Maree & James 'IT TAKES A VILLAGE'

The popular couple's family stepped in to help them return to The Block

- Debbie Harrison

There were a few sleepless nights as Maree and James Steele worried about how their young children would react to them leaving home to film The Block: Redemption for 13 weeks. Their fears were quickly quashed when they finally broke the news to the cute duo, Mia, five, and James, three.

We sat down and explained to them that Nana and Papa were coming to live at our house, and Nani would be next door - that's their three favourite people. Mia immediately piped up, 'Cool, when are you going to leave? Maree recalls with a giggle.

While Maree and James grapple with long days working on their Orewa renovation, the kids are living the dream at home with their grandparents...

Usually, in our house, Coco Pops are a Sunday treat and a box would last us for six weeks after two weeks of us gone, the box was finished! laughs 35-year-old James. I think the bedtime routines have gone out the window too.

It's clear how grateful Maree and James are to have a family that wraps their arms around them, enabling them to take part in The Block again, eight years after their first stint.

Being invited back on the show was unexpected, admits Maree, 35. We only had five weeks to prepare and sort childcare. Us being on this show and how we carried ourselves the first time around was a proud moment for our parents, so straightaway, without any questions, they said, 'Go! It takes a village and we have a cool and strong village.

James' mum didn't have to travel far to help out - just a few steps, in fact. On their return from their first season of The Block, Maree and James put their $147,000 prize winnings into building a new family home on the same property as her. Being close to family is important to the South Auckland pair.