Netflix Targets Hunting Wives S2

One of TVNZ’s most popular streaming dramas won’t be returning to TVNZ+ for its second season.

The Hunting Wives aired on TVNZ 2 and was the ninth most-streamed series on TVNZ+ in 2025.

But the next season will stream exclusively on Netflix.

“We’ve loved having The Hunting Wives but unfortunately the global Netflix distribution deal means that season two won’t be premiering with TVNZ+,” a spokeswoman for the broadcaster says. It also won’t screen free-to-air on TVNZ 2.

Netflix licensed the US rights to S1 after its distributor, Lionsgate, sought a broader platform for the thriller than its original destination, Starz.

Lionsgate made The Hunting Wives for former stablemate Starz but reacquired the rights after the two companies split.

Despite Starz reportedly being “not high” on the racy drama, it turned into a huge hit for Netflix — hence it renewing the series not just for its US service but worldwide as a Netflix Original:

Despite being only available in the US, The Hunting Wives landed on Netflix’s Weekly Top 10 English-language series list at No. 3 with 5.2 million views for its first week since debuting on the platform July 21.

TVNZ acquired S1 from Lionsgate and continues to stream it; filming of S2 started in November but Netflix has yet to reveal the premiere date.