Whenua Patuwai

Whenua Patuwai (born 13 March 1995) is a New Zealand singer and songwriter renowned for his soulful vocals and emotive performances. He gained national prominence as the runner-up on the inaugural season of The X Factor New Zealand in 2013, where his rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" captivated audiences. Following the show, Patuwai signed with Sony Music New Zealand and released his debut single, "Something Special," which peaked at number three on the New Zealand Singles Chart. His debut album, The Soul Sessions (2014), featured covers of classic soul tracks and debuted at number four on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

In 2013, Patuwai joined fellow X Factor judge Stan Walker as the opening act on Walker's "World Tour of New Zealand," performing across the country in September and October. Additionally, he opened for Australian singer Guy Sebastian during Sebastian's "Get Along Tour," further establishing his presence in the Australasian music scene.

In recent years, Patuwai has continued to contribute to the New Zealand music scene. Notably, in 2022, he featured on the single "Te Ata Māhina" alongside Te Matatini and Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai. The song achieved significant success, reaching number one on the Te Reo Māori singles chart in April 2023 and becoming the top-performing te reo Māori song in New Zealand for that year.

Patuwai remains active in live performances and collaborations, maintaining a presence in the local music scene through concerts and community events.