New Zealand Idol season 1

The first season of New Zealand Idol was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on TVNZ in the early half of 2004. The judges were Paul Ellis, Fiona McDonald and Frankie Stevens.

Auditions
The auditions were held at the following locations:


 * Trentham Racecourse, Trentham, Upper Hutt
 * Riccarton Racecourse, Riccarton, Christchurch
 * Ellerslie Racecourse, Ellerslie, Auckland

Those who were successful would proceed to the "Top 60" theatre rounds held at the Maidment Theatre in Auckland.

Theatre Week
The successful contestants who made it through to the "Top 60" rounds would spend a gruelling three days at the theatre.


 * Day One: Contestants, in groups of six, were to sing in turn, a cappella, a song of their own choice. At the end of the day, twelve were sent home, leaving 48 remaining.
 * Eliminated: Faith, Petia, Darryl, Kasanita, Ria, George, Dominic, Naomi, Charli, Hiwi, Ruth, Matthew


 * Day Two: Trio performances would test the contestants' teamwork skills, with the guys performing Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds", while the girls would perform the Burt Bacharach classic "I Say a Little Prayer." At the end of this, the group was once more reduced by a further 12.
 * Eliminated: Jazmine, Conrad, Pairama, Wiremu, James, Krista, Rebekah, Daniel, Chantel, Jessica, Katherine, Clarke


 * Day Three: The remaining 36 contestants have one last opportunity to impress the judges. Once again they were to perform solo, (a cappella), in front of the judges and all other remaining contestants.
 * Eliminated: TJ, Liam, Courtenay, Ian, Maisey, Rochelle, Akina, Toni, Rusila, Pania, Sacha, Paranihia

The decision of the final cut to the "Top 24" was delivered to three groups of twelve, with one group being sent home.

Group 1

 * Nigel Withington – "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx
 * Christine Hutt – "Think Twice" by Celine Dion
 * Camillia Temple – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston
 * Karly Ryder – "Not That Kind" by Anastacia


 * Faaose "Oz" Aneru – "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins
 * Ben Lummis – "Back at One" by Brian McKnight
 * Emily Kay – "Respect" by Aretha Franklin
 * Filipo Saipani – "Still" by Brian McKnight

Advancing to the Top 10: Camillia Temple, Ben Lummis and Filipo Saipani Wildcard Contender: Nigel Withington

Group 2

 * Ngahekenga Growcott – "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera
 * Gemma Russell – "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
 * Inangaro Tangianau – "Everything Is Everything" by Lauryn Hill
 * Sam Cowley-Lupo – "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers


 * Jessie Cassin – "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
 * Luke Whaanga – "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
 * Dave Houma – "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters
 * Michael Murphy – "Drive" by Incubus

Advancing to the Top 10: Luke Whaanga, Dave Houma and Michael Murphy Wildcard Contender: Jessie Cassin

Group 3

 * Alana Plews – "Come On Over" by Christina Aguilera
 * Robin Johnson – "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder
 * Amanda Boyce – "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion
 * Lee Fidow – "Incomplete" by Sisqó


 * Lemuel Misa – "Every Time I Close My Eyes" by Babyface / Backstreet Boys
 * Sela Mahe – "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Alicia Keys
 * Ariana Roberts – "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys
 * Eddie Gaiger – "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray

Advancing to the Top 10: Robin Johnson, Sela Mahe and Eddie Gaiger Wildcard Contender: Amanda Boyce

Wildcards

 * Nigel Withington – "Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh
 * Jessie Cassin – "Something Good" by Bic Runga
 * Amanda Boyce – "Amazing Grace"

Advancing to the Top 10: Jessie Cassin

Ben Lummis
Ben Lummis (born 1 June 1978 in Wellington) was the winner of the first series of New Zealand Idol.


 * Audition: "Back at One" by Brian McKnight
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "The Day" by Babyface
 * Top 24: "Back at One" by Brian McKnight
 * Top 10: "Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross
 * Top 9: "Oughta Be in Love" by Dave Dobbyn
 * Top 8: "Hang On in There Baby" by Johnny Bristol
 * Top 7: "I Can Love You Like That" by All-4-One
 * Top 6: "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal
 * Top 5: "Treat Her Like a Lady" by The Temptations
 * Top 4: "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi
 * Top 3: "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News, "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge
 * Top 2: "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly, "They Can't Take That Away" (Winner's single)

Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy (born 4 September 1986 in Taupō), was runner-up to winner Ben Lummis.


 * Audition: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Drive" by Incubus
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House
 * Top 24: "Drive" by Incubus
 * Top 10: "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down
 * Top 9: "Better Be Home Soon" by Crowded House
 * Top 8: "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
 * Top 7: "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton
 * Top 6: "Let Me Entertain You" by Robbie Williams
 * Top 5: "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding
 * Top 4: "Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin, "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling
 * Top 3: "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, "Angel of Harlem" by U2
 * Top 2: "Let Me Entertain You" by Robbie Williams, "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton, "One" by U2, "They Can't Take That Away" (Winner's single)

Camillia Temple
Camillia Temple (aged 28, from Hamilton), came third.


 * Audition: "My Love Is Your Love" by Whitney Houston
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Alicia Keys
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
 * Top 24: "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston
 * Top 10: "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin
 * Top 9: "Escaping" by Margaret Urlich
 * Top 8: "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle
 * Top 7: "Purple Rain" by Prince
 * Top 6: "Superstar" by Jamelia
 * Top 5: "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin
 * Top 4: "Alone" by Heart, "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles
 * Top 3: "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner, "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston

Luke Whaanga
Luke Whaanga, (aged 20, from Lower Hutt), was placed fourth.


 * Audition: "I Love Every Little Thing About You" by Stevie Wonder
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "A Whole New World" by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "If I Had No Loot" by Tony! Toni! Toné!
 * Top 24: "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
 * Top 10: "Slippin' Away" by Max Merritt
 * Top 9: "Sitting Inside My Head" by Supergroove
 * Top 8: "You to Me Are Everything" by The Real Thing
 * Top 7: "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge
 * Top 6: "Come Together" by The Beatles
 * Top 5: "Shining Star" by The Manhattans
 * Top 4: "Behind Blue Eyes" by Limp Bizkit, "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC

Dave Houma
Dave Houma (aged 28, from Auckland), finished in fifth place.


 * Audition: "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "Love X Love" by George Benson
 * Top 24: "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters
 * Top 10: "Hard to Find Her" by Zed
 * Top 9: "Better" by Brooke Fraser
 * Top 8: "Give Me the Night" by George Benson
 * Top 7: "Truly" by Lionel Richie
 * Top 6: "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" by Elton John
 * Top 5: "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by The Four Tops

Eddie Gaiger
Eddie Gaiger (aged 25, from the Coromandel), was placed sixth.


 * Audition: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Oughta Be in Love" by Dave Dobbyn
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "Burn for You" by John Farnham
 * Top 24: "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray
 * Top 10: "One Last Breath" by Creed
 * Top 9: "Misty Frequencies" by Che Fu
 * Top 8: "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
 * Top 7: "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins
 * Top 6: "Somebody To Love" by Queen

Robin Johnson
Robin Johnson (aged 18, from Upper Hutt), finished in seventh place.


 * Audition: "Man of the Hour" by John Farnham
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "Kiss" by Prince
 * Top 24: "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder
 * Top 10: "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake
 * Top 9: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House
 * Top 8: "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jackson 5
 * Top 7: "I'll Be There" by Mariah Carey

Jessie Cassin
Jessie Cassin (aged 18, from Browns Bay, Auckland), placed eighth. Prior to Idol, Jessie was completing a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Performance Music – Classical.


 * Audition: "Drive" by Bic Runga
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
 * Top 24: "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
 * Wildcards: "Something Good" by Bic Runga
 * Top 10: "Something Good" by Bic Runga
 * Top 9: "I Hope I Never" by Split Enz
 * Top 8: "Dancing Queen" by Abba

Sela Mahe
Sela Mahe (aged 17, from Māngere, Auckland), finished ninth. She is of Tongan descent.


 * Audition: "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Natalie Cole
 * Theatre Week (Round 1):
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "It's Only a Paper Moon" by Natalie Cole
 * Top 24: "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Alicia Keys
 * Top 10: "Gettin' In The Way" by Jill Scott
 * Top 9: "Time Makes A Wine" by Ardijah

Filipo Saipani
Filipo Saipani (aged 18, from Wellington), was placed tenth.


 * Audition: "God Defend New Zealand"
 * Theatre Week (Round 1): "Whenever You Call" by Brian McKnight
 * Theatre Week (Round 3): "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5
 * Top 24: "Still" by Brian McKnight
 * Top 10: "Whenever You Call" by Brian McKnight

The Grand Final
The final was held on 10 May, with the following performances:


 * The Top 10: "Kids" by Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue
 * Luke Whaanga: "Sitting Inside My Head" by Supergroove
 * Ben Lummis: "They Can't Take That Away" (winner's single)
 * Eddie Gaiger: "Somebody To Love" by Queen
 * Camillia Temple: "Purple Rain" by Prince
 * Michael Murphy: "They Can't Take That Away" (winner's single)
 * Jessie Cassin: "Drive" by Bic Runga
 * Fiona McDonald & Frankie Stevens: "Somethin' Stupid" by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
 * Robin Johnson: "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake
 * Filipo Saipani: "Whenever You Call" by Brian McKnight
 * Sela Mahe: "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Alicia Keys
 * Michael Murphy: "Wherever You Will Go" by The Calling
 * Ben Lummis: "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz
 * Dave Houma: "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" by Elton John
 * Ben Lummis: "They Can't Take That Away"