My Kitchen Rules New Zealand contestant Michael Murray has died.
A family member confirmed his death on Monday afternoon.
“It’s a shock to everyone who knows him,” said the relative, who wished to remain anonymous.
Mr Murray completed the 2024 season of the popular amateur cooking show with his cousin Piki Knap.
According to their biography for the series, the couple grew up together in Te Kūiti, south of Auckland, and developed their love of cooking while entertaining family members at gatherings of up to 200 people.
According to Mr Murray, his strengths were his agility, precision and humble personality, which together made him a ‘powerful ninja in the kitchen’.
Michael Murray appeared with his cousin on the 2024 season of the reality cooking show
He also explained in an interview earlier this year that he has spent much of the past 12 years in Central America, where he had small roles in series, including telenovelas.
“My background is in modeling and acting,” he told Woman’s Day.
‘I was Mr. New Zealand in 2005, and that took me overseas and eventually to Mexico. I’m not Mexican, of course, but they thought I was Latino.
“I did a great job there, and then coming home and being part of this whole journey with MKR is a blessing in disguise. I’ve always put my hand up for opportunities,” he said.
