Meet the couples who’ll be causing a stir in the kitchen this season as group one on My Kitchen Rules NZ!

Auckland co-workers and close pals Hannah George and Cathy Yang rehabilitate high-risk violent offenders for a living, so they say they won’t be rattled by a little competition in the kitchen! “You have to be able to work well under pressure and get the job done,” Hannah says of their jobs. “I know we can handle any stress that comes with MKR!“

Christchurch mother-and-daughter duo Ruth Cable and Cheryl Fenwick say they’re “very alike in all the areas that matter – passion, organisation, food ethos”. “Our focus will be on having fun and doing this together,” Ruth says.

Classic Kiwi blokes Laurence Corlett (a former Hurricanes star) and Paul Rangiwahia bonded over their experiences of parenthood, and both say they want to be good role models for their kids as they go through the competition. “While competition is great, if you don’t win fairly and with integrity, you’ve lost,” says Laurence.

Hawkes Bay-based Henry Heke and his wife Monique had a game plan going into this season. “We don’t want … to show our hand too soon,” Henry says. “Monique has come up with a little system where she’ll just give me a nudge if I’m giving too much away!”

Otago boys Jeremy Aldworth and Travis Thompson say their firm friendship, superior skills and willingness to Google makes them fierce competitors! Jeremy, 38, says “YouTube is a great way to learn to cook”.