Five seasons in, chef, restaurateur and TV personality Ben Bayly continues his journey across Aotearoa – and this time beyond our shores, uncovering the people, places and produce shaping New Zealand’s food story.

A New Zealand Food Story with Ben Bayly returns to TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ on Saturday 31 October at 7.00pm for a new six-part season that sees the chef, restaurateur and TV presenter explore more of our country’s extraordinary food landscape.

Across six new episodes, Bayly travels throughout Aotearoa meeting the growers, fishers, farmers, makers, producers and innovators behind some of the country’s exceptional food and ingredients, and, for the first time, takes a taste of New Zealand to the world with a special Ahi restaurant pop-up in Shanghai, China.

The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes is an award-winning, heart-warming television series that challenges perceptions of dementia and celebrates the remarkable abilities of people living with the condition.

Led by acclaimed New Zealand chef and restaurateur Ben Bayly, the series follows a group of volunteers living with dementia as they take on the challenge of running a fully functioning restaurant, serving real customers in one of the most demanding working environments.

Across two seasons, the show has brought together volunteers from diverse backgrounds, each with their own personal story, determination and desire to prove that a dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Produced by Great Southern Television in partnership with Dementia New Zealand, the series combines humour, emotion and plenty of unexpected moments, while shining a light on the importance of inclusion, independence and human connection.

The show’s powerful storytelling has earned significant industry recognition, winning Best Format Reality Series at the 2023 New Zealand Television Awards and Best Reality Series at the 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards.

For Ben, The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes has been one of his most rewarding television projects, highlighting the extraordinary resilience of its participants and demonstrating that, with the right support and opportunities, people living with dementia still have so much to contribute.

At its heart, The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes is a celebration of humanity, dignity and hope.

Missed it? Stream Season 2 of The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes on TVNZ+.