Maketu sisters Karena and Kasey Bird are one step closer to winning MasterChef New Zealand 2014 after making it through to the final round of the competition.

The pair has made it into the top two of the TVNZ cooking show after mother-daughter duo Nikki and Jordan Shearer fell at the second and final Pressure Week challenge: replicating two intricate beef dishes, by Michelin star-winning chef Michel Louws, in just 90 minutes.

Maketu sisters Karena and Kasey Bird. Photo: TVNZ.

The hot and cold dishes - beef tartare with oysters and pickled vegetables, and a piece of roast Taupo beef rump with crispy bearnaise sauce and onions two ways were devilishly difficult – but the sister act pulled it off in the pressure cooker conditions of the show.

A big fan of the show, Kasey is feeling ecstatic having made the final two of MasterChef 2014.

'I have always watched the show so to actually have made it into the final is really overwhelming.”

Her sister Karena feels like an 'enormous weight” has been lifted off her shoulders.

'After thinking we were through to the final last week and realising we had to do two more challenges to get through, I felt the pressure more than any other time in the competition.

'I felt a huge rush of elation and pure happiness.”

The sizzling sister act plan to turn up the heat now they are through to the final round, but say they will continue to keep cool heads, stay calm and listen to each other.

'We already have a winning formula so I think what we need to do is stay focused, enjoy ourselves and cook some great food,” says Kasey.

Regardless of whether they win or lose, Karena says she and her sister will still pursue a career in the food industry.

'We would love to travel around our beautiful country and try all of the fantastic produce we have. Then hopefully we can eat our way around the world learning as much as we can and soaking up all of the culture and knowledge from different countries.

'Afterwards, we can bring it all back home and do something delicious with it.”

Kasey says making it this far has been an achievement in itself.

'We definitely have the whole of Maketu behind us so if we win it will be a great way to say thank you for all the love and support we have been given.”

Making it this far in the competition, Karena says they have learned so many lessons.

'Stay true to yourself, remember where you come from, be a good person, work hard, listen to people who know better than you, learn from every experience, be yourself.”

Most importantly, the sisters have found their bond is stronger than ever.