Plot Synopsis

Narrated by Semisi Hutchison, this five-episode documentary series explores the indigenous creatures of New Zealand:

"A Tale of Two Penguin": Dusk settles across New Zealand's southeast coast, signaling the homecomings of the world's smallest penguin- the Little Blue Penguin. The group of male penguins approaching the beach are preparing for different paths, but both want to find a mate.

"Untamed West": New Zealand's west coast is like nowhere else. From glacier-covered mountains and rain-drenched native forests to rough frigid seas, the landscape defies belief.

"Wild Fortresses": In New Zealand, two wild fortresses protect the vulnerable native animals: one a remote island protected by a moat of saltwater, the other a hilltop citadel surrounded by a predator by a predator-proof barrier. This is a story of delicate sanctuaries and the life that thrives within them.

"Ocean Legacy": Spring on New Zealand's east coast is a time of promise for two iconic species- the New Zealand Fur Seal and the Northern Royal Albatross. They've returned to their land of birth to breed. In just over nine months, they must find a willing mate, give birth and raise their young to independence.

"Creepiest Crawlies": New Zealand's isolated islands are famed as an unusual paradise, home to a variety of unique wildlife. Best known for its flightless birds, ancient reptiles and coastal mammals, a closer look reveals another world. A land of miniature monsters, Lilliputian predators and tiny terrors that lead remarkable lives, where every hunter is also the hunted.

After debuting internationally with the title WILDEST NEW ZEALAND, this series made its U.S. linear television debut on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.