Tongan countertenor Samuel Mataele wins Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest in Wellington

rnz.co.nz

A 19-year-old Tongan countertenor from Auckland won the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest. Samuel Mataele secured the $50,000 first prize at the prestigious opera competition gala in Wellington on Saturday night. Runner-up Sarah Mileham received $20,000. The biennial event, in its 70th year, has launched the careers of many celebrated singers and featured performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.


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Tongan countertenor Samuel Mataele wins Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest in Wellington | News Minimalist