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Simon and Meg
A New Zealand couple have been given a frosty reception on Australia's television cooking competition My Kitchen Rules.
The third season of the show airing on the Seven Network includes a team representing New Zealand for the first time, with engaged Auckland couple Simon, 47, and Meg, 34 cooking off against teams from the Australian states.
They have to cook and serve a three-course dinner for the judges and their opposing teams, with the lowest scorers eliminated in each episode, and a $100,000 prize at stake.
Old trans-Tasman rivalries came to the fore when Simon and Meg had their turn in last night's episode, which was filmed in Auckland.
They were slated on Twitter and the show's own website, about everything from their accents to their cooking abilities and their very presence on the show.
DanielTaite tweeted: "Kiwi's in an Aussie competition? Come on! They're really Eastern Australians anyway."
PlagueofFiction wrote: "Now the Kiwi's are trying to not only scare us in Rugby, but also in the kitchens *is waiting for the Haka*"
Another tweeted about Kiwis having inferiority complexes and hating Australia.
"Hehe Kiwi's ,such inferiority complexes, they spend far too much time hating on Australia and Australia couldn't care less about them," hi_Richard_hi wrote.
The couple's New Zealand vowels also got a pasting.
"I can't understand a word the kiwi chick is saying," wrote FormerMI5spy.
DennisEdmunds tweeted: "I can't understand a thung the kiwis are saying."
iTidus0 was a little sympathetic: "Can we have subtitles when the kiwis talk they don't quite speak understandable English. No offense kiwi still love ya's."
But QldSportsFan was unimpressed by Simon and Meg's cooking: "A bowl of cornflakes would be a new dish for the Kiwi couple."
However, the Kiwi couple did make a good impression on some of the show's viewers,
IceTV tweeted: "The Kiwis are cooking up a storm tonight", while ports_k1ng wrote "tonight, the Kiwi couple show them Aussies how food is meant to be cooked."
"Ha... Love the Kiwi couple on #MKR!! Go that Kiwis!!!," wrote jozzalicious.
On the My Kitchen Rules website, there were accusations from viewers that critics of Simon and Meg were racist.
"While I admit I did have the urge to push that dozy woman's face into her sticky pavlova, she does make for entertaining viewing," Mandy wrote.
"All she did tonight was show us all what a twit she really is; I'm willing to bet it was her first time even visiting NZ, so her comments were baseless anyway.
"As for the Kiwi's I really wish they hadn't carried on like "pork chops" with the anti-aussie posturing Kiwis seem to do until they come and live here and realise no one cares!"
Roberto was shocked by some of the comments made on the show.
"Tonight was the first time I watched this and I was pretty shocked, and I'm not a Kiwi. I thought the other contestants we're quite harsh with their comments. Some comments pushed the boundaries I feel. For the others who replied "we don't have racism here", Really??"
Jacky was also unhappy: "I am absolutely amazed at the negative and destructive comments made by these contestants. Australians used to be known for their mateship and great attitudes but this show is disgusting!...I cannot believe that idiotic woman... was allowed to make such a racial derogatory statement about Kiwis. Channel 7 you should be ashamed as should all the contestants!"
My Kitchen Rules
also screens in New Zealand on TV2 but is not currently on
air.
