Homai Te Pakipaki Back In The House

PUBLICITY RELEASE
MONDAY APRIL 14 2008

Homai Te Pakipaki Back In The House – On Maori Television!

A thrilling twist in the format is sure to keep viewers and performers on the edge of their seats when live-to-air karaoke show HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI returns to Maori Television this Friday April 18 at 8.30 PM.

In the last series of HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI – filmed every Friday night at Maori Television’s Auckland studio – contestants were spoilt rotten with advance warning and time to rehearse their song. But for the first time ever, performers will have their names drawn out of a hat and they will not know what they will sing until just before they are asked to take to the stage. Kaiwaiata will need to turn up to auditions looking and sounding their best – dressed and ready to go!

Other key ingredients of the show remain the same. Viewers will still text their support for their favourite singer and the weekly winner will win $1,000 and a fabulous prize pack as well as having a shot at the grand final and $10,000 in prize money. Gisborne teenager Jasmine Taare captured the hearts of viewers with her bubbly personality and big voice to became the first ever winner of HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI in 2007.

HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI producer Erina Tamepo says the spontaneity of the new format is a way of tapping into the high energy and quality of auditions, which last year saw queues of people turning up to strut their stuff. “Owing to the popularity of the series, we started to draw huge crowds of potential contestants,” says Erina. “We were rarely short of talent which made it difficult to choose, and that prompted us to consider new ways of doing it.”

Main man Te Hamua Nikora will again host the show with newcomer Ben Baker behind the scenes to catch the action among contestants. Once again, producers will be on the look out for talent and passion, and a mix of ages and song genres. “After working on one complete series, our team is now able to handle a new concept like this. I think the random nature of this will help with the spontaneity of the show,” says Erina.

Karaoke kings and queens can register to audition from 5.00 PM every Friday at Maori Television’s central city studio in Davis Crescent, Newmarket. Contestants must be over 16 years of age and will be chosen for their singing and performing talents. Costumes, effort and any other eye-catching devices are encouraged.

The lucky finalists will then perform live on HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI from 8.30 PM and the weekly winner of $1,000 is chosen by the most text votes received from viewers. Voting lines open for 10 minutes only once the final contestant has performed – approximately 9.40 PM. To vote, viewers can text to 368. The keyword is ‘paki’, leave a space, then add the number of the contestant. Texts cost 99 cents each.

Be part of the interactive action for the series premiere of HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI on Maori Television this Friday April 18 at 8.30 PM.

Ends

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