Huge "ka pai moment" for Bay chefs.

For Henry Heke the highlight of My Kitchen Rules is doing it with his wife, Monique.

With four weeks to go in the current series of My Kitchen Rules (MKR), Hawke's Bay contestants Henry and Monique Heke have issued a stern warning to their opponents: "We're in to win it."

The couple, from Hastings, have become firm fan favourites and Mrs Heke said making it through the first round was "a huge ka pai moment for us".

"We're really happy but it was a lot more pressure and stress than we were told it would be."

The pressure will be off them a bit in tonight's episode, as four other teams cook off in a sudden-death round.

The Hekes will be watching from the sidelines as they made it through the rapid cook-off challenge last Tuesday.

However, they will need to be on top of their game next week when they cook in the People's Choice challenge, which is not an elimination round.

But there is no doubt the Hekes have made many fans.

Those who do not know the Hekes, and those who already do are starting to see more of what makes this couple tick.

When asked about the highlight or lack of so far, Mrs Heke said the worst was when she gave "the look of death" to her husband.

He said: "My highlight of the show is actually doing this with my wife."

Not to mention the odd joke or two about a marriage counsellor that are often thrown around.

The two laugh at the titles they had been given so far by fellow showgoers.

"The first day I was the kaumatua, then the uncle, then the handyman," Mr Heke said.

But at the end of the day, his mates said: "That's the real Henry Heke!"

The couple were visibly rooted in their Maori culture and spoke te reo Maori frequently. Mrs Heke was happy TVNZ had chosen to embrace their way of life.

Viewers had contacted the couple to thank them for their use of the language and one elderly woman even said her grandson had learned a new word just from watching the show.

Told they were "good as a couple", the pair welcome any door that may open when the show finishes.

Neither wants to work as chefs in a restaurant and they would prefer to cook socially or combine travel and food.

Local fans got a chance to meet the Hekes last week when the public was invited to tuck into dishes they recreated from the show.

Hawke's Bay Seafoods provided the fish and Harvey Norman the venue.

?The final of the 10-week show will air on Tuesday, December 15.

MKR screens on TV2 tonight and tomorrow from 7.30pm.