Support for Tauranga X Factor duo

PHOTO: COURTESY THE X FACTORY NZ

Waihi local Sarah Spicer has made it to the Top 12 contestants in the New Zealand X Factor

The Top 12 were announced last night but already an online campaign to reinstate a Tauranga brother and sister duo on X Factor had received overwhelming support during the less than 24 hours since it started.

Leilani and Elijah Taula, aged 18 and 16, were successful in the auditions as folk-singing act Duel.

The Tauranga Boys' College student and his sister made it to the show's "Bootcamp" but failed to impress on Tuesday night and were eliminated.

Within five minutes of 'Bring back DUEL NZ Xfactor' going live on Tuesday night, the Facebook fan page received 100 likes. By 8pm yesterday it had received more than 3552.

Elijah and Leilani Taula, a brother and sister folk-singing duo, did well in the X Factor auditions and have received overwhelming support online. Photo / Supplied

"One of my mates tagged me on the page. I saw it and thought 'oh flip'. I was pretty surprised," Elijah said.

He had seen social media support from people including Stan Walker, TV personalities Jono and Ben and TV3 newsreader Hilary Barry.

"Although we got cut, it was a good experience. I was really stoked at all the support people are showing. I was surprised there were so many people.

"Although it was negative watching myself get upset on TV, it was cool to know people were sort of upset the same. It wasn't just me. I felt like we deserved another chance. We'll maybe try again next year."

Elijah had thought he might be teased at school, but "heaps of the boys at school are all pretty stoked with how we got on".

The top 12 were announced last night but the pair missed out.

"The show has been really good. But if we don't get put back in, I still think we will get positiveness from this ... If it doesn't happen, it wasn't meant to be.

"The show ... it's not going to dictate our future."

Facebook users joined the page to express their disappointment at the elimination.

Wendy Pretorius posted: " ... this has been the worst judgement on NZ Xfactor ever."

James Macdonald posted: "they sound absolutely flawless hopefully we can all get them back in!!!"