X Factor auditions coming to Rotorua

Audition dates have been announced for X-Factor NZ, with crews coming to Rotorua and Taupo.

Producers will be holding auditions in Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga and Hamilton as well as several other New Zealand towns and cities.

The Rotorua auditions will be held at John Paul College on January 27, from 10am to 5pm.

The Taupo auditions will be at The Great Lake Centre on January 28, with the Tauranga auditions  at the 16th Ave Theatre on January 26 and the Hamilton auditions  at the Verandah Function Centre on January 29.

Co-executive producer of the X-Factor NZ Andrew Szusterman said this competition was not about juggling monkeys or walking dogs, it was about finding the next great singer to sign with Sony Music Entertainment.

"It is a massive production with lots and lots of different layers and we've been working on this thing for quite some time. We're now at the point where we're ready to get the rest of New Zealand across it and up in front of us and auditioning away to see who the next big recording artist out of this country's going to be.''

Contestants  successful in the pre-auditions will then  perform in front of the four judges and a live audience.

Australian-based performer Stan Walker has been announced as one of the show's four judges.

Walker won Australian Idol in 2009 and has since released three albums and has had high-profile support slots for Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida.

X Factor NZ, which will be hosted by Dominic Bowden with a further three judge-mentors, who are yet to be named, follows a similar format to the American version, which  screens on TV3.

HOW TO ENTER

If you are a singer, aged 14 or older as of January 2013, find the audition location nearest to you.

Visit the TV3 website to download/print The X-Factor NZ application form.

Fill out the form ready to bring it to your local audition.

Make sure you read the full terms and conditions on the website before you enter the auditions.