The Block eyeing apartment or bare land options

The Block's Jo and Damo Neal.

The next move for hit reality television show The Block NZ could be into an Auckland apartment building or giving its contestants the challenge of starting from scratch on bare land.

In Friday's auction of houses renovated by the contestants in suburban Pt Chevalier, all four were sold under the hammer for between $1.35 million and $1.55 million.

After such high interest in the contestants' efforts over the 12 weeks of series three, the show franchise is now considering how it can stay attractive for series four next year and sell the finished products for above reserve prices.

A change of scene is tipped and there have been clues as to where the next shooting location could be.

Although a TV3 spokeswoman declined to confirm it yesterday, the Herald understands producers are considering apartments and bare land for building on as options, as well as the traditional land with houses already in place.

The Australian TV version of the show has screened renovation of apartment blocks at a time when New Zealanders are opening their minds to apartment living, especially in Auckland where house prices soar.

This year, each of five teams in The Block Glasshouse designed an apartment in a Melbourne building over a 10-week period, and 2.7 million viewers watched the final.

The Australian series for next year will also feature four neighbouring flats.

Bayleys Real Estate residential manager Hayden Stanaway would not be drawn on whether the New Zealand franchise was looking for flats on a freehold title for a do-up.

He could only confirm sales staff had been asked to look for suitable properties to present to TV3 owners MediaWorks.

The Block NZ's request to Bayleys for city-fringe, inner-west or North Shore suburban locations was "astute". All of those areas had experienced strong demand, he said.