A 91-year-old woman is up against a six-year-old and a pole dancer as auditions for New Zealand's latest reality show get underway in Wellington.

Over four sessions, spread over today and tomorrow, 64 acts from the lower North Island will compete to see if they have what it takes to make the next round on New Zealand's Got Talent.

Their fates are decided by three judges - supermodel Rachel Hunter, UB40 lead singer Ali Campbell, and OpShop's Jason Kerrison - and the red button they push to eliminate contestants.

Speaking backstage Hunter said she had seen the queue outside the St James Theatre, which stretched down Courtenay Pl and about 100m up Taranaki St.

"It was pretty amazing.''

Following auditions to a packed crowd in Dunedin she had already seen some outstanding talent.

"There have been a few but we can't talk about it.''

Campbell insisted there were no Simon Cowell-like judges on the panel.

"We are just going to be known as the kind judges.''

TVNZ publicist Meredith McGrath said Wellington contestants included a 91-year-old woman singer, a six-year-old singer, a pole dancer (who keeps her clothes on), puppeteers, a reggae band, and "someone who plays the saw".

Each seating at the theatre seats 1600 people. All four sessions are already booked out.

Contact Tom Hunt
Porirua reporter
Email: tom.hunt@dompost.co.nz
Twitter: @tomdom76

- © Fairfax NZ News

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