New Zealand's Got Talent series 3


New Zealand's Got Talent was a New Zealand reality television show, based on the original UK series, to find new talent. The third and final series began airing on TV One from 15 September 2013. Host Tāmati Coffey returned to the show, along with judges Jason Kerrison and Rachel Hunter and key sponsor Toyota New Zealand. Cris Judd also joined the judging panel, replacing Ali Campbell. The series screened at 7.30pm on Sunday evenings.
The series was won by 22-year-old singer from Wellington, who performed "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". Maurice had previously made it to the bootcamp round of the first New Zealand series of The X Factor. Christchurch dance duo Silhouette was the runner-up, with 14-year-old singer-songwriter Jenny Mitchell from Gore in third place. Unlike 2012 winner Clara van Wel, Maurice was not given a recording contract, after Sony opted not to sign her. Maurice did, however, still receive the prize of a new car and $80,000 cash.

Background

In November 2012, TVNZ confirmed the show would return for a third series in 2013. In July 2013, funding agency NZ On Air confirmed that it would give the series $800,000 in production funding, a 50% reduction from the 2012 series funding.

Host and judges

In December 2012, series two host Tāmati Coffey announced his plans to tour Europe for six months in early 2013, expressing his intention to return to New Zealand to present the 2013 series. In June 2013 he was confirmed as returning as series host. In April, TVNZ confirmed Opshop frontman Jason Kerrison would return as a judge. In May, TVNZ confirmed that American choreographer Cris Judd would join the judging panel and that Rachel Hunter would return to the judging panel for 2013.

Auditions

The first call for auditions was made in November 2012. Contestants could enter in one of three ways: online, via post, or in person at an open audition venue as part of the Toyota Talent Tour. From late April to early June 2013, the show's producers toured around New Zealand towns and cities with the Toyota Talent Tour and held non-televised open auditions. The top applicants then progressed to the judges' auditions.
The following list contains all of the cities, venues and dates of the Toyota Talent Tour.
Audition city/townDateVenue
Invercargill29 April 2013Southland Boys High School
Dunedin30 April 2013Otago Boys High School
Dunedin1 May 2013Otago Boys High School
Timaru3 May 2013Roncalli College
Christchurch5 May 2013Addington Event Centre
Christchurch6 May 2013Addington Event Centre
Greymouth8 May 2013Tai Poutini Polytechnic
Nelson9 May 2013Nelson School of Music
New Plymouth14 May 2013New Plymouth Boys High School
Wellington17 May 2013Wellington East Girls College
Wellington18 May 2013Wellington East Girls College
Napier20 May 2013Napier War Memorial Conference Centre
Hamilton25 May 2013Southwell School
Rotorua28 May 2013John Paul College
Tauranga29 May 2013Otumoetai College
Whangarei4 June 2013Whangarei Girls High School
Auckland8 June 2013Epsom Girls Grammar School
Auckland9 June 2013Epsom Girls Grammar School

Judges auditions

The judges auditions took place in Dunedin at the Regent Theatre on 14 and 15 July, in Auckland at the City Impact Church on 25 and 27 July and in Wellington at the St James Theatre on 10 and 11 August. The first episode aired on 15 September 2013, running for 90 minutes. After the judges' auditions, the successful contestants will be further reduced down to a group of 30 for the semi-finals.

Semi-finals

There are six semi-finals, with the first episode broadcast on 10 October. The semi-finals are pre-recorded the Thursday before broadcast at the City Impact Church in Albany, Auckland. The winners of each week's semi-final were revealed at the beginning of the next week's episode.

Tip Top Natural Talent Search

In addition to 30 semi-finalists, one wildcard entry will be chosen by a public competition. The Tip Top Natural Talent Search competition is open to any act. Acts upload a video audition and are voted on by the public. The top five acts were revealed in semi-final four, with the winner selected by the judges and announced in semi-final five. The five top acts were: The Pack, The Black Trio, Troublemakers Dance Crew, Shane Brown and APD Bhangra Group.

Semi-finalists

NameGenreActAgeFromSemiPosition reached
50/50 Dance CrewDanceDance Group16–24Auckland1Eliminated
Renee MauriceSingingSinger22Wellington1Winner
RaviVarietyMartial Artist37Auckland1Eliminated
This Is UnicyclingVarietyUnicycle Duo21 & 22Kaikohe, Nelson1Eliminated
MayoDanceDancer21Pukekohe1Finalist
Diamond DivasSingingSinging Duo40 & 49Porirua1Eliminated
MDMSingingSinging Trio12–16Auckland2Eliminated
Brian and SarahDanceDance Duo18Christchurch2Finalist
Gabriella AtkinsonSingingSinger13Nelson2Eliminated
Origin Dance CrewDanceDance Group5–18Nelson2Eliminated
James LeeSingingSinger31Auckland2Finalist
Calista GraySingingSinger14Tauranga3Eliminated
SilhouetteDanceDance DuoChristchurch3Runner-up
Siuleo VitaleSingingSingerAuckland3Eliminated
Manako and CinnamonVarietyDog Act6Auckland3Eliminated
Ethan ScharneckDanceDancer10North Shore3Finalist
MoxieDanceDance Group15–26Albany4Eliminated
John VaifaleDanceDancer17Manukau4Eliminated
All Star CheerleadingVarietyCheerleading Group9–25North Shore4Eliminated
Rob InnesSingingSinger66Wellington4Finalist
Cruize KaraitianaSingingSinger22Masterton4Finalist
Geordie MeadeSingingSinger28Auckland5Eliminated
OKK DanceDance Group8–44Turangi5Eliminated
Oceana OlsenSingingSinger10Christchurch5Finalist
Kurt X VarietyHarmonica Player50Wellington5Eliminated
Jenny MitchellSingingSinger14Gore5Third place
IDentityDanceDance Group18–26Auckland6Finalist
Natasha AlexandraSingingSinger16Auckland6Eliminated
Sam FrancksSingingOpera Singer12Auckland6Finalist
Estella Winnie-McGeeSingingSinger16New Plymouth6Eliminated
The Black TrioSingingSinging Trio26–29Wanganui6Finalist

Semi-final summary

Key Judges' choice Buzzed out

First Semi-Final, Week 1 (20 October)

Second Semi-Final, Week 2 (27 October)

  • Guest performer: Clara van Wel – "Wait For Me"

    Third Semi-Final, Week 3 (3 November)

  • Guest performer: Ezra Vine "Celeste"