New Zealand’s Got Talent first semi-finalists announced

New Zealand’s Got Talent first semi-finalists announced

Embargoed until 8.35pm, Sunday 7th October

A macabre magic troupe, a quirky tin whistler and a hip-hop dancer extraordinaire are amongst the first of 30 semi-finalists to be announced on TV ONE’s New Zealand's Got Talent.

New Zealand’s Got Talent judges Jason Kerrison, Rachel Hunter and Ali Campbell have chosen six of their favourite acts to go through to the next round of the competition.

Hamilton student ‘Big’ Dane Moeke, single mother-of-twins Ari Laine, illusionists Andre Vegas and Company, tin whistler Bethany Waugh, hip hop dancer Connor Masseurs and 11-year old Jessie Hillel will appear in the first semi-final round, next Sunday on TV ONE.

Dane Moeke wowed the judges with his version of Whitney Houston’s classic, “I Will Always Love You.”

Young Wellington mum, Ari Laine’s husky tones set her apart with a stunning rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.”

The macabre antics of Ngaruawahia’s Andre Vegas and Company scared Jason Kerrison witless and scored them a ticket to the next round.

Bethany Waugh, a Lord of the Rings fan from Timaru intrigued the judges with her passion for folk music and ways with a tin whistle.

Self-taught, freestyle hip hop dancer Connor Masseurs had the crowd jumping with his high energy routine.

And audience favourite, 11-year-old Jessie Hillel from Upper Hutt blew everyone away with her passionate, note perfect performance of “Pie Jesu.”

The six semi-finalists will perform for the judges again in next week’s episode of New Zealand’s Got Talent, when viewers will also be able to vote for their favourites.

From 7.30 pm, Sunday 14th October, Got Talent fans can text the name of their top semi-finalists to 8981, or use the New Zealand’s Got Talent iPhone app to cast single or multiple votes. Voting closes at midday on Tuesday, 16th October. Text votes cost up to 99 cents each.

The three acts with the most votes will go forward for consideration by the New Zealand’s Got Talent judges. The act with the most viewer votes will automatically go through to the next round of the competition – the Grand Final. The judges will pick their favorite from the remaining two acts to also go through.

ENDS

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