Homai Te Pakipaki: Local hopes

Rotorua's Brennan Hohepa-Barrett has waited a long time for his moment in the spotlight.

By day a mild-mannered kapa haka instructor, Mr Hohepa-Barrett transforms into a karaoke star by night and has made the semifinals of Maori Television's popular Homai Te Pakipaki.

If he makes it through the semifinals this Friday, Mr Hohepa-Barrett will go up against nine other finalists on August 26 at Auckland's Logan Campbell Centre where the show will be broadcast live to air.

In its fourth year, the television show pits hopefuls against one another with voting via text messages from viewers. The most popular performer on the night wins and the series winner will take home $10,000.

A Rotoiti local, Mr Hohepa-Barrett spent some of his childhood growing up in Kawerau.

He won his heat on the television series singing Kiss And Say Good Bye by the Manhattans and has selected four possible songs to sing in the finals, two of which will be chosen by the show's producers.

Mr Hohepa-Barrett said he was nervous and excited.

"I've been waiting a long time for this."

If he wins, he plans to buy a new car and visit his son in Australia for his birthday in the new year.

Well known on the kapa haka scene, Mr Hohepa-Barrett won his heat with a 40 per cent lead.

Maori Television's Te Hamua Nikora said the fact the show was live added to the excitement.

"The beauty and danger of live television [is that] there's no editing, there's nowhere to hide, just boom, you're on and you've got to deliver."

Other locals competing in Homai Te Pakipaki are Piripi Hodge from Rotorua and Karl Smith from Kawerau.

The show screens Friday nights on Maori Television at 8.30pm.