They both loved eating out but, living in Maketu, they learned to cook quality meals because often the nearest restaurant was 45 minutes away.
"We live next door to each other and across the road from our parents, so we all take turns cooking at mum and dad's each night ... we cook everything but seafood is definitely our favourite as people always drop it off to us," Kasey, 23 said.
"When they [judges] first talked to us we were just in a daze and [as] they are eating your dishes you feel kind of sick and numb," she said.
"The kitchen is like a different world but as soon as you have your task you don't really think about the cameras and just concentrate on what you're doing," Karena said.
While it was a competition, the sisters said they got on well with all their fellow contestants and were still friends with them today.
Having each other and the support of their "tight-knit" family and community is what the women credit for getting them through the challenges of the show.
"It's been a really valuable experience and for us. It's really cemented our passion for food and we know that it's what we want to do in life," Kasey said.Masterchef New Zealand is on Sunday nights at 7.30pm on TV One. You can also follow the sisters' progress on Facebook.