Horticulturist, garden designer and media personality, Tony Murrell has been inspiring New Zealanders to connect with the natural world for over 30 years. His love for gardening took root in childhood, nurtured by time spent with his grandfathers—one in Aotearoa, the other in the United Kingdom—who passed on their passion for plants and outdoor spaces.
In his early twenties, Tony detoured from garden beds to the kitchen, pursuing a culinary adventure in London. He trained in French and English cuisine at Battersea Catering College—also attended by Jamie Oliver—and rose to become head chef at the acclaimed La Coupee in southeast London.
Returning to New Zealand, Tony quickly became a familiar face and voice in Kiwi homes, with a media career spanning over two decades. He first rose to prominence through reality gardening shows, including Ground Force and Garden Wars on TV3, Mucking In, Home and Garden, and Kiwi Living on TVNZ. He’s also been a long-standing presence on radio, hosting Radio Live’s Home and Garden Show and appearing regularly on RNZ National with Jesse Mulligan and Jim Mora. Morning TV audiences know him from guest spots on Good Morning and Breakfast.
Tony’s creative eye and practical knowledge have shaped gardens across New Zealand and Australia. He is the author of Garden Designs to Enhance Your Life and co-author of Mucking In with Jim Mora, combining storytelling with design insight to encourage others to transform their outdoor spaces.
Now celebrating 25 years back in Aotearoa, Tony continues to enjoy the friendships, opportunities, and vibrant connections his unique career has cultivated.