Three’s new reality renovation show is coming soon, bringing a new team of experts to the TV renovation game. Who are they and what are their DIY credentials?

If there’s been a Block NZ shaped hole in your heart since last year’s auction shitshow, some good news: House Rules NZ starts next month. House Rules NZ is the home renovation reality competition that sees people hand over their house keys to a bunch of strangers, leaving them instructions like “create a mid-century Hamptons industrial chic vibe” or “keep my collection of exotic spider plants”. What could go wrong?

Well, almost everything – but if the Australian version of House Rules is anything to go by, this might be the most heartwarming reality competition of the year. Unlike profit-driven reno shows like The Block, House Rules is much fairer. All five teams get their houses transformed, even if they don’t win the grand prize, and their homes are usually in desperate need of a makeover. Everyone on House Rules works together to improve each other’s lives, so the feel-good factor is massive.

So how does the show work? Every week, one couple entrusts their home to their competition, who renovate it according to a set of rules chosen by the homeowners. The teams (who all live in Auckland) have five and a half days to transform each house, with the results judged by two design experts and the homeowners themselves. After all the houses have been renovated, the two lowest-scoring teams will be eliminated. The remaining teams will transform house exteriors and gardens, and the highest scoring pair in the final week wins $100,000 towards their home loan. 

But who are these intrepid renovators, and who will judge their efforts? Let’s meet the stars of House Rules NZ. 

Host: Duncan Heyde

You might recognise Duncan Heyde’s voice from The Rock FM drive show, but now Heyde is venturing into the technicolour world of television presenting. Heyde says he’s “pumped” for New Zealanders to see the first season of House Rules NZ, and just look at how pumped he is in this official photo! Absolutely loving it. 

Designer: Jade Hurst

Jade Hurst is the founder of Good Space, a “wellness interiors studio” focusing on human and environmental health in design. Hurst’s role on this show is to make sure the teams understand the house rules and to steer them away from decorating disasters. Let’s hope she can make Hurst-ory by making good spaces great again. 

Judge: Katrina Hobbs

These days Katrina Hobbs is an interior designer (silk velvet cushion, anyone?) and magazine editor, but viewers may also remember her from her time on Shortland Street and Home and Away over 20 years ago. Hobbs also featured in an early season of Celebrity Treasure Island, a show that sadly featured zero silk velvet cushions.  

Judge: Michael Murray

This Auckland interior designer won many awards for his impressive kitchen designs, but we must clarify that he is not acclaimed American actor Chad Michael Murray nor NZ Idol runner-up Michael Murphy, despite what my Google search wants me to think. Will he be the next Jason Bonham, though? Only the feature walls know the truth. 

And now, the teams:

Jemma and Alvaro 

The House Rules NZ press kit describes this Glen Eden couple as “newlyweds with big dreams”. Do those dreams include a “Live Laugh Love” sign on the wall of their newly renovated toilet? Based on those huge grins, we really hope so. 

Martinique and Andre

Hailing from Ōtātahu, Martinique works as a high school teacher and her husband Andre is a builder. As a tradie, Andre should know his hammer from his hardwood, and can probably pull down a non-loadbearing wall in no time. Could Andre be the new Handy Andy of New Zealand’s home renovation scene – Handre Andre, if you will?  

Theresa and Jarrad

Cousins, best friends, soon to be reality TV stars. Theresa and Jarrad will renovate Jarrad’s house in New Lynn, and if it all goes wrong, they can look forward to some really awkward family get-togethers in the future. Still, when has renovating five homes in five weeks caused any stress? Seems fine. 

Nikita and Sherwen

The press kit describes this lovely couple as “fun and feisty”, which means we’re in for a treat. Howick pair Nikita and Sherwen have been married for 10 years, which is the same amount of time that House Rules has been on television. Is this a sign? Is this fate? Is fate fun and feisty too? The judges say: yes. 

Char and Violet

This mother and daughter team hail from Murray’s Bay, a North Shore suburb presumably named after both the new judge of House Rules NZ and acclaimed American actor Chad Michael Murray. Char and Violet look thrilled to be here and obviously have a tight bond, but will they char-grill the competition or (vio)let the stress get the better of them?   

House Rules NZ streams on Three Now and screens Sundays to Tuesdays from Sunday 10 September.