Porirua’s rising stars wowed a full house at the 2025 Porirua Has Talent final on Saturday 16 August, delivering a night of unforgettable performances ranging from fire dancing and reggae to war dances and piano solos.
Event Manager Tania Carr said the sold-out show exceeded all expectations. “The performances were phenomenal; it was really hard for the judges because of the exceptional talent on show.”
The annual community showcase highlighted the depth of local talent across age groups and disciplines. Malakai Asiata lit up the stage with a powerful Samoan war dance, earning top honours in the 5-12 year dance category and electrifying the audience.
“It was awesome to see these new acts along with some of the favourites from last year perform,” said Carr. “Special mention goes to Kōtuku as Supreme Winner with their reggae band. Their stage presence was amazing – they worked the crowd, and as well as their obvious talent, they impressed with their charisma and confidence.”
Returning judges Ainslie Allen, Aroha Davidson and Fredwyn Kisona faced the tough task of picking winners from an impressive field of finalists. Carr emphasised the importance of community support in making the event possible.
“Like any community event, Porirua Has Talent relies heavily on sponsorship and community support,” she said. “We feel so much aroha for everyone who helped us bring this to fruition for the second year running. It takes a village to create a top-class talent show and we are so grateful to everyone who backed us.”
Winners of Porirua Has Talent 2025
- Supreme Winner: Kōtuku (Reggae band, 13–25 Group category) – Sponsored by Black Grace
- Vocals/Musician 5–12 years: Willow Hunkin, Hexyle Cram Rivera, Caleb Jackson
- Runners-up: Alina Babko, Tania Tipuna
- Vocals/Musician 13–25 years: Cortearz Howell, Carmelle Cohen-Ronen, Sophie Taylor-Edwards
- Runners-up: Helmy Esera, Zung Lahtaw
- Dance 5–12 years: Malakai Asiata, Danielle Gracie, Celeste Richards
- Dance 13–25 years: Sage Ngātai Skipper, Emily Love, Olivia Murphy
- Group 5–12 years: SWIS, The Blue Roses
- Group 13–25 years: Kōtuku, Riot Boyz, Chelsea & Sophie
- Runners-up: White Widow, Pandora & Arahia