Pre-auditions

The first appeal for applicants was made on 11 November 2012, with the announcement of the application process and the pre-audition tour details.^[16] Pre-auditions in front of the show's producers began on 5 January 2013 and continued through 27 towns and cities across New Zealand.^[17] More than 6,000 contestants auditioned, and were either rejected outright with a "no" response or considered for the next round with a "maybe" response.^[18][19]

Invercargill

Dunedin

Christchurch

Nelson

Wellington

Palmerston North

Napier

Rotorua

Hamilton

Auckland

New Plymouth

Whangarei

Cities where the pre-auditions were held.

Judges' auditions

The auditionees chosen by the producers were invited back to the last set of auditions that took place in front of the judges and a live studio audience.^[19] These auditions were filmed at Skycity Theatre in Auckland from 26 February to 3 March and broadcast from 21 to 29 April. The 120 successful contestants then progressed to the bootcamp round.^[20][21]

• Auditions 1 (21 April 2013)
  Special appearance: Ronan Keating
  Featured successful auditionees: Finlay Robertson, Nick Van de Vlierd, Aotea Beazley, The Steamrollers, Benny Tipene, Maaka Fiso, Meryl Cassie, Madeline Bradley, William Tokelau and Te Ao Te Huia.^[22]
• Auditions 2 (22 April 2013)
  Special appearance: Topp Twins
  Featured successful auditionees: Franko Heke, Ashley Tonga, L.O.V.E, The Talent, Voltech, Gap5, Fletcher Mills, Cameron Luxton, Jessie Matthews, Tia Hunt, Cameron Rota, Sam Yeoward and Renee Maurice.^[23]
• Auditions 3 (28 April 2013)
  Featured successful auditionees: Taiaroa Neho, Alex Familton, Anabac, Liam Kennedy-Clark, Eden Roberts, Tjay Faaosofia, Vasa Faaosofia, Cassie Henderson, Tom Batchelor, Oriana Faaumu and Bryan Townley.^[24]
• Auditions 4 (29 April 2013)
  Featured successful auditionees: 3rd Watch, Shaan Singh, Taye Williams, Anna Wilson, Brianna Phillips, Jordan Edwards, Fadzai Paradza, Sorelle, Finley Brentwood, Preeti Narayan, Puhi Tau, Phebe Martin-Holgate, Sharaine Barrett, Hannah Cosgrove, Jasmyn Kereama, Khona Va’aga-Gray, Esther Crispin, Whenua Patuwai, Tania Pari, Moorhouse and Jackie Thomas.^[21]

Bootcamp

The bootcamp round was filmed at Vector Arena in Auckland from 16 to 21 March and broadcast on 5 and 6 May.^[28] Contestants were given two performance challenges. On the first day, the 120 contestants were split into the four category groups - Boys, Girls, Over 25s and Groups. Acts in each category were given one song to sing: "Come On Home" (Boys), "Firework" (Girls), "Iris" (Over 25s) and "Man in the Mirror" (Groups). Contestants were aided by vocal coach Turanga Merito and choreographer Emma McLachlan. After the performances, the judges sent home half the acts. On the second day, the remaining 60 acts were put into ensembles and chose a song which they had to learn and perform for the judges.^[29] From the bootcamp, 24 successful acts (six in each category) progressed to the judges' retreats round.^[30][31] Rejected soloists Sam Yeoward and Cameron Rota from the Boys category and former 3rd Watch member Peniamina Sofai were brought back by judges and asked to form a group. This group was named The Young Project (TYP).^[32]

The elimination of popular contestant Jackie Thomas, who had performed poorly at bootcamp, stirred debate amongst viewers.^[33] A Facebook group was formed urging the show to bring her back, while Birdy's 2011 recording of Jackie's audition song "Skinny Love" entered the New Zealand charts, peaking at number 2.^[34][35] At judges' retreats, Daniel Bedingfield made the decision to bring back Jackie to join the six girls at his retreat.

The 25 successful acts were:^[36]

• Boys: Tom Batchelor, Liam Kennedy-Clark, Fletcher Mills, Taiaroa Neho, Whenua Patuwai, Benny Tipene
• Girls: Aotea Beazley, Madeline Bradley, Oriana Faaumu, Cassie Henderson, Eden Roberts, Finlay Robertson, Jackie Thomas
• Over 25s: Maaka Fiso, Grace Ikenasio, Jessie Matthews, Bryan Townley, Taye Williams, Anna Wilson
• Groups: Anabac, Gap5, L.O.V.E, Moorhouse, Voltech, The Young Project (TYP)

Judges' retreats

The judges retreats episodes were filmed over the month of April in locations in New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Australia.^[37] The judges received news of their categories from the show's producer via telephone, seen during the second bootcamp episode on 6 May. Daniel Bedingfield also brought previously eliminated contestant Jackie Thomas back to the Girls category. Bedingfield mentored the Girls in Rarotonga, assisted by his sister Natasha Bedingfield; Blatt joined the Groups at Mahurangi with S Club 7 member Rachel Stevens; Frost took the Boys to Sydney, assisted by former Australian X Factor judge Guy Sebastian; and Walker had the Over 25s in Queenstown with New Zealand singer Hollie Smith. Each act performed one song for their mentor and assistant. The judges then selected their top three contestants, which make up the final 12 and progressed to the live shows.^[22][38]

At the end of judges' retreats, it was announced that each judge could bring one further act back as a wildcard. The public then voted for which of the four wildcards would become the 13th finalist. This left one judge with an extra act.^[39] Fletcher Mills was revealed as the winner on 14 May.^[40] The show's producers had originally intended for the wildcard to be announced on the first live show on 19 May, but after judge Melanie Blatt mistakenly tweeted the news on 14 May, the official announcement was made early.^[41]

Key:

  – Wildcard Winner

Results summary

Colour key

  – Act in the bottom two and had to perform in the final showdown

  – Act was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated

  – Act received the lowest number of public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)

Live show details

N.Z. Nielsen ratings

Colour key:

  – Highest rating during the season

  – Lowest rating during the season