Kiwi apprentices face firing line

A Kiwi 'Donald Trump' is being sought. Photo / Supplied

They've become famous the world over for uttering the two words no budding business mogul wants to hear - you're fired.

Now the boardroom bombshells delivered by Donald Trump and Sir Alan Sugar in The Apprentice are getting a Kiwi makeover.

A New Zealand version of the show is coming to TV2, with producers headhunting a captain of industry to put 12 wannabe millionaires through their paces.

Great Southern Television managing director Phil Smith said production would start "as soon as we find a millionaire" but refused to be drawn on possible candidates.

"Obviously I can't say at this stage because we have yet to approach people so I will let you speculate."

The US version of the show, starring "The Don", and the UK spinoff with Sir Alan attract huge ratings and there are versions of the show in more than a dozen other countries.

Each week a group of contestants has to perform a business-related task, with one getting fired at the end of the episode.

Smith said producers would cast a 12-strong team, with an application form likely to be on the TVNZ website by the end of the week.

He also confirmed the show would feature "normal" contestants rather than mimic overseas celebrity versions.

"In recessionary times we want to show real people showing endeavour and succeeding. I don't think we want to see another bunch of celebrities running around making fools of themselves.

"We are looking for people who are ambitious, driven and are looking for a major break because the person who becomes the winner will in effect become a celebrity in their own right as they have in America and the UK."

Filming will be based in Auckland, although contestants may have to travel around the country to complete their tasks.

Smith said The Apprentice NZ was "highly instructional" and a reality show with a conscience.

"In each episode there is an underlying theme where there is something to be learned. There is a bit of a moral code built in. Often the person who is fired is the person you don't expect but because they have breached some sort of moral or ethical code they are the ones that go.

"But you learn from the CEO why they had to go. It's not about winning at all costs, it's about how you win. I think because we are a number eight wire country, people are into it."