Who is putting their dignity and reputation on the line for our entertainment? Who will get injured before they even reach camp? And how many of them will fold their arms in their publicity pics? <\/p>\n
In the words of Daniels, \u201cLess geddit\u201d, and find out. <\/p>\n
Meet the captains<\/p>\n
In a twist this season, two castaways remain hidden until after the teams first face off head-to-head, where the winner gets their pick of Kaihaut\u016b – enter Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Simon Barnett.<\/p>\n
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, rugby legend, 34 <\/p>\n
The Tea: The Black Ferns star<\/a> has two Rugby World Cup wins, two Sevens World Cups, Olympic gold and silver medals, as well as Commonwealth gold and bronze, and a Barbie made in her image. Despite being a chronic underachiever, Woodman says this time it\u2019s game on. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen it gets to game time, we\u2019re on. That would be a strength of mine. Also connecting one-on-one and allowing people to be who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s known for her speed and skill, but underneath the superstar exterior, Woodman-Wickliffe says she\u2019s just like us. \u201cI\u2019m just myself \u2013 my ditzy, passionate, and competitive self.\u201d <\/p>\n She\u2019s got everything it takes to win this game if she can get the huge target off her back.<\/p>\n Title of her autobiography: The Girl from Kaikohe <\/p>\n Predicted placing: WINNER!<\/p>\n Charity: Te R\u014dp\u016b W\u0101hine M\u0101ori Toko I te Ora<\/p>\n Simon Barnett, broadcaster, 59<\/p>\n The Tea: The seasoned broadcaster and serial nice guy is looking to add a little spice to his life (as well as your mum\u2019s, as he was spotted filming shirtless) as he returns to the show 22 years after his 2004 stint. <\/p>\n Barnett says he\u2019s been a social recluse for the last six years, caring for his wife Jodi Barnett<\/a>, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and died two years ago. But the doting dad-of-four says he\u2019s ready to take a leap of faith. <\/p>\n \u201cI adored [Jodi] with every single part of me, so I\u2019ve lost what physically feels like part of me. But I\u2019ve actually got to do this for me. I\u2019ve got to actually do some stuff in my life again, but that\u2019s quite hard. People say, \u2018Oh, you get over it, and you move on\u2019, but truthfully, I\u2019m not sure I ever will, but I have to take a step.\u201d<\/p>\n Expect lots of tearful moments, beautiful k\u014drero with his team \u2013 and relief when he gets to head home to his girls. <\/p>\n Title of his autobiography: Si\u2019s Does Matter \u2013 I know, I\u2019m as shocked as you are. <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 9th <\/p>\n Charity: The White Matter Brain Cancer Trust <\/p>\n The team members<\/p>\n Frank Bunce, ex-All Black, 64 <\/p>\n The Tea: The rugby hero is back for a second go on Treasure Island, and he\u2019s ready to show the nation he\u2019s still got it. This time, he\u2019s armed with wisdom, mana, and those famous good looks that could still launch a thousand waka (or at least a rescue boat or two on this show). <\/p>\n Bunce conquered the rugby field in the 90s, but the dad-of-six reckons his decades raising kids have made him the most resilient and ready for a CTI-sized challenge. <\/p>\n \u201cTheir trials and coming up through life \u2013 it can be wonderful, and it can be scary, but that\u2019s what life\u2019s all about.\u201d <\/p>\n He\u2019s a team player, so when the individual game gets to its final days, he\u2019s likely to be taken out by a strategic player. <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: The Second Coming <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 5th <\/p>\n Charity: Mai Lighthouse<\/p>\n Polly Gillespie, media personality, 62 <\/p>\n The Tea: She spent 30 years conquering radio airwaves, and now, in what I\u2019d say is the surprise casting of the season, the broadcaster and her larger-than-life personality are crashing down on CTI shores. <\/p>\n Gillespie is your ultimate gal pal and oozes fun \u2013 her teammates will be desperate to bunk next to her for the juiciest evening confessionals. But she\u2019s not just here for a chinwag, she\u2019s ready for the challenge. <\/p>\n \u201cI could break a rib or fall off a cliff, but I need to do more things that challenge me and not just sit back and say no all the time.\u201d <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: The Further Misadventures of Polly Gillespie <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 15th \u2013 Adore her and want the best for her, but what\u2019s best for her might be an air-conditioned taxi to the nearest Koru lounge. <\/p>\n Charity: Kidney Health New Zealand <\/p>\n Ben Barrington, actor, 49 <\/p>\n The Tea: The funny man and Shortland Street star may be best known for playing Dr Drew, but on a remote island with no scripts, even he doesn\u2019t know who or what viewers are in store for.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a bit of a wildcard. I surprise myself. When you\u2019re an actor, you often find you\u2019re asked to perform different physical feats, pieces of action, and so you\u2019re sometimes surprised by the kind of things you\u2019re actually good at.\u201d<\/p>\n Barrington\u2019s physically strong, tall and utterly unpredictable. But will he be able to keep up with the wheelings and dealings of younger, more strategic players? <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: Ben There Done That <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 7th <\/p>\n Charity: Heart Kids NZ <\/p>\n Ria Vandervis, actor, 41 <\/p>\n The Tea: As Dr Harper Whitley, she lived through (until she didn\u2019t) 12 years of Shortland Street scandals, some involving her onscreen husband Drew (played by Barrington) and some wild cliff-hangers. But in real life, Vandervis is a force to be reckoned with. <\/p>\n Admitting \u2013 with a smile \u2013 that she\u2019s fiercely competitive and here to see a woman finally take the win, Vandervis gives the impression she would stab a contestant in the back and quote Simone de Beauvoir as she stitched them up. <\/p>\n She wants to show her 4-year-old just what Mum is made of: \u201cI want to make him proud and show on TV that women can do anything.\u201d <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: A Very Busy Lady <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 11th <\/p>\n Charity: New Zealand Cancer Research <\/p>\n Louis Davis, content creator, 31 <\/p>\n The Tea: He\u2019s the TikTok Content Creator of the Year who has gained billions of views online, sharing parts of his life with his wife, three daughters and a baby on the way. Davis is known for keeping it real, living off the land and eating copious amounts of kina with celeb pals. <\/p>\n One of my early casting manifestations<\/a>, Davis walked into camp and showed instantly he was a big physical threat, towering over the others at 6ft 5. He also wore camo unironically, which means the competition won\u2019t even see him coming when he tramples them on the way to the final.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the outdoors, and I also love competing. I\u2019m a board game fiend, and this game is all those things rolled into one; trying your best, being competitive and working with others,\u201d says Davis. <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: The Moana Fixes All<\/p>\n Predicted placing: 2nd \u2013 A game-player who\u2019s lovable enough to get away with murder, he will go very far.<\/p>\n Charity: Te Ora Hou Northland <\/p>\n Liv Parker, comedian, 30 <\/p>\n The tea: This fresh face of New Zealand comedy isn\u2019t living in anyone\u2019s shadow. Sure, her brother, comedian Chris Parker, may have taken the CTI win before her, but now it\u2019s the little sister\u2019s turn to make an impression, and it\u2019ll be one you won\u2019t forget. <\/p>\n Parker is a pocket-rocket who instantly proved she was quick-thinking, competitive, fearless, oh-so likable and has a penchant for a colourful knit. <\/p>\n Describing herself, Parker says, \u201cI\u2019m a gabbler, I love to chat. But I\u2019m clumsy too. Oh, and a bit sensitive, so maybe I\u2019m an empath? I don\u2019t know … What are other people saying?\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019re doing great, sweetie. <\/p>\n Title of autobiography: Liv, Laugh, Love <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 3rd \u2013 I\u2019d be shocked if we don\u2019t see her with a shovel in hand, digging for treasure. <\/p>\n Charity: The Aunties<\/p>\n Zion Dayal, sports reporter, 27 <\/p>\n The tea: He\u2019s used to calling the action \u2013 now he is the action. The TVNZ reporter has seen it all, felt the fear, and passed out while bungy jumping live on Breakfast, which prepared him well for the \u201canything could happen\u201d element of CTI. <\/p>\n \u201cI fainted, but then I turned it back on for the camera, and everybody had a good laugh about it.\u201d <\/p>\n He\u2019s lovely, he\u2019s sweet, he\u2019s sporty, he will make a fantastic teammate, and a nation of mothers will want him to marry their daughters.<\/p>\n Title of autobiography: Not a Celebrity <\/p>\n Predicted placing: 4th <\/p>\n Charity: Koru Care NZ<\/p>\n Vinnie Bennett, actor, 33 <\/p>\nSimon Barnett. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Frank Bunce. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Polly Gillespie. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Ben Barrington. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Ria Vandervis. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Louis Davis. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Liv Parker. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Zion Dayal. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n
Vinnie Bennett. Photo \/ TVNZ, Matt Klitscher<\/p>\n