Two local singers in TV show semifinals

Two Rotorua women are hitting the silver screen as semifinalists in Maori Television's popular Homai Te Pakipaki show.

Diane Tibble and Toni Laird have made it through to the semifinals of the Maori Television singing contest and will be performing live for the show on Friday.

The judges from Homai Te Pakipaki aren't sitting in seats in front of the performers - instead, they are the viewers at home who send a text message to vote for their favourites. Mrs Tibble performed in the August 31 heat, singing Mariah Carey's Hero, and Ms Laird performed on August 3 with her rendition of ABBA's Waterloo, and both women edged out their competition with a high number of votes.

Mrs Tibble (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou) has lived in Rotorua for most of her life and is very fond of karaoke. In the 1980s, Mrs Tibble said she had toured New Zealand and the world in a singing group with Sir Howard Morrison.

"I've been singing for about 20 years - I'm a bit old now but I thought I had better do something. I had a deal with my daughter, she auditioned for NZ Idol so I auditioned for Homai Te Pakipaki - I thought I'd stick to the oldies."

Although Mrs Tibble usually worked her own gigs, she said she supported the show because they had "good Maori talent".

Ms Laird said she was very nervous about performing again on Homai Te Pakipaki but she had to be brave for her young daughter who had just stood up and took part in the Manu Korero speech competition at her school.

"I said to her, be brave, so when this happened, I had to be brave and put my money where my mouth is."

Ms Laird (Te Arawa and Ngati Awa) was shocked when she found out she would be singing in the semifinals, as she was placed second in the heats. She was called in to replace first place winner, kuia Gloria Reweti, as she was unable to make it this Friday due to ill health.

"I loved that kuia when she performed. She was the most lovely kuia, she was nice. In Maori tradition, if you're asked to stand, you stand. You don't say no."

Rotorua-born Ms Laird has been involved in the music scene for most of her life, from performing in a church band to being a regular fixture in the Auckland bar scene.

Both contestants said they were excited to meet the other and wished each other the best of luck for the Friday night performance.

The Homai Te Pakipaki semifinal is on Friday from 8.30pm on Maori Television.