Warren's Vortex


Warren's Vortex is a New Zealand science fiction comedy television series which is due to begin screening on 24 August 2025 on TVNZ 2. The series is in the same vein as the 2018 television series Wellington Paranormal, which itself is a spin-off of the 2014 film What We Do in the Shadows. Unlike either of those productions, this series is a single camera narrative comedy.
The actor Maaka Pohatu, who has the title role of Warren, previously appeared as Police Sergeant Ruawai Maaka in Wellington Paranormal.

Premise

Warren Harrison is a husband and father, living in suburban Lower Hutt, New Zealand, who happens to have an interdimensional vortex in his shed. For the past twenty years, Warren has used it mainly to get rid of his garden rubbish.
Lucy, his 18-year-old daughter, is sucked into the vortex and Warren follows her. The pair travel to a series of different future realities. Several of the supporting cast play variations of their same character in different timelines.

Production history

The series was created by Nick Ward and Paul Yates, both of whom were involved with Wellington Paranormal as directors and writers. In July 2024, NZ On Air was announced that the production would receive $1,227,000 of funding, though the New Zealand Listener later gave the amount as $1,465.000. Filming took place over the 2024–25 Christmas and New Year period across Lower Hutt. The main characters' house was filmed on location in Fairfield, with other locations including Kelson, Naenae, Taitā, and the Avalon studios.

Cast

Main

Guest

Broadcast

The series began broadcasting on TVNZ 2 on 24 August 2025, with catch-up availability on TVNZ's streaming service TVNZ+.