Homai Te Pakipaki Winner for 2012 Announced

Saturday October 13, 2012


Homai Te Pakipaki Winner for 2012 Announced

Maori Television is pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI is Hukanui Brown from Gisborne.
The 22-year old meat-worker wowed a full house audience at last night’s live grand final at Auckland’s Logan Campbell Centre with his rendition of I Believe I Can Fly.
Brown takes home $10,000 in prize money, a swimming pool donated by UBuy and the mana of taking out the title of HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI 2012.
“I did not expect this at all,” he said.
“I’ve had heaps of fun just coming up here to showcase my talent.”
In a HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI first, Brown’s father Whata also made it through to the top 10 finalists this year.
Brown said he couldn’t be happier that he and his father both got to compete on the grand final stage.
“Me and dad already won by being here so winning was the ultimate.”
An emotional Whata Brown was thrilled with his son’s win, saying he gave his five text votes to Hukanui.
“As far as I am concerned we both won. We have made HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI history.”
Following Hukanui Brown in the text-voting for the runner up prize was Diane Tibble of Rotorua, who sang Young Hearts Run Free.
Tokoroa’s Abbie Leigh took out third place and a standing ovation from the crowd with her stunning rendition of And I am Telling You. “I feel fantastic, I am so proud,” she said of her win.
Hundreds of people lined up early at the Logan Campbell Centre yesterday afternoon to get a seat at this year’s HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI grand final.
In addition to the 10 finalists, they were treated to an evening of entertainment by reggae band 1814, rising vocal star Grace Ikenasio and performances from the Urban Beat hip hop dance company.
The following 10 singers sang for whanau, iwi and regional pride at the HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI 2012 grand final extravaganza:

PAKI 1 Tarryn Wallace - Waitara, Te Atiawa
PAKI 2 Whata Brown - Gisborne, Rongowhakaata, Kahungunu
PAKI 3 Cam Galbraith - Dairy Flat, Auckland, Ngai Te Rangi
PAKI 4 Brittany Teokotai - Tokoroa, Ngati Wai, Whatua
PAKI 5 Geoffrey Pari - Gisborne, Ngai Tuhoe
PAKI 6 Abbie Leigh - Tokoroa
PAKI 7 Trishamarie Kaiawe - Papakura, Ngapuhi, Tainui
PAKI 8 Hukanui Brown - Gisborne, Rongowhakaata
PAKI 9 Hoki Kepa - Lower Hutt, Arawa, Tuhoe, Ngati Awa
PAKI 10 Diane Tibble - Rotorua, Tuhoe, Ngati Porou

Special thanks to Farmers for dressing all 10 contestants.
Visit www.maoritelevision.com to see each performance in the HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI 2012 grand final.

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