The third series of MasterChef New Zealand was broadcast in 2012. Filming started in November 2011. The series started on 21 February 2012. This season the number of contestants changed from 12 to 16, also increasing the number of episode from 12-13 to 16-17. The winner was Chelsea Winter, who beat runner-up Ana Schwarz 77 points to 72.
| Contestants | Age | Origin | Occupation | Status | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Winter | 27 | Marketing Executive | Winner 12 June | 5 | |
| Ana Schwarz | 39 | Stay-at-home Mom | Runner-Up 12 June | 8 | |
| Tony Price | 34 | Auckland | Foliage Supplier | 3 | |
| Brenton Thornton | 24 | Landscaper | 3 | ||
| Charlene McGeghan | 34 | Fiji/Owhata, Rotorua | Stay-at-home Mom | 7 | |
| Matthew "Matt" Gilray | 27 | Christchurch | Butcher | 2 | |
| Zee Tana | 26 | Kamo, Whangarei | Travel Consultant | 4 | |
| David "Dave" McKinnon | 31 | Christchurch | Web Analyst | 2 | |
| Chantelle O'Brien | 29 | Ashburton | Bar Owner | 3 | |
| Andrea Bathgate | 27 | Auckland | Nurse | 2 | |
| Chris Turner | 26 | Business Development Manager | 0 | ||
| Alana Harper | 26 | Cafe Manager | 2 | ||
| Andy Currin | 36 | Wellington | IT Consultant | 1 | |
| Ben Monroe | 31 | Russell | Construction Worker | 1 | |
| Al Markham | 62 | Wellington | Truck Driver | 0 | |
| Chelsea Holmes | 23 | Auckland | Stay-at-home Mom | 0 | |
| Place | Contestant | Episode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | WIN | IN | LOW | IN | IN | LOW | IN | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | WIN | LOW | IN | WIN | WINNER | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Ana | WIN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | WIN | LOW | WIN | IN | WIN | LOW | WIN | LOW | WIN | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Tony | LOSE | IN | LOSE | IN | IN | LOSE | IN | IN | LOW | WIN | WIN | IN | LOW | WIN | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Brenton | WIN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Charlene | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | IN | WIN | WIN | IN | WIN | IN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Matt | LOSE | IN | LOSE | IN | WIN | WIN | LOW | IN | LOW | LOW | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Zee | WIN | WIN | LOW | LOW | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Dave | WIN | IN | LOSE | LOW | IN | LOSE | IN | WIN | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Chantelle | LOSE | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | WIN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Andrea | LOSE | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | LOW | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Chris | LOSE | IN | LOSE | IN | IN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Alana | WIN | LOW | WIN | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Andy | LOSE | IN | WIN | WDR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Ben | WIN | IN | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Al | LOW | ELIM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Chelsea H. | ELIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andy withdrew from the competition at the beginning of Episode 6 due to health concerns.
This Contestant Won The Competition.
This Contestant Was The Runner-up.
This Contestant Won The Elimination Challenge.
This Contestant Was In the Winning Team.
This Contestant was in the bottom group.
This Contestant withdrew from the competition.
This Contestant was eliminated.
| No. | Title | Original air date | Viewers |
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