Rosita Vai has won public affection and been named the second NZ Idol .
The announcement was made at the end of an all-singing, all-dancing live show on Monday night that included the return of all of the top ten finalists plus some favourites from earlier in the competition.
The votes for the winner came in off the back of the penultimate Idol show on Sunday night when Vai faced off against fellow contender Nik Carlson singing three songs, including the first single the idol will release.
They kicked off the show with a performance of Diana Ross' Upside Down. Then each of them sang their favourite song from the series, a new song, and the Idol winner's single for 2005 - All It Takes.
The odds leading up to the final were marginally in favour of Carlson with Centrebet paying out odds of $1.55 for him, while Vai's odds were paying out at $2.30.
Regardless of the win both Carlson and Vai will join seven of the top ten NZ idol finalists on the idolised tour in December.
The top two, along with the so-called Mayor of Mohaka Rongo Brightwell, top three contender Steven Broad, Ashley Cooper, Teresa Bergman and Jesse O'Brien will play 16 venues throughout New Zealand starting in Tauranga.
Vai's debut single will be released on Tuesday followed by an album on October 28.
For more on NZ Idol go to the official TVNZ Idol site.
