The third season of ''

New Zealand Idol ''New Zealand Idol'', also known as ''NZ Idol'', was the New Zealand version of the ''Idol'' series which originated in the United Kingdom as '' Pop Idol''. New Zealand first saw the ''Idol'' format when TV2 aired '' American Idol 2'', which gar ...

'' commenced in July 2006. The judges were

Iain Stables Iain Phillip Stables of Ngati Porou is a Maori New Zealand Kapa Haka, TV and Radio personality. In the past Stables worked on various radio stations across New Zealand beginning his radio career on Radio Windy in Wellington at the age of 14. As ...

Megan Alatini Megan Bronwinne Alatini (née Cassie, born 29 September 1976) is a South African-born, New Zealand pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand on the reality television series ''Popstars''. She went on to be ...

and

Frankie Stevens Frankie Stevens (born Francis Donald McKechnie Stevenson in Wellington, 1950), MNZM, is a New Zealand entertainer and singer. He was a judge for all three seasons on the reality series ''New Zealand Idol''. He is the brother of singer Jon Steven ...

Auditions

The auditions were held at the following locations: * Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre,

Manukau Manukau (), or Manukau Central, is a suburb of South Auckland, New Zealand, centred on the Manukau City Centre business district. It is located 23 kilometres south of the Auckland Central Business District, west of the Southern Motorway, ...

Westpac Stadium Wellington Regional Stadium (commercially known as Sky Stadium through naming rights) is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. The stadium's bowl site size is . The stadium was built in 1999 by Fletcher Construction and is situa ...

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

Addington Raceway Addington Raceway or The Met is the home of the Metropolitan Trotting Club in Addington, Christchurch in New Zealand. The venue consists of a trotting track, a greyhound track, conference centre and restaurants. It is also home to many feature ...

, Addington,

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

Those who were successful would proceed to the "Top 60" theatre rounds held at Sky City in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

Theatre Week

The successful contestants who made it through to the "Top 60" rounds would spend three days of audition rounds at the Sky City theatre. * Round One (Day 2): Contestants, in groups of six, were to sing in turn,

a cappella Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

, a song of their own choice. This year, the entire 58 contestants would sing before the judges decided on which 22 people would be eliminated. * Round Two (Day 2): In a diversion away from the regular group rounds, 18 of the 37 remaining contestants would pair up for duet performances of the

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

and

Kiki Dee Pauline Matthews (born 6 March 1947), better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English pop singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records. Dee is best known f ...

classic "

Don't Go Breaking My Heart "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by English musician Elton John and English singer Kiki Dee, released by The Rocket Record Company on 25 June 1976. It was written by John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms "Ann Orson" and "Carte B ...

". Those remaining paired up to sing

Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, d ...

's " Sunday Morning", including a group of 3 due to the uneven numbers. At the end of this, 10 contestants were sent home. * Round Three (Day 3): After the previous rounds, the remaining 27 contestants would have their last opportunity to impress the judges. Unlike previous years, each of the contestants were restricted to a choice of one of six songs, to perform in front of the judges and the remaining contestants, although they were accompanied by music. * ''"

For Once in My Life "For Once in My Life" is a song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Stein & Van Stock publishing company, and first recorded in 1965. It was written and first recorded as a slow ballad, in 1965 by Connie Haines, but the ...

" by

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

'' * ''"

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith as the theme song for the 1998 science fiction disaster film '' Armageddon'', in which lead singer Steven Tyler's daughter Liv starred. It is one of four songs perfor ...

" by

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

'' * ''"

More Than Words "More Than Words" is a song by American rock band Extreme. It is an acoustic rock ballad featuring guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone (with harmony vocals from Bettencourt). They both wrote the song, which was produc ...

" by Extreme'' * ''"

Torn Torn may refer to: Film and television * ''Torn'' (2013 American film), directed Jeremiah Birnbaum * ''Torn'' (2013 Nigerian film), directed by Moses Inwang * Torn (2021 film), an American documentary film * ''Torn'' (TV series), a 2007 Briti ...

" by

Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Jane Imbruglia ( , ; born 4 February 1975) is an Australian and British singer and actress. Born and raised in New South Wales, Imbruglia became widely known in the early 1990s playing Beth Brennan in the soap opera ''Neighbours''. A ...

'' * ''"

I Say a Little Prayer "I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967. On the R&B Singles chart it peaked at number ...

" by

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...

'' * ''" Fallin'" by

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer and songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys began composing songs at the age of 12 and was signed by Columbia Records at 15. After d ...

'' Following the final round, all remaining 27 were called on stage, to be told which nine were going home. After most of the contestants were either eliminated or told they were through, the remaining five – ''Toni, Lenken, Birgette, Ben'' and ''Emilie'', were lastly given one more chance to sing for the 4 places left in the Top 18. The last contestant to be eliminated was ''Birgette'', aged 21 from the Te Atatū area of West Auckland. :''Eliminated'': ''Naomi, Darren, Liana, Davinia, Tiresa, Vicki, Beau, Te Rau, Birgette''

Semi-finals

Group 1

* ''George Gates'' – " Truly" by Lionel Richie * ''Ashlee Fisher'' – "I Turn to You (All-4-One song), I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera * ''Lenken Isaa'' – "Brand New Jones" by Robin Thicke * ''Alyce Burr'' – "Without You (Brooke Fraser song), Without You" by Brooke Fraser * ''Clinton Randell'' – "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by

* ''Kali Kopae'' – "Imagine (John Lennon song), Imagine" by John Lennon Advancing to the Top 10: Kali Kopae, Ashlee Fisher and Clinton Randell
Wildcard Contender: Lenken Isaac

Group 2

* ''Wiremu Hohaia'' – "Oughta Be in Love" by Dave Dobbyn * ''Stephen Wilton'' – "U Will Know" by Black Men United * ''Vicki Eaton'' – "Last Dance (Donna Summer song), Last Dance" by Donna Summer * ''Toni Baird'' – "Bathe in the River" by Hollie Smith * ''Victor Sulfa'' – "Can We Talk" by Tevin Campbell * ''Indira Moala'' – "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne Advancing to the Top 10: Indira Moala, Victor Sulfa & Toni Baird
Wildcard Contenders: Wiremu Hohaia

Group 3

* ''Matthew Saunoa'' – "To Love Somebody (song), To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees * ''Ben Hazlewood'' – "Move Along (song), Move Along" by The All-American Rejects * ''Aroha Robinson'' – "I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song), I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 * ''Emilie Harwood'' – "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion * ''Cameron Clayton'' – "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding * ''Rebecca Wright (singer), Rebecca Wright'' – "Yesterday (Beatles song), Yesterday" by The Beatles Advancing to the Top 10: Matt Saunoa, Aroha Robinson and Rebecca Wright
Wildcard Contender: Ben Hazlewood

Wildcards

* ''Ben Hazelwood'' – "Move Along (song), Move Along" by The All-American Rejects * ''Wiremu Hohaia'' – "Oughta Be in Love" by Dave Dobbyn * ''Lenken Isaac'' – "Brand New Jones" by Robin Thicke Advancing to the Top 10: Ben Hazelwood

Weekly Song Themes

The Top 10 Finalists

Matt Saunoa

Matt Saunoa (aged 21, from Levin, New Zealand, Levin) was the winner of the third series of "

". :''Audition'': "My Girl (The Temptations song), My Girl" by The Temptations :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

" by

:''Top 18'': "To Love Somebody (song), To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees :''Top 10'': "Living for the City" by

:''Top 9'': "I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw :''Top 8'': "Amazed" by Lonestar :''Top 7'': "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by

:''Top 6'': Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding / The Commitments (film), The Commitments :''Top 5'': "Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song), Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley :''Top 4'': "Sitting Inside My Head" by Supergroove, "Welcome Home (Dave Dobbyn song), Welcome Home" by Dave Dobbyn :''Top 3'': "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Forever Now (Cold Chisel song), Forever Now" by Cold Chisel :''Top 2'': "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by Bee Gees, "This Love (Maroon 5 song), This Love" by

, :''The Final Showdown'': "Crazy (Gnarls Barkley song), Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, "

" by

, "Living for the City" by

Indira Moala

Indira Moala (aged 21, from Glen Eden,

), was runner-up to winner Matthew Saunoa, Matt Saunoa. :''Audition'': "Ordinary People" by John Legend :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "I Say A Little Prayer" by

:''Top 18'': "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne :''Top 10'': "Think (Aretha Franklin song), Think" by Aretha Franklin :''Top 9'': "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette :''Top 8'': "Heartache Tonight" by Eagles (band), Eagles :''Top 7'': "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by

:''Top 6'': "I'm Outta Love" by Anastacia :''Top 5'': "...Baby One More Time (song), Hit Me, Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears :''Top 4'': "Down Time (song), Down Time" by Aaradhna, "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House :''Top 3'': "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston :''Top 2'': "Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song), Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" by Eurythmics, The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin :''The Final Showdown'': "...Baby One More Time (song), Hit Me, Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears, "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson, "Open Arms (Journey song), Open Arms" by Journey (band), Journey / Mariah Carey, "Think (Aretha Franklin song), Think" by Aretha Franklin

Aroha Robinson

Aroha Robinson (aged 18, from Mount Maunganui, Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty), came third. :''Audition'': :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': :''Top 18'': "I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song), I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 :''Top 10'': "River Deep - Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner :''Top 9'': "Purple Rain (song), Purple Rain" by Prince (musician), Prince :''Top 8'': "From This Moment On (Shania Twain song), From This Moment On" by Shania Twain :''Top 7'': "Circle of Life" by

:''Top 6'': "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me), I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston :''Top 5'': "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain :''Top 4'': "Watchin' U" by Ardijah, "Lifeline (Brooke Fraser song), Lifeline" by Brooke Fraser :''Top 3'': "Dance with My Father (song), Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross, "Let's Stay Together (Lyfe Jennings song), Let's Stay Together" by Al Green

Ben Hazlewood

Ben Hazlewood (aged 17, from Papakowhai,

), was placed fourth. :''Audition'': "Fall at Your Feet" by Crowded House :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Sugar, We're Goin Down" by Fall Out Boy :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "If You're Not the One" by Daniel Bedingfield :''Top 18'': "Move Along (song), Move Along" by The All-American Rejects :''Wildcard'': "Move Along (song), Move Along" by The All-American Rejects :''Top 10'': "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by The Temptations :''Top 9'': "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones :''Top 8'': "Take It Easy" by Eagles (band), The Eagles :''Top 7'': "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" by

:''Top 6'': "Like I Love You" by Justin Timberlake :''Top 5'': "For You I Will (Confidence), For You I Will" by Teddy Geiger :''Top 4'': "Fall at Your Feet" by Crowded House, "Running (Evermore song), Running" by Evermore (band), Evermore

Kali Kopae

Kali Kopae (aged 21, from

), finished in fifth place. :''Audition'': "When I Fall in Love" by Nat King Cole :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Summertime (George Gershwin song), Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': :''Top 18'': "Imagine (John Lennon song), Imagine" by John Lennon :''Top 10'': "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival / Tina Turner :''Top 9'': "Violent (song), Violent" by Stellar* :''Top 8'': "This One's for the Girls" by Martina McBride :''Top 7'': "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" by

:''Top 6'': "Sway (Luis Demetrio song), Sway" by Michael Bublé :''Top 5'': "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow

Toni Baird

Toni Baird (aged 29, from Upper Hutt), was placed sixth. :''Audition'': "Stop! (Sam Brown song), Stop!" by Sam Brown (singer), Sam Brown :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Black Velvet (song), Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

" by

, "Stop! (Sam Brown song), Stop!" by Sam Brown (singer), Sam Brown :''Top 18'': "Bathe in the River" by Hollie Smith :''Top 10'': "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" by Sam & Dave / Jimmy Barnes :''Top 9'': "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks :''Top 8'': "Jolene (song), Jolene" by Dolly Parton :''Top 7'': "Your Song" by

:''Top 6'': "Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns N' Roses

Rebecca Wright

Rebecca Wright (aged 24, from Mount Albert, New Zealand, Mt Albert,

), finished in seventh place. :''Audition'': "Because of You (Kelly Clarkson song), Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

" by

:''Top 18'': "Yesterday (Beatles song), Yesterday" by The Beatles :''Top 10'': "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle :''Top 9'': "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin :''Top 8'': "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes :''Top 7'': "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by

Clinton Randell

Clinton Randell (aged 20, from Mount Roskill, Mt Roskill,

), placed eighth. He hosted ''The Edge Breakfast'' in the 2010s and 2020s. :''Audition'': "Over the Rainbow, Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

" by

:''Top 18'': "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by

:''Top 10'': "Superstition (song), Superstition" by

:''Top 9'': "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan :''Top 8'': "I'll Be (Edwin McCain song), I'll Be" by Edwin McCain

Ashlee Fisher

Ashlee Fisher (aged 16, from Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton), finished ninth. :''Audition'': "Hero (Mariah Carey song), Hero" by Mariah Carey :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': "Dance with My Father (song), Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': " Fallin'" by

:''Top 18'': "I Turn to You (All-4-One song), I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera :''Top 10'': "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield :''Top 9'': "4ever (The Veronicas song), 4ever" by The Veronicas

Victor Sulfa

Victor Sulfa (aged 19, from Papatoetoe,

), was placed tenth. :''Audition'': "A Song for You" by Leon Russell :''Theatre Week (Round 1)'': :''Theatre Week (Round 3)'': "

" by

:''Top 18'': "Can We Talk" by Tevin Campbell :''Top 10'': "Love Child (song), Love Child" by Diana Ross & The Supremes

The Group Performances

:''Group 1'': "Kids (Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue song), Kids" by Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue, "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jackson 5 :''Group 2'': "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours, Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by

, "Upside Down (Diana Ross song), Upside Down" by Diana Ross :''Group 3'': "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes :''The Top 10'': "Reach Out I'll Be There, Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by Four Tops, The Four Tops, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations :''The Top 9'': "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett, "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick :''The Top 8'': "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "The Gambler (song), The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers :''The Top 7'': "I'm Still Standing", "Crocodile Rock" by

:''The Top 6'': "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, :''The Top 5'': "Reach (S Club 7 song), Reach" by S Club, S Club 7, "Keep on Movin' (Five song), Keep on Movin" by Five (group), Five :''The Top 4'': "Slice of Heaven" by Dave Dobbyn, "Why Does Love Do This To Me?" The Exponents :''The Top 3'': "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Rita Coolidge, "Faith (George Michael song), Faith" by George Michael :''The Top 2'': "You Give Me Something (James Morrison song), You Give Me Something" by James Morrison (singer), James Morrison

The Grand Final

The final was held on 29 October, with the following performances: * ''"Indira Moala'': "Hold Out (Matthew Saunoa song), Hold Out" ''(Winner's single)'' * ''"Indira Moala'': "Crazy in Love (Beyoncé Knowles song), Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé Knowles & Jay-Z * ''"Matt Saunoa'': "Hold Out (Matthew Saunoa song), Hold Out" ''(Winner's single)'' * ''"Matt Saunoa'': "When I Get You Alone" by Robin Thicke * ''"Top 10 Girls'': "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls / Geri Halliwell * ''"Top 10 Guys'': "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye * ''"Top 10'': "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jackson 5 * ''"Top 10'': "Reach Out I'll Be There, Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by Four Tops, The Four Tops

Elimination chart

Commercial Releases

References

External links

Official New Zealand Idol website
{{New Zealand Idol New Zealand Idol 2006 New Zealand television seasons