Aussies are stealing Stan Walker

Stan Walker isn't severing all ties with his Kiwi roots. Photo / Paul Taylor

They've claimed Crowded House and pilfered the pavlova, now the Aussies are set to snare singing sensation Stan Walker. The Kiwi-raised heart-throb is chasing Australian citizenship.

Walker has settled with his family on the Gold Coast and plans to take the next step of becoming an Australian resident by applying for citizenship.

"My mum and dad, my brothers and sisters, they are all up there now," he told the Herald Sun.

However, he was not severing all ties with his Kiwi roots.

"I've missed out on a few gigs because I'm not an Australian citizen, but that's just small stuff. It's more about saying, 'I'm here now, this is my home as well as New Zealand'," he said.

The Maori singer was born in Australia but grew up near Tauranga and lived in Hamilton and Taranaki, where he went to boarding school.

He rose to fame in 2009 when he won Australian Idol and has since released albums Introducing Stan Walker, From The Inside Out and Let The Music Play.

The devout Christian has spoken about his dream of releasing a gospel album.

At this year's Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards he was a finalist for the Peoples' Choice award and for the Best Male Solo Artist gong, alongside David Dallas and winner Tiki Taane.