A generous show sponsor is digging deep into its own pockets and giving the losing The Block NZ contestants a consolation prize.
Freedom Furniture, which has supplied much of the homeware furniture adorning the Block NZ homes for the past five seasons, today said it would be giving each of the losing teams a $5000 cash prize to soften the blow.
"These teams have spent so much time away from their loved ones and worked incredibly hard to provide New Zealand with 12 weeks of entertainment. We think they all deserved more than what they were left with last night," said Freedom Furniture managing director Deb Ridling.
She said she was moved as the auction played out on live television and hoped the gesture would offer a sense of consolation for their efforts and be a reminder that the teams had the support of the country.
"We felt for the teams last night, and we wanted to show them we are behind them and reward them for all that hard work in delivering these beautiful homes to New Zealanders," she said.