Winners of The Block NZ Amy and Stu will be spending Christmas in their favourite place: their personal slice of heaven in Gisborne. See the rest of their sunny, colourful home below.
See how The Block NZ winners Amy and Stu decorate for Christmas
It goes without saying that proud Gisbornites (“Gizzy hard!”) Amy Moore and Stu Watts – winners of this year’s The Block NZ– will be spending Christmas in their favourite place: their personal slice of heaven right across from the beach in their home city.
After a massive year – which included spending 12 gruelling weeks away from home as they competed on the TV show to transform a brand new townhouse in Hobsonville, Auckland, into a dream home – the couple are looking forward to some downtime and bringing their family together to celebrate Christmas.
“We are not traditionally super-Christmassy but we love to get together for food and drinks and enjoy the company of anyone and everyone,” says Amy. “For us, Christmas is about the kids. We just have our fingers crossed that it’ll be a cracking Gizzy summer’s day.”
On 25 December, you’ll find the blended family (Amy has a daughter, Nina, 13, and Stu has two children, Flynn, 13, and Zoe, 11) chilling out with family, friends and no shortage of food. “There’s always a ham,” says Amy. “My Dad usually does pork on the Weber and there are salads and lots of sweets, including Mum’s famous brandy and chocolate ice cream.”
[gallery_link num_photos=”9″ media=”https://www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz//wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2018/11/AmyStu-GisborneHome-Dec2018-4.jpg” link=”/real-homes/block-nz-winners-amy-stu-gisborne-home” title=”Read more about the home here”]
What will you be drinking on Christmas Day?
Amy: A non-expensive prosecco, followed by many cups of tea.
Favourite bring-a-plate?
I always like to make something a little spicy, like a warm bean dip or a ceviche, and a good old potato salad.
What sort of Christmas tree do you put up?
Never plastic!
What was the most challenging part of the reno?
Amy: It was pretty straightforward – I was in my element!
What gave you the biggest bang for your buck?
Nothing in particular. Building is not cheap but we had excellent tradies and it made such a difference to getting it done.


A Smeg fridge was something Amy had always wanted but could never justify the price. “But they had a half-price sale when I was shopping for appliances so I took it as a sign!”



Amy’s styling advice “What I love about styling is being confident to mix old with new. There’s nothing better than a shiny green plant in an old, weathered pot or a secondhand chair with a stylish new cushion and throw. Just mix it up”



“I have always loved the feeling of warmth that ply gives when it’s done well,” says Amy, who chose this material for both the walls and ceiling in the open-plan living area. In summer, the doors are opened wide to the deck and beach beyond, while in winter the couple get the woodburner going: “I love nothing more than a roaring sea outside and a roaring fire inside,” says Amy.


The kete on Amy and Stu’s bedroom wall is by a local weaver, who also created the other weaving around the house. The doll next to the bed is made by the women of Ibu-Ibu which empowers impoverished mothers in Indonesia to set up their own businesses.

A flamingo print from 100% NZ sets a nostalgic tone in Nina’s room, along with vintage bedding (one of her mum’s passions). “She’s so obliging,” says Amy. “There were no cartoon duvet covers for her. Sorry, Neens!”

The self-contained studio downstairs is rented out on Airbnb. “It has the best view from the bed ever!”

The retro yellow armchairs in the living room were an SPCA charity shop find – $25 each.


This beautiful home right by Wainui Beach used to be Amy’s family’s old bach until last year when a major renovation endowed it with a new layout, two more bedrooms and a garage.


Contacts & suppliers
Architect Shane Kingsbeer
Builders Character Building
Kitchen benchtop by Craig Jenkins
Kitchen cabinetry by Cherrywood Joinery
Kitchen over-bench light custom made by BJ Moss, Gisborne
Smeg appliances Kitchen Things
Words by: Debbie Harrison. Photography by: Florence Charvin.
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