The Block NZ is a New Zealand reality show based on the popular Australian reality television seriesThe Block. The first season premiered on Three on 4 July 2012. The show is hosted by former Black CapMark Richardson and Shelley Ferguson, 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, and then sell them at auction. Each couple keeps any profit made on the house, and the winner receives a bonus cash sum. The current main sponsors are hardware chain PlaceMakers, car manufacturer Suzuki, Tower Insurance, and restaurant franchiseMcDonald's. Throughout seasons 1–2, car manufacturer Mazda was also a main sponsor, but for season 3, the sponsorship was awarded to car manufacturer Honda. Other previous sponsors include Bunning's Warehouse BP's Wild Bean Cafe, AMI Insurance and Pita Pit. 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. The four couples selected for the first season were announced on the official Facebook page on 17 June 2012.
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, 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 eight seasons thus 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 an amount knocked off the original reserve price.
Hosts and judges
Series overview
Profits
The combined auction profit excludes the winning prize money
Season synopses
Season 1
The first season of The Block NZ premiered on 4 July 2012 and ended on 6 September 2012. It is 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
2
Sarah & Rich
$806,000
$870,000
$64,000
$64,000
2nd
3
1
Libby & Ben
$804,000
$961,000
$157,000
$237,000
1st
4
3
Ginny & Rhys
$794,000
$805,000
$11,000
$11,000
3rd
Season 2
The second season of The Block NZ premiered on 26 August 2013 and ended on 4 November 2013. It is 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 is set in the Auckland suburb of Point Chevalier, the first time the Block was held outside of the North Shore.
House
Auction spot
Couple
Reserve
Auction Result
Profit
Total Winnings
Placing spot
1
3
Quinn & Ben
$1.325m
$1.335m
$10,000
$10,000
4th
2
2
Maree & James
$1.325m
$1.472m
$147,000
$147,000
2nd
3
1
Alex & Corban
$1.325m
$1.552m
$227,000
$307,000
1st
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 on the boundary of the Auckland suburbs of Sandringham and Three Kings. The title for season four was The Block NZ: Villa Wars.
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 '
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 '
4
1
Brooke & Mitch
$1.160m
$1.350m
$190,000
$290,000
1st
Season 5
The fifth season of The Block NZ premiered on 29 May 2016 and is set in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank. The title of this series is "Girls vs Boys", with two of the teams being made up of females and the other two made up with males. It has netted the highest combined profits of $981,000.
House
Auction spot
Couple
Reserve
Auction Result
Profit
Total Winnings
Placing spot
1
1
Niki & Tiff
$1,170,000
$1,320,000
$150,000
$150,000
4th
2
3
Dyls & Dylz
$1,190,000
$1,341,000
$151,000
$151,000
3rd
3
2
Courtney & Emma
$1,210,000
$1,510,000
$300,000
$300,000
2nd
4
4
Sam & Emmett
$1,230,000
$1,610,000
$380,000
$480,000
1st
Season 6
The sixth season premiered on 25 June 2017. It is set in the Auckland suburbs of Northcote, North Shore. The title of this series is "Side X Side", as each of the houses were large 4-storey townhouses, the largest houses in terms of floor area in The Block NZ. It had netted the lowest combined profits, and it also saw the first time a house did not meet reserve, but got the highest bid on the re-sell.
House
Auction spot
Couple
Reserve
Auction Result
Profit
Total Winnings
Placing spot
1
1
Ling & Zing
$1,299,000
$1,300,000
$1,000
$1,000
4th
2
2 & 5
Andy & Nate
$1,219,000
$1,250,000
$31,000
$131,000
1st
3
3
Julia & Ali
$1,229,000
$1,242,000
$13,000
$13,000
3rd
4
4
Stace & Yanita
$1,251,000
$1,271,000
$20,000
$20,000
2nd
Season 7
The seventh season premiered on 8 July 2018. It is set in the Auckland suburb of Hobsonville. The title of this series is "On Point".
House
Auction spot
Couple
Reserve
Auction Result
Profit
Total Winnings
Placing spot
1
2
Claire & Agni
$920,000
$950,000
$30,000
$30,000
3rd
2
1
Ben & Tom
$930,000
$987,000
$57,000
$57,000
2nd
3
4
Chlo & Em
$910,000
$921,500
$11,500
$11,500
4th
4
3
Amy & Stu
$940,000
$1,009,500
$69,500
$169,500
1st
Season 8
The eighth season premiered on 17 June 2019. It is set in the Auckland suburb of Kingsland. The title of this series is "Firehouse", as the contestants are renovating apartments in an old fire station.
Apartment
Auction spot
Couple
Reserve
Auction Result
Profit
Total Winnings
Placing spot
1
3
Stacy & Adam
$1,480,000
$1,480,000
$0
$0
2nd
2
1
Lisa & Ribz
$1,290,000
$1,340,000
$50,000
$150,000
1st
3
2
Ethan & Sam
$1,390,000
$1,390,000
$0
$0
2nd
4
4
Sophia & Mikaere
>$1,600,000
$1,600,000
$0
$0
2nd
Season 9
In December 2019, a casting call was sent out looking for four new teams. Production for this season began in January 2020 on Huia Road in Point Chevalier with four two-storey townhouses being constructed. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions put in place, the season was postponed until 2021.
