Rotorua's Seth takes on Australian Idol challenge

By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
While some New Zealanders are focused on the second NZ Idol, former Rotorua student Seth Haapu is taking on the Australian version.

Seth, who is now living across the Tasman, has auditioned for the third series of the Australian Idol competition.

The former Rotorua Boys' High School student's contract with the television series prevents him from speaking to the media and his family was not prepared to talk. However, several people have confirmed he has auditioned for Australian Idol.

Seth featured in The Daily Post in 2002. Born and raised in Wanganui, Seth and his family moved to Rotorua three years ago to prepare him for life as an entertainer.

That same year, 2002, he won a radio competition to sing at the More FM Rumba concert in Auckland and Seth's father Miller told The Daily Post at the time that he always believed his son had "the X-factor".

At that time the national promotions manager for The Edge, More FM's sister station, Corinna Bush, said Seth's radio performance for the competition blew everyone away.

Seth went on to sing for about 40,000 people at the concert, sharing the stage with Pink, Shaggy, Nesian Mystik and Australian-born Natalie Imbruglia. Earlier that year he debuted on television, becoming runner-up on a Whitebait Productions talent quest Wannabes.

Seth has performed at many community events in Rotorua including Christmas in the Park in 2003, the city's mayoral concert for the elderly last year and a New Year's eve Mardi Gras.

He also sang in the Brass With Class concerts at Casa Blanca Theatre and at the Miss Diamond beauty contest last year.

Australian Idol begins screening in Australia later this month. It's not known if it will screen in New Zealand.