Kiwi makes X Factor top 10

Big T sings Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One" on last night's episode of X-Factor Australia. photo/ Youtube.com

New Zealand-born miner Tangaroa Te Tai, aka Big T, has made it into The X-Factor Australia's top 10, where he will face a double elimination in tonight's live episode alongside remaining contestants.

Te Tai wowed the judges with his rendition of Stevie Wonder's Signed Sealed Delivered in the show's first auditions, which he went to dressed in his safety vest and work boots.

Nearly a month later and Big T is still going strong; in last night's episode, the third live round round of the show, he sang Sam Smith's I'm Not The Only One.

It was the first song since his audition that he was already familiar with.

Finally! @TangzTe gets to sing a song he knows! And whoooaaaaa it's a @samsmithworld track! Good choice from @ChrisIsaak? #xfactorau

— #XFactorAU (@thexfactorau) October 12, 2015

Reactions on social media were overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting to say the soulful singer had given them goosebumps with his performance.

Te Tai had two of the show's four judges out of their seats and dancing during his audition several weeks ago, despite feeling so nervous he almost fainted.

One judge, UK pop star James Blunt, picked Te Tai to win the Australian TV talent quest then and there.

Tangaroa Te Tai, aka Big T, wows judge James Blunt during his audition on The X-Factor Australia

"Big T, I have a prediction for you and I am absolutely serious, you are the man who turned up for his audition in his work clothes and you are the man who will win the Sony record deal," Blunt said after his audition.

Tonight, the contestants will face a double elimination, as the two contestants with the fewest number of votes will be sent home.

- nzherald.co.nz