The Block NZ: TSB to give empty-handed teams $10,000 after disappointing finale

The Block: Redemption teams for 2022: Maree and James Steele (left), Chloe Hes and Ben Speedy, Quinn and Ben Alexandre, Stacy Heyman and Adam Middleton. Photo / Supplied

After a disappointing finale for the contestants on this season of the reality television show The Block NZ, TSB has announced it will give the losing teams $10,000 each.

Chloe Hes and Ben Speedy were crowned the winners of this year's show, achieving the feat with the smallest winning profit in its 10-year history of just $4000 with their stylish terrace townhouse. It sold at auction for $1.145 million.

The friends, returning to compete in The Block NZ: Redemption after losing out in season seven, walked away with the $100,000 cash prize plus their auction profits - but the other teams weren't so lucky.

Only one other house sold above the reserve, and another sold at a loss, bringing the show to a disappointing close for the teams.

TSB shared on Facebook this afternoon that "after watching the tough results of The Block NZ Auction Grand Final, we didn't want to see any teams go home empty-handed."

Maree and James Steele, Stacy and Adam Middleton, and Quinn and Ben Alexandre will all be receiving $10,000 from the company.

Maree and James Steele were the only other team to sell above the reserve but only took away $100 when their house was sold for $1,152,100. This was a steep drop from the $147,000 they made the first time around in season three. They also won the People's Choice Award, decided by public vote, and took home a new Suzuki Vitara JLX, worth around $28,000.

Stacy and Adam, who earned nothing from their first appearance on The Block, walked away with nothing for a second time when their house sold after the auction at the reserve price of $1.148m.

Quinn and Ben, who won $10,000 the last time they appeared on the show, made a loss this time around after their house sold for $39,000, below their reserve of $1.199m.

The teams only get to pocket the profit they make from the sales - what their house sells for above the reserve.

Last year's contestants made an average of about half a million each.