Meet the FRESH BATCH OF BAKERS

Fire up your ovens, contestants! Let’s see who’s trying to tempt the judges’ taste buds this season

- Rebekah Hebenton

The Great Kiwi Bake Off is finally back for another sweet season! After a year of lockdowns, where flour became a scarce commodity due to Kiwis baking so much,this new batch of smart cookies is sure to have some impressive skills.

Wise-cracking duo Madeleine Sami, 41, and Hayley Sproull, 32, return for hosting duties, ready to support the home cooks during tense baking tasks and, of course, taste-testing the goods before judging.

“I’ve eaten more than I ever have in my life – it’s all too delicious to pass up!” laughs Hayley. “My waistline has grown, but I’ve enjoyed every second of it and every bite, so who cares.”

Baking experts Sue Fleischl and Dean Brettschneider are also back to judge the competition. And while they both love nurturing the contestants, Dean says it’s hard not to step in when they see mistakes being made.

Meet the 10 hopefuls vying for the coveted title of New Zealand’s best amateur baker.

GABRIEL WEIBL, 44, TIMARU

Born in Slovakia to Hungarian parents, Gabriel now calls Aotearoa home. He applied for the show after some encouragement from his husband and his mother, who love watching cooking shows. He hopes “to showcase baking from my country in my second homeland New Zealand”.

TENIQUA JONES, 29, HAMILTON

Stay-at-home mum Teniqua (of Ngāti Porou descent), applied for Bake Off to send off her 20s with a bang. After learning to bake for her kids, she explains baking has become her love language. “I put my all into every cake I make and if I really want to show someone I love them or appreciate them, I will bake for them.”

CHRISTINA FEHLMANN, 30, HAMILTON