Ex Oamaruvian makes grade

Michael Gin's nerves sky-rocketed when he was in the bottom four on Masterchef New Zealand on Sunday night.

The 26-year-old grew up in Oamaru and is now in the final 16 on TV One's popular show.

On Sunday the contestants were given a mystery box which included pork.

"I usually cook with Asian ingredients but there was no soy sauce or oyster sauce," he told the Oamaru Mail.

"I was starting to go, 'Oh crap'."

Judge Simon Gault called elements of Mr Gin's dish "outstanding".

"By a pig's whisker you're going through," he said.

However, Mr Gin wasn't so certain he was going through.

"It's crazy that I'm actually here," he said on the show.

Mr Gin said he is having to be careful not to let any details about the future shows out.

"People will try all sorts of tricks," he said.

You can see him on Masterchef New Zealand this Sunday on TV One at 7.30pm.