Darby's Short Poppies comes to Kiwi screens

Rhys Darby's new series Short Poppies will be released on April 1.

It's funny, but it's no April Fools joke. Rhys Darby's new comedy series will launch on TVNZ Ondemand on April 1.

All eight episodes of Short Poppies, a "current affairs mockumentary", will be launched at once, and will be available to watch for four weeks.

The series will screen later in the year on TV One.

The announcement comes on the back of news Short Poppies will be available to American viewers on-demand internet streaming channel Netflix on April 3, following in the footsteps of hit shows House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.

Written by and starring Darby, the show follows journalist David Farrier as he meets "not so ordinary" characters in a small New Zealand town, who are all played by Darby. The show also features the likes of

The Office

writer, Stephen Merchant.

The series received more than $700,000 in funding from New Zealand On Air in 2012.

Darby says he's thrilled New Zealand will get to see the show this week.

"The news that TVNZ has made the ground-breaking decision to show Short Poppies Ondemand first has sent me into a joyful dance not seen since last week's 'Woo Hoo I'm 40' dance." It was the comedian's 40th birthday on March 21.

Darby will also be touring New Zealand with his Mr Adventure show in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, starting in Dunedin on April 11.