Northland's Maioha family to feature in XVenture Family Challenge television show filmed at Eagles Nest luxury resort in the Bay of Islands

The Maiohas (from left), Kade, Grace, Angela and Gavin, in their XVenture Family Challenge outfit at Eagles Nest in Russell. Photo / Supplied

A short video of Russell's Maioha family spreading rocks on a walking track was enough to book them a place in a television series.

Carpenter Gavin Maioha, wife Angela, daughter Grace, 14, and son Kade, 12, competed in the XVenture Family Challenge shot on the grounds of the Eagles Nest luxury resort in the Bay of Islands.

In the series, host Simon Barnett sets 16 families a range of diverse team challenges such a flying a drone and the winners get$25,000 cash.

The series started showing on Three on February 11 and will run every Sunday for eight weeks. Each week, four families compete in three different challenges. Two families go through to the next round and two return home.

The 16 families were chosen from a major search across the nation including 50 regional events, from schools, sports clubs, performing arts groups, associations and local councils.

Mr Maioha said the principal of Russell School, William Fuller, urged his family to make a video that would be submitted to the television producers.

"William is the head of the Bay of Islands Walking Trust and he had an idea of getting us to spread rocks on the Okiato to Russell Walkway and he videoed it.

"The TV producers thought 'that family works pretty well so let's have them in the programme'. We were so excited but nervous at the same time," he said.

The Maiohas and other participants stayed in the Bay of Islands and were transported to the Eagles Nest in a bus for the shoot in August.

XVenture Family Challenge presented by ecostore

The wait is over - we are so proud to announce that the 8 episode XVenture Family Challenge, presented by ecostore will premiere on New Zealand's channel three this Sunday at 5:30pm. This first of its kind in television with a focus on learning, growth and development for families. A massive thank you to ecostore and MediaWorks and supporting partners Eagles Nest, Huckleberry and Chantal Organics. #ecostore #family #teamwork #emotionalintelligence #resilience #community

Posted by XVenture on Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Mr Maioha said his wife and children felt like tourists walking around town and being asked by locals about the challenge. The family did not know what challenge they would be told to compete in.

"Is it like the Survivor series? Will they drop us on an island and we'll have to make our way back to Eagles Nest? But the challenges were exciting and ones you could do."

He could not divulge the nature of the challenges nor whether his family qualified for the next round.

Mrs Maioha gave some hints.

"The running challenges were a bit hard. Those in the water was good as the weather was hot and the challenges lasted one to two minutes. One of them was about 10 minutes."

The show they are in will air on March 4.

She said another cool thing was her family was able to have a peek behind the scenes and learn how TV shows were made.

XVenture Challenge spokesman Jason Antill said producers chose Eagles Nest as the location because it provided a versatile and stunning backdrop.