'Beanbags in the garage' is wrong

[padding] [If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [padding] [stuff header] [spacer] [padding] Hi {NAME}, For reality TV, The Block NZ is actually pretty tame, with hardly a temper tantrum to be seen. It certainly doesn’t begin to approach shows like Love Island for displays of behaviour that are so outrageous they're fascinating. But my colleague, Colleen Hawkes, who has reviewed all The Block NZ room reveals this year, toured the houses, and, just quietly, picked the winners herself, asks: [“Do we really need another trainwreck Block?”]( When our housing market was going gangbusters, you couldn’t do much wrong, even if you did [attach unusual orange and red hand sculptures to a zigzag wall]( (as Stacy and Adam did in 2019). But times have changed. This week’s season end, with only [two Orewa townhouses selling under the hammer, and the smallest profit ever for the winning team]( – just $4000 to Chloe and Ben (plus their $100k prize), and $100 and a car for Maree and James – Colleen argues that it was a painful watch. Why were the reserves so high? Why is it always set in Auckland? (Well, production costs, no doubt) Why were three beanbags and a $13,000 projector put in the garage? We know there will be another season: Three is already advertising for contestants. And, all criticism aside, I have to admit that you can count on the team at Homed to be glued to the screen. We love this stuff, and I know a lot of our readers do too. Happy weekend [padding] [user profile pic] [padding] Joanna Davis [padding] Senior Reporter, Homed [padding] [spacer] [padding] Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters.]( [spacer] # [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Homed]( [spacer] Do we need another Block? [spacer] Opinion: Everyone could see the trainwreck looming when those The Block NZ reserves were announced. Why was it a surprise for Warner Bros? [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Homed]( [spacer] 80sqm home fits all the family [spacer] This cute three-bedroom Christchurch home has “felt like a gift” to its owners, who were themselves first-time buyers, but now they say it’s time to move out of the city to be nearer their church congregation. [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [Privacy Info]( [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Homed]( [spacer] No nudity or laundry allowed [spacer] A luxury island development in Auckland’s Manukau Harbour is finally under way, 10 years after the developers won the right to do it in the Environment Court. [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][hot take]( [spacer] Houseplant connection grows [spacer] Colin Kelly started a houseplant collection to impress a crush. Now they're engaged – and together have 1200 plants. [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Privacy Info]( [spacer] [Privacy Info]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][hot take]( [spacer] ‘Do-up' project surfaces sad story [spacer] "Granddad, in his lunch break, would go and stand across the road and just stare at the house, waiting for the day they moved into their first home. Sadly, he died two weeks before they were to move." [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Homed]( [spacer] Cost of living crisis at yours? [spacer] If your mortgage interest rate has doubled and your income hasn’t, financial advisers say it's time to take stock of where your money is going and make a plan. [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Privacy Info]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [padding] [spacer][Support Stuff]( [Discover more at Homed]( [padding] [spacer] You are receiving this email because you are a opted in to receive the Stuff Homed newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage your profile]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get the Stuff Homed newsletter in your inbox]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1021, New Zealand [spacer] [padding]