Chefs are finally in the kitchen

MasterChef hopefuls head off to the studio. Photo / Janna Dixon

Fire up the stove - the battle to find New Zealand's first MasterChef is heating up as filming got underway around Auckland yesterday.

The apron-clad contestants for the highly anticipated TV One series set out from the North Shore clifftop mansion, where they are living for the duration of the show, for one of their first tasks.

Surrounded by camera crew and producers from Imagination TV, the smiling participants were driven to a West Auckland studio.

Young and old, male and female contestants helped load up the cars, folding their aprons and sharing a laugh.

Seeby Woodhouse, millionaire Orcon founder and owner of the $7.2 million MasterChef house, was also snapped on his property this week, although it is not clear whether he has any involvement in the show.

The three judges on MasterChef NZ - food writer Ray McVinnie, UK TV chef Ross Burden and restaurateur Simon Gault - were nowhere to be seen on site.

Imagination TV producer Bettina Hollings would not comment on how filming was going, except to say they had reached their "final selection" of contestants.

The kitchen show hopefuls were whittled down to the final 12 after a cut-throat audition period earlier this month in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

All participants have had to sign a 14-page contract.

The contract stipulates a ban on visitors, outlines rules around curfew and delivers strict warnings not to speak to media or take photos while in the mansion or on set.

The MasterChef NZ winner will take home a selection of Fisher & Paykel kitchen items, a Toyota vehicle and a deal to publish his or her own cookbook.