The Apprentice New Zealand is a New Zealand reality television series that aired on TV2 from 16 February to 11 May 2010. It featured Terry Serepisos, a Wellington based multi-millionaire property developer, as the chief executive officer. The series' winner, Thomas Ben, received a $200,000 package consisting of a $100,000 salary, a BMW and accommodation. Ben began work at Serepisos' property development company Century City in July 2010 but was fired the next year due to the Bankruptcy of Terry Serepisos. The series returned in 2021, under the title The Apprentice Aotearoa.
Candidates There were fourteen candidates taking part in this season and initially they were separated into two teams based on gender. The women chose the name Athena (also used as the female team name in the eighth season of the U.S. show), while the men chose the name Number 8. In the first episode, there is a twist as Nicky (Athena) and Richard (Number 8) are revealed to be already in a relationship. In episode 4, the teams picked project managers for the task Nicky and Chris and then were told that they would swap and lead the other team. In the boardroom in episode 6 Richard was switched to team Athena due to his excellence in the task even though his team lost. In episode 9 Nicky and Linda who had starring roles in the previous task had to select one member from their own team without conferring to switch to the other team, Linda chose Karen and Nicky chose David. In Week 11 Catherine and Karen swapped teams because they had not worked with the other person.
Candidate Background Original team Age Hometown ResultThomas BenDivisional ManagerNumber 834AucklandHired by SerepisosDavid WyattMedia Agency DirectorNumber 827AucklandFired in the Season FinaleCatherine LivingstoneBusiness ConsultantAthena33AucklandFired in week 12Karen ReidHealing Company DirectorAthena33AucklandFired in week 11Linda SladeBusiness StudentAthena21ChristchurchFired in week 10Nicky ClarkePR specialistAthena28AucklandFired in week 9Daniel PhillipsSenior Account ManagerNumber 831AucklandFired in week 8Meena ChhaganSenior AccountantAthena24WellingtonFired in week 7Richard HenryGetfrank FounderNumber 826AucklandFired in week 7Paul NatacLocal Government ManagerNumber 828AucklandResigned in week 6Chris WhitesideAccountantNumber 828ChristchurchFired in week 4Kirsty ParkhillBusiness Development ManagerAthena35WellingtonFired in week 3Lee DaviesInternet Company CEONumber 829ChristchurchFired in week 2Kim LaurensonCompany DirectorAthena27ChristchurchFired in week 1
Weekly results Candidate Original team Week 4 team Week 7 team Week 9 team Week 11 team Application Result Record as project managerThomas BenNumber 8Number 8Number 8Number 8Number 8Hired by Serepisos2-1 (win in weeks 3 & 11, loss in week 9)David WyattNumber 8Number 8Number 8AthenaAthenaFired in the Season Finale1-2 (win in week 1, loss in weeks 8 & 11)Catherine LivingstoneAthenaAthenaAthenaAthenaNumber 8Fired in week 122-0 (win in weeks 5 & 9)Karen ReidAthenaAthenaAthenaNumber 8AthenaFired in week 113-0 (win in weeks 2, 8 & 10)Linda SladeAthenaAthenaAthenaAthenaFired in week 101-1 (win in week 6, loss in week 10)Nicky ClarkeAthenaNumber 8Number 8Number 8Fired in week 92-0 (win in weeks 4 & 7)Daniel PhillipsNumber 8Number 8Number 8Fired in week 80-1 (loss in week 2)Meena ChhaganAthenaAthenaAthenaFired in week 7Richard HenryNumber 8Number 8AthenaFired in week 70-2 (loss in weeks 5 & 7)Paul NatacNumber 8Number 8Resigned in week 60-1 (loss in week 6)Chris WhitesideNumber 8AthenaFired in week 40-1 (loss in week 4)Kirsty ParkhillAthenaFired in week 30-1 (loss in week 3)Lee DaviesNumber 8Fired in week 2Kim LaurensonAthenaFired in week 10-1 (lost in week 1)
No.Candidate Elimination chart123456789101112131Thomas IN IN WIN IN IN BR IN IN LOSE IN WIN IN WIN2David WIN IN IN IN BR IN IN LOSE IN BR LOSE IN FIRED3Catherine BR IN IN BR WININ BR IN WIN BR IN FIRED 4KarenIN WIN BR BR IN IN IN WIN BR WIN FIRED 5LindaIN IN IN IN IN WIN BR ININ FIRED 6NickyIN IN BR WIN IN IN WIN BRFIRED7Daniel IN LOSE IN IN IN BRIN FIRED8MeenaIN IN IN IN ININ FIRED 9Richard IN IN IN IN LOSEIN FIRED 10Paul IN BR IN IN BR QUIT 11Chris IN IN IN FIRED 12Kirsty BR IN FIRED13Lee IN FIRED 14KimFIRED
The candidate was on the losing team. The candidate was hired and won the competition. Was later fired due to the Bankruptcy of Terry Serepisos. The candidate won as project manager on his/her team. The candidate lost as project manager on his/her team. The candidate was brought to the final boardroom. The candidate was fired. The candidate lost as project manager and was fired. The candidate lost as project manager and resigned.
Challenges
Week 1 Air Date: 16 February 2010 Project managers: Kim (Athena) and David (Number 8) Task: To sell BBQ'd food in Auckland city centre. The team that makes the most profit wins Result: Athena made a $511.50 profit against Number 8's $711.00 Winner: Number 8 Reward: Dinner at Dine by Peter Gordon Brought into the boardroom: Kim, Catherine and Kirsty Fired: Kim Laurenson Reasons for firing: For poor leadership and bringing Kirsty back for seemingly no reason.
Week 2 Air Date: 23 February 2010 Project managers: Daniel (Number 8) and Karen (Athena) Task: Put on a fashion show which exhibits the latest innovation in women's underwear from jockey; the next generation of the no panty line promise range Result: Number 8 won the creativity and originality part of the task but Athena win the presentation side of the challenge and the overall brand integration. Winner: Athena Reward: Taking a helicopter to the 140 ft super catamaran Island Passage Brought into the boardroom: Daniel, Lee and Paul Fired: Lee Davies Reasons for firing: For his arrogance, not listening to his teammates and lack of professionalism by drinking on the task.
Week 3 Air Date: 2 March 2010 Project managers: Kirsty (Athena) and Thomas (Number 8) Task: To sell new Magnum Ice Cream Sandwich Auckland city centre. The team that makes the most profit wins Result: Athena made a $1,071.30 profit against Number 8's $1,490.00 Winner: Number 8 Reward: Number 8 get to go bungy jumping with Tamati Coffey Brought into the boardroom: Kirsty, Karen and Nicky Fired: Kirsty Parkhill Reasons for firing: For a lack of leadership & control over Athena.
Week 4 Air Date: 9 March 2010 Team reshuffle: Nicky and Chris switched teams. Project managers: Chris (Athena) and Nicky (Number 8) Task: To create an online marketing campaign for a Microsoft product. Result: Number 8 won all five categories in the task. Winner: Number 8 Reward: Pampering at East Day Spa Brought into the boardroom: Chris, Catherine and Karen Fired: Chris Whiteside Reasons for firing: For lying, being a poor leader and showing the competition his team's presentation.
Week 5 Air Date: 16 March 2010 Project managers: Catherine (Athena) and Richard (Number 8) Task: To Create and to make a Subway sub to sell to the public of New Zealand. Winner: Athena Reward: A free handset from a telecom store, and a 10 minutes phonecall to loved ones/family Brought into the boardroom: Richard, Paul and David Fired: No One, Terry felt that both teams had done well on the task.
Week 6 Air Date: 23 March 2010 Project managers: Linda (Athena) and Paul (Number 8) Task: To develop a concept and sell a Bus Tour around Auckland. Winner: Athena Reward: Watch a Horse Race at Ellerslie Race Course, Richard accompanied Athena on their reward due to being judged as the best performer on Number 8. Brought into the boardroom: Paul, Daniel and Thomas (Paul honorably took the blame as the leader for Number 8) Asked to be fired: Paul Natac
Week 7 Air Date: 30 March 2010 Project managers: Richard(Athena) and Nicky(Number 8) Task: Renovate, Re-Decorate, and Rent an apartment at Lighter Quay. Winner: Number 8 Reward: A round of golf together with Terry Serepisos and his two assistants Brought into the boardroom: Catherine, Linda and Meena Fired: Richard Henry and Meena Chhagan Reasons for firing: Richard for lying and trying to cover up any actual problems in his team. Meena for lying to Mr. Serepisos' face despite all the candidates being warned they would be fired solely on lying. Notes: Richard is fired before the results of the task are even revealed. Serepisos stated that he and his advisers "see and hear everything". He warned everyone that he would fire anyone being dishonest. Meena later lied again to Serepisos, and ended up being fired for that sole reason.
Week 8 Air Date: 6 April 2010 Project managers: Karen(Athena) and David(Number 8) Task: To create a 30-second television commercial for Seek.co.nz. Winner: Athena by default. Number 8's commercial made use of a competitor's similar slogan and, thus, was disqualified, despite winning all the categories in the task. Reward: Jet skiing at the beach. Brought into the boardroom: David, Nicky and Daniel Fired: Daniel Phillips Reasons for firing: For someone who works in the advertising agency, Daniel should have been able to pick up on the similarity of the slogans.
Week 9 Air Date: 13 April 2010 Project managers: Catherine(Athena) and Thomas(Number 8) Task: To create a Cereal brand for NZ kids Winner: Athena Reward: Ferrari Riding at the Hampton Downs Racecourse, near Auckland Brought into the boardroom: Thomas, Karen and Nicky Fired: Nicky Clarke Reasons for firing: Serepisos felt that she didn't want it as much as the others.
Week 10 Air Date: 20 April 2010 Project managers: Karen(Number 8) and Linda(Athena) Task: To sell bottled water (a brand product of Richie McCaw and Ali Williams) Winner: Number 8 Reward: $4500 to spend at Sony Centre, New Market Brought into the boardroom: Linda, Catherine and David Fired: Linda Slade Reasons for firing: For poor leadership, not selling enough water and allowing herself to become distracted by Richie McCaw.
Week 11 Air Date: 27 April 2010 Project managers: Thomas (Number 8) and David (Athena) Task: To Teach Elderly People how to use the newest technology Winner: Number 8 Reward: One night at a luxury hotel and 1 phone call to their loved one Brought into the boardroom: David and Karen Fired: Karen Reid Reasons for firing: Despite being honest and outspoken, Karen is not seen as a team player based on her interactions with her teammates.
Week 12 (Finale, Part 1) Air Date: 4 May 2010 Fired: Catherine Livingstone (fired prior to task) Reasons for firing: Terry felt she was a bit too untrustworthy to work for him. Task (Part 1): To sell a luxury apartment Winner: Thomas Ben
Week 13 (Finale, Part 2)
Air Date: 9 May 2010 Task (Part 2): To organize a charity fundraising auction for (Cure Kids). Thomas's Team: Nicky, Paul, Catherine David's Team: Daniel, Linda, Karen Fired: David Wyatt The Apprentice: Thomas Ben
References
External links Official Website – TV2