Dancing With the Stars NZ

It’s Eli Matthewson’s life in TV (Image: TVNZ / Design: Tina Tiller)

‘You are so lucky no one watches this’: Eli Matthewson on the mayhem of U Late

'We were earning almost no money. It was all the excitement of TV without any of the pressure.'

By My Life in TV | 1st February, 2025

Image: Tina Tiller / Katjana Grgicevich / Supplied

To Jonny from Eli, with all my love and eternal thanks

A straight man being so warm, open and kind to his gay mate on national TV really mattered, writes Eli Matthewson.

By Eli Matthewson | 26th December, 2022

The cast of Dancing with the Stars NZ 2022, back for the finale. (Photo: Three)

Dancing with the Stars finale: And the winner is…

After a shortened season that, thanks to all the drama, felt almost longer than a regular one, we have a winner.

By Sam Brooks | 29th May, 2022

Contributing writer

The Spinoff goes behind the scenes at New Zealand’s favourite reality show: Dancing with the Stars. (Image Design: Tina Tiller)

Secrets from the Dancing With the Stars studio audience

Behind the scenes of the most spray-tanned show in town.

By The Spinoff | 17th May, 2022

From left to right: Brad Coleman, Loryn Reynolds, Brittany Coleman and Kristie Williams on Dancing with the Stars NZ. (Image Design: Tina Tiller)

How hard is being a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars?

We hear from the celebs, but what’s doing the show like for their on-stage partners?

By Sam Brooks | 14th May, 2022

Contributing writer

(Image: FIRST / Tina Tiller)

Why Eli Matthewson quit dancing lessons

'I did ballet from age four till six. An iconic run.'

By FIRST | 11th May, 2022

Dancing with the Stars judge Lance Savali kills it. (Photo: Three)

Dancing with the Stars rankings: Return of the dance-off

The dance-off is back – but somebody still has to go home!

By Sam Brooks | 9th May, 2022

Contributing writer

Image: Tina Tiller

The 10 most shocking moments in Dancing with the Stars NZ history

Disappearing ponytails and dislocated knees are just the beginning.

By Tara Ward | 6th May, 2022

Image: Tina Tiller / Katjana Grgicevich / Supplied

To Jonny from Eli, with all my love and eternal thanks

A straight man being so warm, open and kind to his gay mate on national TV really mattered, writes Eli Matthewson.

By Eli Matthewson | 6th May, 2022

Eli Matthewson and Sonia Gray, two celebrities who shouldn’t have gone home this early on Dancing with the Stars. (Photo: Three, image design: Tina Tiller)

Dancing with the Stars is broken

Two weeks of shock eliminations suggest that our most beloved reality show might need a tweak.

By Sam Brooks | 3rd May, 2022

Contributing writer

The ultimate Dancing with the Stars NZ bingo card

The ultimate Dancing with the Stars NZ bingo card

Someone pretends their partner's leg is a guitar? That's bingo.

By The Spinoff | 1st May, 2022

The cast of Dancing with the Stars NZ 2022, ready to sashay! (Image design: Toby Morris)

Dancing with the Stars, week one: We’re back on the floor, baby

It’s taken three years and two cancellations, but we can finally rank celebrities dancing for charity again.

By Sam Brooks | 26th April, 2022

Contributing writer

Ashley Bloomfield moments before belting out another set at RnV. Image: Archi Banal

What will Ashley Bloomfield do next?

Some helpful career advice for the man of the motu.

By Toby Manhire | 6th April, 2022

Editor-at-large

A lip-syncing llama and the cast of Dancing with the Stars NZ 2022 (Photos: Three, Image Design: Tina Tiller)

A play-by-play of the bonkers new Dancing with the Stars promo

Featuring nine celebrities, a shitload of sand and exactly one llama.

By Sam Brooks | 4th April, 2022

Contributing writer

Who is it, who is it, who is it underneath the mask? (Photo: Discovery / Design: Tina Till)

Meet Dancing with the Stars’ celebrity contestants for 2022

A broadcaster, a boxer, a reality TV star and a comedian. Who will grapevine straight into our hearts?

By Tara Ward | 3rd April, 2022

Hannah Tamaki (image: Newshub)

Hannah Tamaki can’t dance away from her past

Emily Writes explains why the religious leader and aspirant politician has no place on the show.

By Emily Writes | 23rd February, 2020

Contributing writer

The Real Pod: When the dance floor closes, a firehouse door opens

The Real Pod: When the dance floor closes, a firehouse door opens

The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.

By The Real Pod | 20th June, 2019

The Real Pod: Who is going to win Dancing With the Stars NZ?

The Real Pod: Who is going to win Dancing With the Stars NZ?

The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.

By The Real Pod | 13th June, 2019

Nadia Lim wildly misinterpreting Ben Affleck film Daredevil (2003).

Dancing with the Stars, semi-final: Farewell, my lovely (food bag)

By Sam Brooks | 10th June, 2019

Contributing writer

Julz Tocker is the most interesting man on NZ television

Julz Tocker is the most interesting man on NZ television

Alex Casey meets Julz Tocker, the Dancing With the Stars NZ judge that refuses to sit down.

By Alex Casey | 4th June, 2019