Te reo speaker in running for Milkybar Kid role

Hinetaapora Short says she wants to be famous or a model. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua youngster Hinetaapora Short could be the next Milkybar Kid.

The pupil at Te Kura o Te Koutu is one of 10 finalists in the search to find one of New Zealand's best-known young adventurers.

Since August 9, children throughout the country have been filming audition videos using a script from milkybar.co.nz and uploading them for their chance to fill the boots of this much-loved character.

Public auditions were also held at The Warehouse, New World and Pak'n Save nationwide.

Now, 10 children have been selected as the finalists and Hinetaapora, 8, is one of them.

But only five have been revealed so far as organisers of the competition announce one finalist each day.

Hinetaapora said she would like to be the next Milkybar Kid because it sounded like fun, she'd like to be famous and really liked the white chocolate bars.

Maori is Hinetaapora's first language.

She is bilingual and her favourite subjects at school are Spanish and singing.

When she grows up, Hinetaapora says, she wants to be famous or a model.

Nestle's Milkybar spokesman, Jeremy Boucher, said it had been difficult to select the top 10 finalists because there were a lot of talented children who had auditioned for the role.

"It has certainly been tough to cut the contenders down to 10 hopefuls," he said.

All of the 10 finalists will be announced by November 1.

They will be appearing on TV One's Good Morning show, in magazines and on milkybar.co.nz.

After that, members of the public will get to vote for the finalist they think should be the new Milkybar Kid. A panel of judges will pick the ultimate winner, who will be revealed on November 19.

The winner will star in the new Milkybar television commercial next year.

- APN