New Zealand Idol season 1

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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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

• 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 (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 (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 (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, (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 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"

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• Official New Zealand Idol website