The Block NZ

The Block NZ
Created by Julian Cress
David Barbour
Presented by
Judges
  • Victoria Bidwell
  • Stewart Harris
  • Jeremy Hansen
  • Janice Kumar-Ward
  • Shelley Ferguson
  • Mark Gascoigne
  • Jason Bonham
  • Bernadette Morrison
Country of origin New Zealand
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 140
Production
Location(s)
Running time 60 minutes[lower-alpha 1]
Release
Original network TV3
Picture format
Original release 4 July 2012 (2012-07-04) – present
External links
Website

The Block NZ is a New Zealand reality show based on the popular Australian reality television series The Block. The first season premiered on TV3 on 4 July 2012.

The show is hosted by former Black Cap Mark Richardson and Shelley Ferguson,[1] while Peter Wolfkamp serves as site foreman. It follows four couples as they compete against each other to completely renovate, room by room, four neighbouring houses in Auckland,[4][5] and then sell them at auction. Each couple keeps any profit made on the house, and the winner receives a bonus cash sum.[5]

The current main sponsors are hardware chain PlaceMakers, car manguraturer Honda, AMP bank, and restaurant franchise Pita Pit.[6] Throughout seasons 1–2, car manufacturer Mazda was also a main sponsor, but for season 3, the sponsorship was awarded to car manufacturer Honda.[7] Other previous sponsors include Bunning's Warehouse and BP's Wild Bean Cafe.

The series premiered in Australia on 9Go! on 12 August 2012.

Development

The show was initially announced on 24 February 2012, when a casting call went out and saw over 1,000 couples apply.[8] The four couples selected for the first season were announced on the official Facebook page on 17 June 2012.[9]

Differences from the Australian series

The series differs from the original Australian version in several ways. In the New Zealand version, the final contestants have been pre-determined by the show's producers. This contrasts to the Australian version, where the final couples are decided from a shortlist in an elimination week. In the New Zealand version, the show aired twice a week in the first season,[9] thrice a week in the second season, and four times a week in the third season, as opposed to the Australian show's Sunday to Thursday schedule. In all four seasonsthus far, there are challenges to determine auction order rather than contestants deciding amongst themselves, or being randomly drawn out, and the final challenge winners never have prices knocked off the original reserve price.

Hosts and judges

Timeline of hosts, judges and other personnel
Starring Season
1 2 3 4
Current
Mark Richardson[1] Host
Shelley Ferguson[1][10] Judge Host
Bernadette Morrison[11] Judge
Jason Bonham[11] Judge
Former
Shannon Ryan[1] Host
Victoria Bidwell[12] Judge
Stewart Harris[12] Judge
Janice Kumar-Ward[13] Judge
Jeremy Hansen[13] Judge
Mark Gascoigne[10] Judge

Series overview

Season Title Location Episodes
Season premiere Season finale Winning couple Winning profit Total profit
1 The Block NZ Takapuna, Auckland 20 4 July 2012[14] 6 September 2012 Libby & Ben

Crawford

$157,000 $237,000
2 The Block NZ 2013 Belmont, Auckland 31 26 August 2013 4 November 2013 Alice & Caleb

Pearson

$181,000 $261,000
3 The Block NZ 2014 Point Chevalier, Auckland 49 26 August 2014 18 November 2014 Alex & Corban

Walls

$227,000 $307,000
4 Villa Wars Sandringham and Three Kings, Auckland 40 29 September 2015 6 December 2015 Brooke & Mitch $190,000 $290,000
5 TBA Meadowbank, Auckland TBA

Season synopses

Season 1

The first season of The Block NZ premiered on 4 July 2012 and ended on 6 September 2012. It was set in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna.

House Auction spot Couple Reserve Auction Result Profit Total Winnings Placing spot
1 4 Rachel & Tyson $789,000 $789,000 $0 $0 4th
2 1 Libby & Ben $804,000 $961,000 $157,000 $237,000 1st
3 3 Ginny & Rhys $794,000 $805,000 $11,000 $11,000 3rd
4 2 Sarah & Rich $806,000 $870,000 $64,000 $64,000 2nd

Season 2

The second season of The Block NZ premiered on 26 August 2013 and ended on 4 November 2013. It was set in the Auckland suburb of Belmont.

House Auction spot Couple Reserve Auction Result Profit Total Winnings Placing spot
1 3 Alice & Caleb $945,000 $1.126m $181,000 $260,000 1st
2 4 Alisa & Koan $948,000 $1.014m $66,000 $66,000 2nd
3 1 Pete & Andy $925,000 $952,000 $27,000 $27,000 3rd
4 2 Loz & Tom $922,000 $947,000 $25,000 $25,000 4th

Season 3

The third season of The Block NZ premiered on 26 August 2014 and ended on 18 November 2014. It was set in the Auckland suburb of Point Chevalier.

House Auction spot Couple Reserve Auction Result Profit Total Winnings Placing spot
1 3 Quinn & Ben $1.325m $1.335m $10,000 $40,000[a] 4th
2 1 Alex & Corban $1.325m $1.552m $227,000 $277,000[a] 1st
3 2 Maree & James $1.325m $1.472m $147,000 $147,000 2nd
4 4 Jo & Damo $1.325m $1.386m $61,000 $61,000 3rd

Season 4

The fourth season of The Block NZ premiered on 29 September 2015. It is set in the Auckland suburb of Sandringham.[2] The title for season four was The Block NZ: Villa Wars.[15]

House Auction spot Couple Reserve Auction Result Profit Total Winnings Placing spot
1 3 Jamie & Hayden $1.175m $1.335m $160,000 $160,000 2nd (tie)
2 2 Sarah & Minanne $1.149m $1.272m $123,000 $123,000 4th
3 4 Cat & Jeremy $1.160m $1.320m $160,000 $160,000 2nd (tie)
4 1 Brooke & Mitch $1.160m $1.350m $190,000 $290,000 1st

Season 5

The fifth season of The Block NZ will premiere in 2016 and is going to be filmed in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.[16]

Notes

  1. The last few episodes of each season are often 120 minutes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Block NZ's photo". Facebook.com. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2014. Big news - the hosts of The Block NZ have been announced! We've got sports star turned broadcaster Mark Richardson as the show host and the gorgeous Shannon Ryan will joining him as the challenge presenter. Bring it on!
  2. 1 2 "The Block gears up for Auckland inner-city sites". The New Zealand Herald. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  3. http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/77144069/the-block-2016-the-secret-location-is-out
  4. Hallahan, Marnie (31 May 2012). "Bargains on The Block". North Shore Times - via Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 "About The Block NZ". tv3.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  6. http://www.morefm.co.nz/TV3s-announces-new-season-and-new-host-of-The-Block-NZ/tabid/92/articleID/26383/Default.aspx
  7. Springall, Lesley. "The The Block NZ – leveraged to perfection". Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. "The Block NZ contestants revealed". 3news.co.nz. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  9. 1 2 "The Block NZ photo". Facebook.com. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2014. The Block has finally come NZ and we're thrilled to announce the teams! Meet Sarah & Rich from Hamilton, Libby & Ben from CHCH & AKL, Ginny & Rhys from New Plymouth and Rachel & Ty from Wellington! Who will nail it? The Block NZ, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4th July on TV3. C'Mon now!
  10. 1 2 "Meet the new Block NZ judges". Stuff.co.nz. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  11. 1 2 http://www.tv3.co.nz/NEW-JUDGES-FOR-THE-BLOCK-NZ-VILLA-WARS/tabid/2983/articleID/117657/Default.aspx
  12. 1 2 "Lights, camera... DIY". 27 May 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Q&A with The Block NZ Judges". tv3.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  14. "The Block NZ contestants revealed". 3 News. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  15. "The Block NZ Villa Wars". 10 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  16. "CONTESTANT SEARCH: The Block NZ 2016". www.tv3.co.nz. TV3. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
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