TV3 taking reality shows off air in 2016

MasterChef NZ won't make an appearance on television screens in 2016. Photo / Supplied

Reality TV shows MasterChef NZ and X Factor are being "rested" by TV3 in 2016.

MasterChef NZ, which features celebrity judges Josh Emett, Al Brown and Mark Wallbank, pulled low ratings in its first season on TV3 after being previously chopped by TVNZ.

Mediaworks group content director Andrew Szusterman said it appeared New Zealand's appetite for cooking programmes had gone off the boil.

Masterchef was a great show but didn't perform to the network's expectations, he said.

X Factor's absence from the schedules may not be permanent, however, as it has been aired every second year.

A MediaWorks spokeswoman said both shows were being "rested" next year but would not comment further about whether either programme had a long-term future on the network.

MediaWorks did confirm returns for The Block NZ, The Bachelor NZ and Grand Designs NZ, all of which it said had rated well.

Local drama Westside - the prequel to Outrageous Fortune - Jono and Ben, Seven Days and its spin off, Seven Days of Sport will also all be returning.

The network will also introduce a local version of the gameshow Family Feud, in which two families compete to guess the most popular answers to questions, to be fronted by comedian Dai Henwood.