Auckland singer Manase Latu takes out NZ Aria in Rotorua

Manase Latu won the open category of the New Zealand Aria competition. Photo / File

When Manase Latu stood on stage and sang, the whole audience knew he was the winner.

That's according to the New Zealand Aria Trust president Jo-Anne La Grouw.

But Latu said he wasn't expecting the win.

He took out first place in the New Zealand Aria competition held over three days in Rotorua, ending on Saturday.

La Grouw said there were 43 entrants in the open category of the competition and 10 finalists were selected for Saturday night's final. In the lead-up to the final, the contestants had to perform three types of song: an aria, a lieder and a 20th century arts song.

New Zealand Aria Trust president Joanne La Grouw. Photo / Stephen Parker

The finalists had to perform another aria.

"I would say everybody in the audience picked him [Latu] to be the winner. He was just beautiful."

La Grouw said the standard of the 10 finalists was a highlight.

"Every year the standard just gets higher and higher and higher."

Latu, 22, who is from Auckland, said he felt blessed by the win and was lucky to perform alongside other great singers.

"It's such a great event. It's a great platform for young singers and upcoming singers to come to perform."

He said he would encourage all young singers to enter competitiong.

"The main reason I enter is to get that experience in performing to an audience. It's a great thing to do and to have under your belt."

Latu has been singing for about six years.

The competition was held at Rydges Hotel while the final took place in Destiny Auditorium, moved from its traditional home of the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre which is currently closed to meet earthquake building standards.

Rachel Pines was second in the open category and Samson Setu came third.

The winners
Own Selection - Under 10 years
Chloe Slater - First Place
Koen McKenzie - Second Place
Will Connolly-Tevendale - Third Place
Folk/Traditional - Under 10 years
Koen McKenzie - First Place
Will Connolly-Tevendale - Second Place
Chloe Slater - Third Place
Sacred/Oratorio - Under 10 years
Will Connolly-Tevendale - First Place
Koen McKenzie - Second Place
Light Entertainment - Under 10 years
Raukura Makoare - First Place
Koen McKenzie - Second Place
Will Connolly-Tevendale - Third Place
Own Selection 10 & Under 13 Years
Charles Adams - First Place
Clara Douglas - Second Place
Rangitoia Rurehe - Third Place
Folk/Traditional 10 & Under 13 Years
Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - First Place
Ranithu Rodrigo - Second Place
Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - Third Place
Sacred/Oratorio 10 & Under 13 Years
Charles Adams - First Place
Ranithu Rodrigo - Second Place
Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - Third Place
Light Entertainment 10 & Under 13 Years
Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers - First Place
Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - Second Place
Charles Adams - Third Place
Own Selection 13 & Under 16 years
Anabel Jamieson - First Place
William McAlister - Second Place
Isabella Reid - Third Place
Folk/Traditional 13 & Under 16 years
Isabella Reid - First Place
Hannah Morgan - Second Equal
Anabel Jamieson - Second Equal
Sacred/Oratorio 13 & Under 16 years
Ruaeo Te Moni - First Place
Isabella Reid - Second Place
Tamsyn Harawira - Third Place
Light Entertainment 13 & Under 16 years
Isabella Reid - First Place
Anabel Jamieson - Second Place
Tamsyn Harawira - Third Place
Restricted Class Under 14 Years
Lauren Thompson First Place
NZ Composer Under 14 Years
Rongonui Rangihau - First Place
Charles Adams - Second Place
Ruaeo Te Moni - Third Place
Maori Song Under 14 Years
Ruaeo Te Moni - First Place
Halo Jackson - Second Place
Matahiapo Waimarie Maxwell - Third Place
Restricted Class 14 & Under 21 Years
Tamati Cassidy - First Place
Alexandra Francis - Second Place
Maia Carrington - Third Place
NZ Composer 14 & Under 21 Years
Hannah Morgan - First Place
Isabella Reid - Second Place
Katie Trigg - Third Place
Maori Song 14 & Under 21 Years
Anahera Waiariki - First Place
Neeve Coumbe - Second Place
Rhayvon Mihaere - Third Place
Own Selection 16 & Under 18 Years
Jacob Siohane-Royle - First Place
Jemma Chester - Second Place
Dominic Pearson - Third Place
Folk Traditional 16 & Under 18 Years
Jacob Siohane-Royle - First Place
Jemma Chester - Second Place
Sacred/Oratorio 16 & Under 18 Years
Jemma Chester - First Place
Jacob Siohane-Royle - Second Place
Light Entertainment 16 & Under 18 Years
Anna Hamilton - First Place
Jacob Siohane-Royle - Second Place
Neeve Coumbe - Third Place
Own Selection 18 & Under 21 Years
Arthur Adams-Close - First Place
Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Second Place
Katie Trigg - Third Place
Folk Traditional 18 & Under 21 Years
Sid Chand - First Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place
Matthew Bennett - Third Place
Sacred/Oratorio 18 & Under 21 Years
Sid Chand - First Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place
Larissa Kent - Third Place
Light Entertainment 18 & Under 21 Years
Matthew Bennett - First Place
Sid Chand - Second Place
Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Third Place
Own Selection 16 & Under 21 Years
Carla Camilleri - First Place
Sid Chand - Second Place
Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Third Place
Oratorio/Sacred Song 16 & Under 21 Years
Carla Camilleri - First Place
Emmanuel Fonoti Fuimaono - Second Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Third Place
Lieder/Art Song 16 & Under 21 Years
Te Ohorere Williams - First Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place
Sid Chand - Third Place
Operatic Aria 16 & Under 21 Years
Sid Chand - First Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Second Place
Te Ohorere Williams - Third Place
NZ Aria Award - Most promising competitor in the under 21 Yrs Section
Te Ohorere Williams
Mike Steiner Interior Design Junior Award
Carla Camilleri - First Place
Sid Chand - Second Place
Arthur Adams-Close - Third Place
Kowhai Award - Highest Mark in NZ Composer
Hannah Morgan
Highest Mark in Maori Song
Anahera Waiariki

Adult winners
Baroque Classical Aria
Olivia Sheat - First Place
Rachel Pines - Second Place
Katie Trigg - Third Place
Solo Own Selection
Carla Camilleri - First Place
Laura Loach - Second Place
Samson Setu - Third Place
Oratorio or Sacred Solo
Manase Latu - First Place
Laura Loach - Second Place
Genevieve Dickson - Third Place
Lieder own Selection
Morgan England-Jones - First Place
Manase Latu - Second Place
Samson Setu - Third Place
Folk or Traditional
Carla Camilleri - First Place
Genevieve Dickson - Second Place
Christina McDonald - Third Place
20th Century Art Song
Manase Latu - First Place
Samson Setu - Second Place
Maia Amosa - Third Place
New Zealand Aria 2018
Manase Latu - First Place
Rachel Pines - Second Place
Samson Setu - Third Place
Ethel & William Harman Ambassador's Award
Te Ohorere Williams
John Bond Award
Carla Camilleri