Meet the teams
This year’s contestants on The Block NZ talk about their DIY experience and the preparation they have done for the show.
Julia Heaney, 28, barrister and installation artist; Ali Heaney, 28, designer and installation artist Relationship: Twin sisters Hometown: Auckland
Do you have any DIY experience?
Only observing renovations our parents have done to their houses in the past.
What sort of preparation have you done for this show?
We go to the gym so we are not unfit. We don’t think there will be much that we cannot do. Mentally we are strong together so we are not worried about that. We are worried about losing to the boys in strength-based challenges though.
What would winning mean for you?
To be honest we didn’t come here just to win. We came in here to have a great time and learn. Winning stuff is great but we won’t be disappointed if we don’t win.
What are you like under pressure?
Ali: Julia always manages to keep me calm and motivated ... and laughing a lot, of course.
How do you think you’ll cope with the lack of sleep during the show?
It will be bad in the mornings if we are tired. We have done projects before that keep us up late but not for 12 weeks in a row. All will unfold I guess. We are terrible morning people. Terrible.
Andy Murdie, 38, fireman; Nate Ross, 33, apprentice builder Relationship: Brothers-in-law Hometown: Hamilton and Cambridge
Do you have any DIY experience?
We both have DIY experience renovating our homes. Andy makes furniture as a hobby and Nate is doing his building apprenticeship.
What sort of preparation have you done for this show?
Andy: Cushion fluffing course, and just keeping fit. Nate: Being a parent I am well accustomed to long hours. Plenty of building practice.
Why are you taking part?
Andy: Nathan kind of pushed me into it and what an amazing experience. And a little bit of pocket money wouldn’t hurt.
Nate: I’m doing The Block to try to get back the work-life balance for my family.
Are you worried at how you might be portrayed?
Andy: Yes, my biggest fear is how I will be portrayed on TV. I don’t want to come across as an idiot.
Stace Cottrill, 39, freelance designer; Yanita McLeay, 29, PhD student Relationship: Best friends Hometown: Palmerston North
Do you have any previous DIY experience?
Stace: I’ve renovated three houses and a commercial building. Yanita: None.
What sort of preparation have you done for this show?
Stace: I did a fair chunk of yoga, pilates and meditation before starting on The Block. From a practical point of view, I put together a few mood boards with Yanita to ensure our vision for styling was tight.
If you win The Block NZ, what will you do with the prize money?
Stace: I hope to take my boys on a surfing holiday to Bali for a few months after the show. Yanita: If we won, I would put the money towards my first home.
Levi Inglis (Ling), 22, suspended ceiling installer; Zach Inglis (Zing), 24, electrician Relationship: Brothers Hometown: Christchurch
Do you own or rent?
Ling: I live in my own place that I bought last year. Getting a mortgage at the age of 21 is probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done.
Do you have any DIY experience?
Ling: I’m a suspended ceiling installer, so no stranger to a building site.
Zing: Yes, we gave Levi’s garage a makeover into a man-cave. Have also given his house some new lighting to give it a more appealing look. Levi also built an exquisite dog kennel for his dog last year.
What sort of preparation have you done for this show?
Ling: It’s hard to prepare for the show as you don’t really know how hard it’s going to be.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your team?
Ling: Strengths – good communicator, great initiative, good time management. Weaknesses – lazy at times and I talk too much.
Zing: Strengths – good leader, good work ethic, I like to be creative, quick learner. Weaknesses – like to have things always go my way.