The models on Deal Or No Deal were recruited in a radio campaign.
It's just as well Deal Or No Deal host Jeremy Corbett has an understanding fiancee - the guy has to work with 26 female models.
"She thinks it's hilarious," he says. "She has every reason to bribe me I suppose, but she's awesome about it."
Whether or not
everyone is as understanding remains to be seen - the topic of the show's suitcase models is a sensitive one.
Producer Darryl McEwen declined to comment on whether or not it's politically correct to employ a bevy of young women to stand there looking pretty, diligently opening cases when the moment arises.
But he will point out that it's the same format used in the US, and several European countries.
The first show, Miljoenenjacht in the Netherlands, features models in identical short blonde wigs. The models on New Zealand's Deal or No Deal were hired via a radio campaign, and come from different parts of the country.
In Australia, it's not models who hold the cases but members of the audience. McEwen says that's because Australia has several gameshows competing for studio audiences so they attract them by offering prize money to the crowd.
Obviously we don't have that problem here. Or is it simply that Kiwis like looking at pretty girls more than Aussies do?
"That is definitely untrue," says Corbett. "They'd just never say it out loud. It makes it more showbizzy with models. If you get members of the audience up you get people who are dressed differently and shaven differently."
So is it sexist? Or a subversive throwback to the gameshows of yesteryear?
"I actually believe a female host would be better because you need to multi-task and I'm not very good at that," says Corbett, who reckons he has the answer for the next series. "You could have the All Blacks or the Sevens teams up there, shirts off, holding cases."
