The first episode saw 33 girls drawn from a nationwide model search travel to the Bay of Islands, where they were whittled down to just 13 finalists.
Top Model judge and owner of 62 Models and Talent, Sara Tetro, said she went into this year's search with a "very open mind".
Ms Tetro said there were always prerequisites sought, but she emphasised that "beauty takes its shape in many different ways".
"Fashion changes in models as it does in clothing."
Although she was tight-lipped on what surprises this season would bring, she confirmed that the competition this year was "very tight".
"We don't have a winner yet. The game is still on."
Ms Tetro said, for her, the most interesting part of the show was watching the girls develop.
"Some girls develop under pressure and some girls don't.
"[Some] girls just pull out better shots time after time after time. And some girls implode."
Ms Tetro did have some advice for this season's Top Models hopefuls: be yourself.
"There is no point in creating a character that you are not, because it becomes extremely apparent very quickly.
"You've always got to remember you're on television. It's like Facebook: you put it out there, it's out there for good."
Ms Tetro suggests that future Top Models should conduct themselves in a manner they would be proud of.
Ms Tetro is joined by returning Top Model judges, photographer Chris Sisarich and fashion personality Colin Mathura-Jeffree.
She describes the two as very different characters.
"The biggest difference is that Colin's extremely high energy and Chris is very calming."
Ms Tetro said this season's show would be "an extraordinary ride" for contestants.
"They're away from their families, they're away from their friends, their school, they are ensconced in the Top Model bubble.
"It's stressful, but they learn an enormous amount," she said. "It's a lot of fun."
• New Zealand's Next Top Model screens Fridays at 7.30pm on TV3.
