen to seize the opportunity to return to CTI. “I’m getting older and these chances aren’t gonna keep happening, so I thought it was a good time to have some fun and have an adventure.”

Georgia Lines

Whomst? A singer-songwriter and host of the Intros podcast, Lines told The Spinoff she had never seen the show when she got the call to come to Celebrity Treasure Island, but was sold after just a few episodes. “I love the inclusivity of the show and the sense of connection,” she said. “How they’re interacting with the land, how they are interacting with the people, it’s how we hope New Zealand would be.” The rugged elements of the competition were also hugely appealing. “I really loved school camp, I loved the Burma Trail and I loved sleeping in a sleeping bag-” she paused. “Wait, I don’t even know if they’re going to give us sleeping bags…” 

Harrison Keefe

Whomst? The Edge radio host is also known for his role as B-Rad in Ahikāroa, and frequently going viral online with jaunty dance videos. Having studied at Toi Whakaari, the same drama school that CTI winner Chris Parker attended, Keefe remembers weekly flat viewings of Parker’s 2021 season. “We’d look at each other, go, ‘man, I wonder which one of us is gonna go on the show, and I’d be thinking ‘hopefully it’s me’.” Like many in the cast, Keefe was also looking forward to handing over his phone. “My job means that you’re always checking on how your posts are doing, always scheduling, always emailing. I can’t wait to go off the grid.” 

Liv Parker

Whomst? Speaking of Chris Parker, it’s only Chris Parker’s little sister Liv Parker. While the actor and comedian has popped up in everything from Educators, Creamerie and Wellington Paranormal, you’ll most likely recognise her from Spark’s divisive half-a-car ad campaign. As for following in the triumphant footsteps of her older brother, Parker said their family are not traditionally the intrepid, active types. “The Parkers don’t ski, bake or camp,” she laughed. “It’s not like we are the Barretts or something.” Still, she gleaned some useful wisdom from Chris ahead of the competition: “the main thing I wanted to know was: how did you not go insane?” 

Louis Davis

Whomst? Awarded New Zealand creator of the year at the 2025 TikTok awards, Louis Davis has a TikTok following of over two million people and can frequently be found on social media diving, tucking into seafood with celebrities, and sharing parts of his life in Northland. When The Spinoff meets Davis at the secret island location, he had already scoped out all the good kaimoana spots. “I’m glad we’ve got the side with that reef structure over there,” he said, scanning the ocean. “There’ll be kinas, crays, paua, oysters – even if you don’t like eating seafood I bet you’ll be pretty open-minded to that after eating rice and beans every other day.” 

Nix Adams

Whomst? Another content creator to crack over a million followers on TikTok, Nix Adams is known for her online comedy sketches and extremely frank reflections on life and motherhood after struggling with a drug addiction and time in prison. When we sat down for a chinwag, Adams was just as unfiltered and expletive-ridden as you’d expect. “My heart nearly fucking fell out of my ass when everyone went around and said how old they were,” she cackled. “I’m the oldest one on my team, and I’m the only parent. I don’t know if that’s a weakness or a strength, but now I’m representing all us fucking old bitches – damn, that’s a lot of pressure.”  

Polly Gillespie

Whomst? A media personality, agony aunt and former broadcaster with over three decades on the airwaves, Polly Gillespie told The Spinoff she originally turned down CTI years ago. “I had little kids and I just didn’t need to do it, but this time, I’m at a point where I need to do things that I’m not necessarily comfortable with,” she explained. “I haven’t watched the show for a while, but everyone I know watches it from all walks of life. It’s very popular, apparently.” And while she is worried about being uncoordinated, Gillespie maintains she doesn’t have a fierce competitive streak. “I’m only competitive around pub quizzes,” she said. “Anything else, I’m just like ‘meh’.” Could be honesty, could be tactics, only time will tell.  

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe 

Whomst? Black Ferns legend and Olympic gold medallist, Woodman-Wickliffe told The Spinoff that it was the comedown from the World Cup last year that propelled her onto the island. “You’re playing in front of 82,000 people, you’re around your friends day in and day out, you’re travelling to so many different places, and then you come home and you are doing the washing a million times’” she laughed. “I just want to get out of doing chores.” And despite having over a decade in the public eye, Woodman-Wickliffe says there’s still many layers for audiences to discover. “I burp a lot more than people think – there’s gonna be a lot of burping.”

Ria Vandervis 

Whomst? It’s only bloody Harper from Shortland Street and the onscreen wife of Ben Barrington! Having endured a pretty rough run in Ferndale including affairs, assaults and the death of her character at the end of last year, Vandervis told The Spinoff she was already pondering how her soap history could help (or hurt) her game. “Maybe Ben and I should pretend that we had a falling out, and that’s why I left the show,” she laughed. “To be able to last as a married couple for nine years on a soap opera is pretty good going and we know each other so well. He’s a very good liar with a very good poker face, though, so watch out for that.” 

Sammi Poole 

Whomst? She’s beauty and she’s grace, she’s the winner of Miss World New Zealand 2025, and Poole told The Spinoff there’s a lot she will bring from the cutthroat pageant world to the island. “I mean talk about resilience – I walk around in six-inch heels for sometimes eight hours a day,” she said. “Put me in a pair of stilts and I’ll be all good.” And while there may be some preconceptions lurking around a young blonde beauty queen, Poole is ready to shatter people’s expectations. “I’m not a little princess. I grew up as a tomboy with three brothers and I had to fight for everything.” Alert security, sounds like someone is coming for the crown.  

Simon Barnett 

Whomst? He’s the More FM radio host, Dancing With the Stars dad bod winner, and yet another returnee Celebrity Treasure Island cast member. Like Frank Bunce, Barnett competed in the early 2000s era, and recalls the challenges being much more physical than today. “Now it seems a little bit more cerebral,” he said. “I’m a reasonably intelligent sort of a bloke, but those puzzles I’m not very flash at.” Nonetheless, it was his daughters who convinced him to do the show in memory of his late wife Jodi. “They said, ‘Dad, if you don’t do it, you’re just going to sit at home’, and they’re probably right,” he said. “This is less about winning, and more about me just trying to find some new things in life.” 

Te Ao o Hinepehinga 

Whomst? Star of the made-in-NZ Jason Momoa Apple TV blockbuster Chief of War, alongside credits in Head High and Breakwater, actor Te Ao o Hinepehinga told The Spinoff that reality shows normally make her anxiety go “through the roof” – but not CTI. “I know I’m an actress and nobody knows who I am… but also how much of a missed opportunity would it be if I didn’t go and play some games and win some money for beautiful charities?” she said. It is also the positive representation on CTI (and the fact she could bring a hot water bottle) that sealed the deal. “CTI does this beautiful thing where, no matter who they are, every single person has always been welcomed and celebrated and supported, and that’s really cool.” 

Vinnie Bennett 

Whomst? You would have seen Vinnie Bennet in TV shows like Testify and Friends Like Her, local films such as Whina and Human Traces, and even Hollywood blockbusters like F9. “Acting can be quite a self-serving career, but I think this is a good opportunity to use my influence in a really positive way that can make a meaningful impact,” he said. “I think I can definitely do this, but once I’m out there I could just totally crumble.” Perhaps Bennett can find strength in Harrison Keefe, who he co-hosts food review series The Yummy Boiz with? “We haven’t had a discussion about an alliance yet – but it’s definitely a good thing we’re on the same team.” 

Zion Dayal​ 

Whomst? The TVNZ sports reporter is used to being in the interviewer’s seat, and told The Spinoff the nerves were creeping in about stepping centrestage into the CTI arena. “I won’t lie, I’m nervous,” he laughed. “I have a little bit more sympathy for people that I interview now, because it is really different when you are on the other side of the camera.” And even though he has been pinching himself to be alongside sporting greats like Frank Bunce and social media stars “who always pop up when I’m doomscrolling” Dayal’s still going to give the competition a good crack. “I feel like I have to take baby steps before just going for the jugular,” he said. 

“But obviously I want to win it.” 

Celebrity Treasure Island starts Monday 27 April on TVNZ2