Every season of MasterChef New Zealand ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of MasterChef New Zealand!

Season Premiere

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Episode 10

Episode 11

Episode 12

Episode 13

Episode 1

The Top 24 amateur cooks face two gruelling challenges to go through to the Top 12.

The Top 12 face their first cooking challenge.

MasterChef:Masterclass.

In the first MasterClass the contestants are shown how to cook three classic barbecue dishes.

Masterclass Episode 1

Episode 4 (Pasta)

MasterChef: Masterclass.

Simon and Ray cook simple but delicious Italian dishes

Masterclass Episode 2

Episode 5 (Euro)

MasterChef: MasterClass

Special guest Simon Wright, cooks stress-free dinner party dishes.

Masterclass Episode 3

The contestants create Spanish tapas for Kiwi chef Peter Gordon.

Episode 6 (Spanish Tapas)

MasterChef Masterclass:

Ray and Simon cook traditional Spanish tapas and modern small-plate dishes.

Masterclass Episode 4

The Top 8 contestants cook at a birthday party for their toughest critics yet: 80 hungry kids whose vote will decide who will leave the competition.

Episode 7 (Birthday Party)

Masterchef Masterclass:

Josh and Simon cook modern party food that's fast and flavoursome.

Masterclass Episode 5

The Top 7 face an Indian cuisine challenge in which they must cook curries, rice and chutneys using unlabelled spices.

Episode 8 (Indian Theme)

Masterchef Masterclass

After the MasterChef contestants' Indian cuisine challenge, Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie turn up the heat with some hot and spicy dishes of their own.

Masterclass Episode 6

The Top 6 contestants face their scariest challenge yet, a super-hard dessert known as the chocolate tower of terror.

Episode 9 (Chocolate tower of terror)

After the MasterChef contestants' chocolate tower of terror challenge, the judges continue with the sweet theme. Josh, Simon and Ray compete to cook their favourite desserts.

Masterclass Episode 7

Episode 10 (Suite Dining)

Masterclass Episode 8

Episode 11 (Melbourne)

Masterclass Episode 9

The three semi-finalists try to impress Australasia's cookbook queen Donna Hay.

Episode 12 (Donna Hay)

Masterclass Episode 10

The hit local cooking competition is back, bigger and better than ever before. Over 1000 amateur cooks from around the country compete for just 25 places in the next round.

At the MasterChef kitchen, the Top 24 contestants face a sudden death challenge to find who will go through to the Top 16.

The Top 16 contestants move into the MasterChef mansion on Auckland's North Shore.

That night they experience a rude awakening, with a surprise appearance from Simon Gault, who outlines their challenge: an all-night bake-off at Auckland's Loaf bakery, in which two teams must each bake eight different kinds of bread and deliver them to the Hilton Hotel's Fish restaurant in the morning for tasting.

Very few of the contestants have any baking experience, and as the night unfolds, so do the dramas. As the two teams grapple with unfamiliar recipes and equipment, lack of sleep takes its toll and basic mistakes begin creeping in throughout the bakery.

The Top 15 contestants must cook three classic takeaway dishes - fish and chips, hamburger and pizza - for The Food Truck star Michael van de Elzen.

The Top 14 contestants make canapos for 130 guests on board the HMNZS Canterbury for the Royal New Zealand Navys 70th anniversary.

The Top 13 face their spiciest challenge yet:  to cook two dishes for guest chef Che Barrington, from Auckland modern Thai restaurant Moo Chow Chow.

After the excitement of seeing the MasterChef contestants in action every Tuesday night, MasterClass turns the tables and puts the MasterChef judges in the spotlight.

Masterclass 1

MasterChef judges Josh, Simon and Ray cook three simple but tasty dishes using everyday ingredients from the home fridge or pantry.

Masterclass 2

The Top Nine contestants travel to Hawkes Bay for an invention test using spring lamb and fresh local produce.

Masterclass 3

The Top Eight contestants make a hamburger cake and a milkshake for baking maestro Mathew Metcalfe.

Guest chef Mathew Metcalfe joins Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie to make three delectable desserts.

Masterclass 4

The top seven contestants cook fine dining dishes for three guest chefs, Hayden McMillan, Nick Honeyman and Makoto Tokuyama.

Guest chef Nick Honeyman from Cru restaurant joins Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie to cook three very different examples of modern New Zealand cuisine.

Masterclass 5

The top six contestants cook a course each from the gourmet dinner menu at iconic New Zealand retreat Huka Lodge.

Guest chef Michel Louws from Huka Lodge joins Josh Emett and Simon Gault to cook three hearty meat dishes.

Masterclass 6

The top five contestants must replicate a challenging dessert created by award-winning chef, Michael Meredith.

Josh Emett, Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie cook their favourite desserts.

Masterclass 7

The Top Four contestants cook Business Class in-flight meals for Jetstar.

Episode 14

Josh Emett, Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie cook three different cuts of beef.

Masterclass 8

The Top Four contestants face two epic challenges in the culinary capital of Asia, Singapore.

Episode 15

Street food master K.F. Seetoh and Eric Bost, the executive chef from Guy Savoy restaurant, join Ray McVinnie for a Masterclass in Singapore.

Masterclass 9

The three semi-finalists try to impress cookbook queen Annabel Langbein with three dishes they'd like to include in their first cookbook.

Episode 16

Masterclass 10

The final two contestants take on four challenges in their bid to become New Zealand's next MasterChef.

Grand Final

New Season: Do you have what it takes to be New Zealand's next MasterChef? Watch as these hopefuls vie for a spot in the Top 24.

The Top 24 contestants face two sudden death challenges to find who will go through to the Top 16.

The Top 16 contestants move into the MasterChef mansion, then face a team hangi challenge on Mokoia Island.

The Top 15 contestants must cook authentic Mexican dishes for guest chef Jose Carlos de la Macorra.

The Top 14 contestants face the biggest mystery box challenge ever.

The Top 13 contestants cook the meal they would choose for their Last Supper.

The Top 12 contestants cook for 1800 passengers aboard the cruise ship, Dawn Princess.

New Season: The Top 11 visit Kauri Cliffs resort in Northland for a MasterClass with executive chef Dale Gartland, Josh Emett and Simon Gault.

The Top 11 contestants face a nose-to-tail challenge in which each must cook a different cut of pork.

The Top 10 contestants bake a sponge cake for guest chef Natalie Oldfield from Auckland food shop Dulcie May Kitchen.

Guest chef Sean Armstrong from Auckland bakery Loaf joins MasterChef judges Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie to bake three delicious desserts.

The Top Nine contestants must each cook a dish from nine different Jetstar airline destinations around the Pacific Rim.

Guest chef Sergio Maglione from Toto restaurant joins MasterChef judges Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie to cook dishes from around the world.

The Top Eight contestants face an invention test at Dolphin Island resort in Fiji.

Guest chef Michel Louws joins MasterChef judges Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie to cook three barbecue dishes at the Dolphin Island resort, in Fiji.

The Top Seven contestants tackle a Turduckenqua - a quail stuffed inside a chicken, inside a duck, inside a turkey.

Guest chef Martin Bosley joins MasterChef judges Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie to cook three classic main courses.

The top six contestants compete in a barbecue challenge at Wither Hills vineyard in Marlborough.

Guest chef Rex Morgan joins MasterChef judges Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie for a barbecue at Wither Hills vineyard in Marlborough.

The top five contestants must replicate an intricate dessert created by Christchurch chef Andrew Brown.

Guest chefs Andrew Brown and Natalie Oldfield join MasterChef judge Josh Emett to create three stunning desserts.

The Top Four contestants must each invent a dish for guest chef Ben Bayly.

Guest chef Ben Bayly joins MasterChef judges Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie to invent three delicious main courses.

The top three cook a six-course degustation meal at The French Café for ten of New Zealand's leading chefs

Episode 17

Masterchef NZ is back after a seven year hiatus. Tonight 27 of the country’s top amateur cooks arrive in Queenstown to make their signature dish for the judges as they try to secure one of only 16 aprons

An Invention Test where Whittaker's Chocolate must be the Hero Ingredient in a sweet or savoury dish that will wow the judges. The cook with the best dish wins a huge advantage in the next cook

One cook has a huge advantage as the MasterChef kitchen moves to an airport hangar where contestants compete in the toughest team challenge yet, cooking a three course meal for Air New Zealand

The winning team from the last challenge is safe, while the other nine cooks face a Mystery Box Challenge set by Judge Michael P. Dearth. At the end of the cook, one contestant will be eliminated

The MasterChef invention test is to cook a Matariki inspired dish using five special ingredients. One contestant will be eliminated leaving the competition's Top 10

The Top 10 MasterChef contestants head outdoors to judge Nadia Lim's Queenstown farm for a paddock to plate Team Challenge. The winning team will win immunity from the next challenge

In the MasterChef kitchen, contestants randomly pick an attachment they must use with a stand blender to create an inventive dish to impress the judges and avoid elimination

The competition is getting tougher as the nine remaining contestants fight to keep their place in a mystery challenge. The judges and contestants are stunned by a shock announcement

The Top 8 contestants face MasterChef's most demanding team challenge to prepare a complex eight-course meal at judge Vaughn Mabee's world-renowned Queenstown restaurant

MasterChef New Zealand is a New Zealand competitive reality television cooking show based on the original British version of Masterchef. The first episode aired on 3 February 2010 at 7:30pm on TV ONE. The show currently features judges Ray McVinnie, Josh Emett and Simon Gault.

The series is similar to the format of MasterChef Australia whereby contestants compete in weekly elimination challenges, including team challenges. The major difference is the New Zealand series only has one episode per week compared to Australia's five per week.

The first series was won by Brett McGregor, over runner-up Kelly Young, in the grand finale which was screened on 28 April 2010. Nadia Lim won the second series, beating runner-up Jax Hamilton in the finale. The third series was won by Chelsea Winter, who beat runner-up Ana Schwarz in the finale.

The Best Seasons of MasterChef New Zealand

The Best Seasons of MasterChef New Zealand

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 7