The third season of New Zealand Idol commenced in July 2006. The judges were Iain Stables, Megan Alatini and Frankie Stevens.
Auditions The auditions were held at the following locations:
Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau Westpac Stadium, Wellington Addington Raceway, Addington, Christchurch
Those who were successful would proceed to the "Top 60" theatre rounds held at Sky City in Auckland.
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, 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 and Kiki Dee classic "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". Those remaining paired up to sing Maroon 5'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" by Stevie Wonder "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith "More Than Words" by Extreme
"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia "I Say a Little Prayer" by Burt Bacharach "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys
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" by Christina Aguilera Lenken Isaa – "Brand New Jones" by Robin Thicke
Alyce Burr – "Without You" by Brooke Fraser Clinton Randell – "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John Kali Kopae – "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" 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" by the Bee Gees Ben Hazlewood – "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects Aroha Robinson – "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 – "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" 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 Date Week Theme 27 AugustTop 10Soul 3 SeptemberTop 9Rock 10 SeptemberTop 8Country 17 SeptemberTop 7Elton John 24 SeptemberTop 6Groove 1 OctoberTop 5Pop 8 OctoberTop 4Homegrown 15 OctoberTop 3Love Songs 22 OctoberTop 2Judges' / Music Team's Choice 23 OctoberTop 2The Final Showdown
The Top 10 Finalists
Matt Saunoa
Matt Saunoa (aged 21, from Levin) was the winner of the third series of "New Zealand Idol".
Audition: "My Girl" by The Temptations Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia Top 18: "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees Top 10: "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder 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 Elton John Top 6: Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding / The Commitments Top 5: "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley Top 4: "Sitting Inside My Head" by Supergroove, "Welcome Home" by Dave Dobbyn Top 3: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Forever Now" by Cold Chisel Top 2: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by Bee Gees, "This Love" by Maroon 5, The Final Showdown: "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith, "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder
Indira Moala Indira Moala (aged 21, from Glen Eden, Auckland), was runner-up to winner Matt Saunoa.
Audition: "Ordinary People" by John Legend Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): "I Say A Little Prayer" by Burt Bacharach Top 18: "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne Top 10: "Think" by Aretha Franklin Top 9: "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette Top 8: "Heartache Tonight" by Eagles Top 7: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John Top 6: "I'm Outta Love" by Anastacia Top 5: "Hit Me, Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears Top 4: "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" by Christina Aguilera, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" by The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin The Final Showdown: "Hit Me, Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears, "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson, "Open Arms" by Journey / Mariah Carey, "Think" by Aretha Franklin
Aroha Robinson Aroha Robinson (aged 18, from Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty), came third.
Audition: Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): Top 18: "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 Top 10: "River Deep - Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner Top 9: "Purple Rain" by Prince Top 8: "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain Top 7: "Circle of Life" by Elton John Top 6: "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" by Brooke Fraser Top 3: "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross, "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green
Ben Hazlewood Ben Hazlewood (aged 17, from Papakowhai, Wellington), 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" by The All-American Rejects Wildcard: "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 The Eagles Top 7: "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" by Elton John Top 6: "Like I Love You" by Justin Timberlake Top 5: "For You I Will" by Teddy Geiger Top 4: "Fall at Your Feet" by Crowded House, "Running" by Evermore
Kali Kopae Kali Kopae (aged 21, from Christchurch), finished in fifth place.
Audition: "When I Fall in Love" by Nat King Cole Theatre Week (Round 1): "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald Theatre Week (Round 3): Top 18: "Imagine" by John Lennon Top 10: "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival / Tina Turner Top 9: "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 Elton John Top 6: "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!" by Sam Brown Theatre Week (Round 1): "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles Theatre Week (Round 3): "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, "Stop!" by 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" by Dolly Parton Top 7: "Your Song" by Elton John Top 6: "Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns N' Roses
Rebecca Wright Rebecca Wright (aged 24, from Mt Albert, Auckland), finished in seventh place.
Audition: "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson Theatre Week (Round 1): "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall Theatre Week (Round 3): "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia Top 18: "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" by Elton John
Clinton Randell Clinton Randell (aged 20, from Mt Roskill, Auckland), placed eighth. He hosted The Edge Breakfast in the 2010s and 2020s.
Audition: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith Top 18: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John Top 10: "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder Top 9: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan Top 8: "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain
Ashlee Fisher Ashlee Fisher (aged 16, from Hamilton), finished ninth.
Audition: "Hero" by Mariah Carey Theatre Week (Round 1): "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross Theatre Week (Round 3): "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys Top 18: "I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera Top 10: "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield Top 9: "4ever" by The Veronicas
Victor Sulfa Victor Sulfa (aged 19, from Papatoetoe, Auckland), was placed tenth.
Audition: "A Song for You" by Leon Russell Theatre Week (Round 1): Theatre Week (Round 3): "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder Top 18: "Can We Talk" by Tevin Campbell Top 10: "Love Child" by Diana Ross & The Supremes
The Group Performances Group 1: "Kids" by Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue, "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jackson 5 Group 2: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder, "Upside Down" by Diana Ross Group 3: "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes The Top 10: "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" by 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" by Kenny Rogers The Top 7: "I'm Still Standing", "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John The Top 6: "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, The Top 5: "Reach" by S Club 7, "Keep on Movin" by 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" by George Michael The Top 2: "You Give Me Something" by James Morrison
The Grand Final The final was held on 29 October, with the following performances:
"Indira Moala: "Hold Out" (Winner's single) "Indira Moala: "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé Knowles & Jay-Z "Matt Saunoa: "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)" by The Four Tops
Elimination chart + Legend Did Not Perform Top 18 Wild Card Top 10
Stage: Semi-Finals WC Finals Week: 7/8 14/8 21/8 21/8 28/8 4/9 11/9 18/9 25/9 2/10 9/10 16/10 23/10 29/10 Place Contestant Result 1 Winner 2 Runner-up 3 Elim 4 Elim Elim 5 Elim 6 Elim 7 Elim 8 Elim 9 Elim 10 Elim WildCard Elim Elim Elim Elim Elim Elim
Commercial Releases
References
External links Official New Zealand Idol website