Blue Murder Motel is a New Zealand murder mystery television series which debuted in 2026. The series stars New Zealand actor Michala Banas and Australian actor Brett Tucker, who previously appeared together in the Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters.
Premise
Two married Australian police officers have taken early retirement and have purchased the Blue Motel in New Zealand to run as a business. A series of local murders inspire them to investigate and to help the local, inexperienced, sole-charge police officer solve the crimes.
At the end of the first episode, the advertising display for the motel is tagged by vandals, changing the displayed name from "Blue Motel" to "Blue Murder Motel". A later episode indicates that local residents now refer to it as that.
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. Filming was underway by September 2025.
In April 2026, NZ On Air announced that the series had been renewed for an eight-episode second season. Production was underway by June 2026.
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, as well as in the Bucklands Beach and Eastern Beach areas. 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
"Run For Your Life"
Jacqueline Nairn
Paul Jenner
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
"Cat Among the Pigeons"
Lucy Lawless
Marina Alofagia McCartney and Kate McDermott
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
"Radio Silence"
Mark Beesley
Kate McDermott
1March2026(2026-03-01)
A summer storm traps holidaymakers in the Blue Motel conference room as a local radio DJ dies mid-broadcast.
8
8
"A Cop and a Gentleman"
Mark Beesley
Kate McDermott
8March2026(2026-03-08)
A summer market turns deadly, when a local candy merchant dies in a freak accident. Vinny and Cole dig deeper and discover it was murder.
Broadcast
The series began broadcasting on TVNZ 1 on 18 January 2026, with catch-up availability on TVNZ's streaming service TVNZ+. The series was made available for streaming on Acorn TV in the summer 2026.
References
↑"Cops and lodgers". New Zealand Listener. Auckland, NZ: Are Media Ltd: 53. 12 January 2026. ISSN2381-9553.
