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.
Auditions
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.
Theatre Week
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.
Semi-finals
Group 1
Nigel Withington – "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx
Christine Hutt – "Think Twice" by Celine Dion
Camillia Temple – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston
Karly Ryder – "Not That Kind" by Anastacia
Faaose "Oz" Aneru – "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins
Ben Lummis – "Back at One" by Brian McKnight
Emily Kay – "Respect" by Aretha Franklin
Filipo Saipani – "Still" by Brian McKnight
Advancing to the Top 10: Camillia Temple, Ben Lummis and Filipo Saipani
Wildcard Contender: Nigel Withington
Group 2
Ngahekenga Growcott – "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera
Gemma Russell – "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Inangaro Tangianau – "Everything Is Everything" by Lauryn Hill
Sam Cowley-Lupo – "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers
Jessie Cassin – "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
Luke Whaanga – "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
Dave Houma – "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters
Michael Murphy – "Drive" by Incubus
Advancing to the Top 10: Luke Whaanga, Dave Houma and Michael Murphy
Wildcard Contender: Jessie Cassin
Group 3
Alana Plews – "Come On Over" by Christina Aguilera
Robin Johnson – "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder
Amanda Boyce – "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion
Lee Fidow – "Incomplete" by Sisqó
Lemuel Misa – "Every Time I Close My Eyes" by Babyface / Backstreet Boys
Sela Mahe – "How Come You Don't Call Me?" by Alicia Keys
Ariana Roberts – "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys
Eddie Gaiger – "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray
Advancing to the Top 10: Robin Johnson, Sela Mahe and Eddie Gaiger
Wildcard Contender: Amanda Boyce
Wildcards
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
Weekly Song Themes
The Top 10 Finalists
Ben Lummis
Ben Lummis (born 1 June 1978 in Wellington) was the winner of the first series of New Zealand Idol.