Tara Ward meets the brand new cast of Celebrity Treasure Island, including some seasoned TV veterans, an All Blacks legend and… a sitting MP?
As we drag our sorry souls towards the end of a bleak and grey winter, spring gives us plenty to look forward to. Flowers will burst into bloom, baby animals will frolic through the fields, and a fresh gaggle of celebrities will wash up on a deserted island in search of buried treasure. Against a stunning new backdrop of Te Whanganui-o-Hei in the Coromandel, next month’s brand new season of Celebrity Treasure Island will see 18 local personalities try and solve an ancient family mystery to win $100,000 for their chosen charity.
The Coromandel isn’t the only new element coming to CTI this season. Host Bree Tomasel will be joined by a new offsider, CTI legend Lance Savali, whose two seasons as a CTI player will surely come in handy when wrangling these hungry celebrities. As the competition begins, viewers can expect more wacky CTI challenges and more unexpected emotional moments, and you can bet your beans and rice that there’ll be more tears and drama than you can shake a cold McDonald’s combo meal at.
Earlier this year, I made an intrepid voyage to a remote beach somewhere in the Coromandel, where I sat down with each one of the brave celebrity castaways. Only hours before they headed off on the adventure of a lifetime, I stared these famous people in the eyes and grilled them on the important stuff: their strategies, their inspiration, and which song they’d play to hype themselves up before they launched themselves down a slip and slide on an inflatable unicorn.
Time and tide waits for no-one, so let’s dive straight into this year’s CTI cast.
Aidee Walker
You might recognise Aidee from her roles in Outrageous Fortune, One Lane Bridge or Catching the Black Widow, but the New Zealand actor is just as comfortable behind the camera as in front of it. Having directed shows like Kid Sister and Westside, Aidee is now turning her talents to surviving the gritty sands of the Coromandel.
CTI hype song: ‘Suck My Cherry’ by Haiku Hands. “If I could change my career, I would be them because they just perform and dance and make people happy. It’s badass music.”
Best skill: Problem solving. “My goal is to be really open minded to all the changes.”
Bubbah
She’s Tina from Turners, she made us laugh in shows like Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee and Sis, and she got her arm tattooed just to win five points in Taskmaster NZ. How far will this actor, writer and comedian go to win CTI, given she hasn’t watched a single episode? “I heard it’s a watered-down version of Survivor. I know of the show, I just don’t know what it is.” Fighting words indeed.
What she’s looking forward to: Winning. “When I did Taskmaster, I had no idea what was going on, and I kept surprising myself. They were all really nice surprises, like, ‘oh, I can do it, and I can do it great’. So I’m ready for those surprises.”
Best skill: Bubbah will be choosing love on the island. “I will try my absolute best, but sometimes that can frustrate someone else, if it’s not going at their speed or whatever. So I’ll teach them how to love me in that moment.”
Carmel Sepuloni
The rumours were true, but what’s a current member of parliament doing on a reality TV show, you might wonder? “It’s happened before,” the MP for Kelston and former Labour deputy prime minister told us. “We’ve seen Rodney Hide and David Seymour do Dancing with the Stars, so why can’t Carmel Sepuloni do Celebrity Treasure Island?”
Why she said yes to CTI: “This is one of the few programs that me and the family would religiously sit down and watch. I didn’t want to have any regrets in saying no.”
How politics have prepared her for CTI: “Well, expect the unexpected in politics, and I guess that’s the same with this. The ability to get along with a range of people is something that I’ve been able to do as a politician, and I think I’ll be able to do here as well.”
Casey Kopua
As a former Silver Ferns captain, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a netball world champion, Kopua will be a fierce physical threat. She’s hoping her down to earth approach and leadership skills will come in handy on the island too.
Why she came on the show: “The challenge to get out of my comfort zone. We go camping a lot, but not off the grid. My family reckon I won’t be able to deal with the bugs.”
Inspirational quote: Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done.
Christian Cullen
The former Hurricanes fullback and All Blacks legend was most comfortable playing on the rugby field, but how will Christian Cullen fare on the CTI beach? “I’m not a sleep-in-the-elements kind of guy,” Cullen says. “I like my home comforts, the food and the bed and the couches and the Sky TV.” Thoughts and prayers.
Hype song: Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car’. “I’m into a bit of country so Chris Stapleton or Luke Combs. I’m not the hype guy. I’ll be like the pretty mellow, chilled guy.”
Best skill: Serenity, he reckons. “I’m pretty calm. I don’t get rattled too easily.”
Duncan Garner
That’s right, it’s Duncan Garner, former press gallery journalist, AM presenter, Today FM broadcaster and currently, daily news podcaster. When he’s not talking about the news, Garner is also a keen fisherman, and he’s feeling confident about lasting long enough in the great outdoors to reel in that treasure.
CTI hype song: ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor. “We used to play that before our first XV rugby games.”
Best skill: Mental toughness. “Bring it. You know, the harder the better. I’m like a tractor or donkey. I’ll just keep going.”
Gaby Solomona
This Samoan-New Zealand actress starred in shows like Double Parked, Creamerie and Baby Mama’s Club, or you might recognise her voice from NiuFM’s Morning Shack. A longtime fan of the show, Gaby is looking forward to representing young Samoan women on television. “This isn’t just an opportunity for me, but for other brown girls who haven’t been able to see themselves on screen.”
CTI hype song: ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston. “I want to sing it and perform it for everyone.”
Best skill: Team player. “I know how to bring people together. I get along with everyone, and I’m loyal. I don’t know if that’s a skill, but you know, I will ride and die for my team.”
James Rolleston
He’s the star of several classic New Zealand films, from Boy to The Breaker-Upperers to Whina. After recovering from a traumatic head injury in a car accident when he was 19, Rolleston is keen to tackle another new role, this time on reality TV. “I love all the activities they do on CTI, and it’s an awesome opportunity to build relationships.”
How he describes himself: “I’m a very competitive person, but I think I can be quite out there and confident and relaxed.”
Best skill: Strength, particularly in the challenges. “I think I’ll bring a bit of humour too, in my own way, and a bit of light.”
Janaye Henry
Billy T Award-nominated comedian, writer and actor Janaye Henry is a huge TV fan, a member of the extended Spinoff family, and has identified an unlikely skill to help her survive CTI: delusion. “I do truly believe that I can do anything, and I think having that attitude is helpful,” Henry says.
CTI hype song: ‘Femininomenon’ by Chappell Roan. “It’s a slower verse, but the chorus is pumping.”
Inspirational quote: “My friend Tanya does my nails and wrote ‘you’ve got this’ on them. You’re not allowed notes or photos [on the island], so she’s decked me out.”
JP Foliaki
From starring in Popstars to acting in Far North and Red, White and Brass, the actor, musician and performer JP Foliaki is a man of many talents. Having been a fan of CTI since he was a kid, he’s looking forward to seeing what his fellow celebs are really like under pressure.
On how he prepared for CTI: “Everyone’s like, did you train for this? And I’m like, no. Hopefully my Tongan genes can kick in in some way or form. I think that we’re natural born survivors.”
Best skill: “I’m a people person, and I’m sociable, and I can relate to people in different ways.”
Mea Motu
Mea Motu started boxing at the age of 13, and went on to become the current IBO World Superweight Champion, successfully defending the title twice. A domestic abuse survivor, professional sportswoman Motu credits boxing with giving her the mental strength to overcome adversity. “It’s taught me how to live life. It’s really given me the respect of finding my identity and embracing what life has got out there.”
CTI hype song: ‘It Only Happens When I Look At You’ by Aretha Franklin. “That’s the last song I sent to my nan when she passed away. That will definitely hook me up and push me to be like, ‘yeah, let’s go’.”
Best skill: Motivation. “As long as I’m motivating and encouraging, man, I feel like a champion already.”
Michelle Langstone
You might not expect the experienced actor, award-winning writer and author of an acclaimed book of essays to be a big fan of CTI, but Michelle Langstone bloody loves this reality television gem. “It’s such powerful, lovely TV, and it makes you feel really, really great,” she says. “That’s the experience that I want to have. I’m probably really deluded. It’s probably going to be horrendous.”
CTI hype song: ‘Fucking Problems’ by A$AP ROCKY ft. Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar. “It’s a joyful song.”
Best skill: She’s really, really keen. “I’m a quite excitable person, and I’ll be the one going ‘look at that kiwi! Look at this breeding pair of dotterels!’ Enthusiasm will be my main thing, because it’s not going to be fucking puzzles.”
Millen Baird
Not only has Millen Baird appeared in M3GAN, The Almighty Johnsons and Darryl: An Outward Bound Story, but he’s also married to 2022 CTI castaway Siobhan Marshall. It was Marshall who encouraged Baird to say yes to the reality series, telling him to have fun and “avoid the drama”. Will the actor heed his wife’s advice? “We’ll see how it pans out.”
CTI hype song: Don’t tell Duncan Garner, but it’s ‘Eye of The Tiger’. “I’m a big fan of the 80s. I’m almost stuck in the 80s. It was just a golden time for me.”
Best skill: Baird’s not sure. “Compliments? Support? Just knowing that I’ve got their back, and I’ll stand behind them. I’ll definitely be standing behind Mea Motu, because if there’s any aggro, I don’t want to get hit.”
Spankie Jackzon (Blair McBeth)
This isn’t Spankie Jackzon’s first reality TV rodeo, having already won Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under in 2022, as well as the second season of local series House of Drag. Whatever happens on CTI, the international drag performer and reality TV star has a few tricks up their sleeve. “I’m that person who likes to push people’s expectations of me every time, and I will always give you the unexpected.”
Inspirational quote: Kick it in the dick. “I’m a positive person, but I still have those moments of self doubt. You have to talk to that voice inside of you and remind yourself, that actually, I’m good at what I’m doing.”
Best skill: Athleticism. “I was swim champion in high school. Super tall, athletic, I’m great with flexibility as well. But I think I’m probably going to end up as camp mother, to be honest, because I am that person.”
Suzanne Paul
But wait, there’s more. New Zealand’s infomercial queen is back on the CTI beach, having first dipped her toes in the reality show’s unpredictable waters way back in 2003. Of course, Paul is most famous for her thousands of luminous spheres, her electric Blue Monkey dance and unlikely rap duet with Scribe, but will she leave the Coromandel’s sunny shores with a… natural glow?
CTI hype song: ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus. “Oh my god, it gets me every time. If I’m going through a bad time, I put that Miley on and think, ‘yes, that’s right girl, we can do this’.”
Inspirational quote: Sparkle and shine. “Be the best version of yourself. Give it everything you’ve got, and do it with passion. It doesn’t work out, you know you did your best.”
Tāmati Coffey
After several years in parliament as a Labour MP, Tāmati Coffey is returning to where his career first began: in front of the TV camera. The former presenter of What Now, Breakfast and New Zealand’s Got Talent (and the winner of Dancing with the Stars NZ 2009) says returning to the TV world “feels like an old friend returning to a school reunion”.
Hype song: ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ by Beyonce. “I’m learning the dance. I don’t know if I’ll have enough signal before my phone gets taken off me tomorrow to fully learn it.”
Best skill: Team player. “I’ve learned in politics, you don’t need to be the leader to actually deliver a good result. Being a good, contributing, positive member of the team can be a really good approach.”
Vinnie Woolston
He’s an international model, he’s the global face of Yves Saint Laurent’s La Nuit de L’Homme fragance (a scent beloved by reality TV castaways the world over), and now Raglan-based Vinnie Woolston is the face of Celebrity Treasure Island 2024.
CTI hype song: A haka. “A Māori chant to amp us up, ready to go to war.”
Best skill: Adaptability. “Put me in most situations, and I’ll be able to do the best I can. I’ll support any teammates that need any help, or I’ll just fill the gaps wherever I need to be.”
Wairangi Koopu
The former professional league player, sports commentator and The Crowd Goes Wild presenter was inspired to come on Celebrity Treasure Island after watching his idol Tamē Iti compete last year. “Being in his 70s, I thought, if he can do it, then surely I can do it,” Koopu says. “Hearing him and Turia (Peke-Schmidt) converse in my reo resonated with me.” Game on, up the Wahs.
CTI hype song: ‘Praise Jah in the Moonlight’ by YG Marley. “He’s the mokopuna of Bob Marley, and I love Bob Marley.”
Best skill: Mauri tau. “I’m a very calm person. It probably doesn’t make for great TV when you have an emergency and there’s a guy sitting in the back going, ‘you’ll be alright bro, it’s all good’.”
Celebrity Treasure Island premieres on Monday September 9 on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+.