Blue Murder Motel is a New Zealand murder mystery television series which debuted in 2026. The series stars Australian actors Michala Banas and Brett Tucker, who previously appeared together in the Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters.
Two married Australian police officers have taken early retirement and have purchased the Blue Motel in New Zealand to run as a business.[1] A series of local murders compel them to investigate and to help the local sole-charge police officer solve the crimes.
At the end of the first episode, the advertising display for the motel is tagged, changing its name from Blue Motel to Blue Murder Motel. A later episode indicates that local residents also refer to it as that.[2]
Production history
In November 2024, NZ On Air announced that it had funded a new commission - Blue Murder Motel - produced by Great Southern Television, and that the production would receive up to $2,800,000 worth of funding.[2] Filming was underway by September 2025.
Setting
The series is located in the fictional seaside community of Mōwai Bay, which is described as being "somewhere near Auckland". Filming took place at Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland.[3] Locations included the Edgewater Motel as the Blue Motel, and Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park as the Shady Vista Holiday Park, which was featured in episode 3.
Married ex-cops Vinny and Cole trade Sydney homicide for retirement bliss, running a retro seaside motel in coastal New Zealand—until a boys’ weekend ends with a corpse in Unit 3.
It’s peak summer and the town swarms with partying teens. When a boy vanishes with his jet ski, Vinny and Cole face a trio of intimidating, entitled girls who are clearly hiding a secret.
3
3
"Home Is Where You Park It"
Josh Frizzell
Paul Jenner
1February2026(2026-02-01)
At the Shady Vista Holiday Park, guest tensions erupt in a fiery murder. Constable Jamie Haira pulls retired ex-cops Vinny and Cole back into sleuthing, derailing their seaside retirement dreams.
4
4
"Born Alone, Die Together"
Jacqueline Nairn
James Griffin
8February2026(2026-02-08)
Beloved locals Maude and Martin are poisoned by their own dinner. As Vinny and Cole investigate, cleaner Saffron and guest Maxine suspect the new motel owners hide secrets.
5
5
TBA
Jacqueline Nairn
TBA
15February2026(2026-02-15)
A raucous 30th birthday weekend turns deadly when a motel guest is attacked during a fun run. Her sister, a TV ad actress turned trophy wife, bullies Vinnie and Cole into investigating the murder.
6
6
TBA
Lucy Lawless
TBA
22February2026(2026-02-22)
Local councillor Gordon is found dead at home, the only witness his designer cat, now missing. As cat posters flood the town, Vinny and Cole clash with a city detective who wants them off the case.
7
7
TBA
TBA
TBA
1March2026(2026-03-01)
8
8
TBA
TBA
TBA
8March2026(2026-03-08)
Broadcast
The series began broadcasting on TVNZ 1 on 18 January 2026, with catch-up availability on TVNZ's streaming service TVNZ+.[4]
References
↑"Cops and lodgers". New Zealand Listener. Auckland, NZ: Are Media Ltd: 53. 12 January 2026. ISSN2381-9553.
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