KEY POINTS:
Netballer Temepara George and partner Stefano Olivieri are this year's Dancing With the Stars champions.
They beat former rugby league player and boxer Monty Betham and his partner Nerida Jantti.
The on form celebrity dancer going into the two-hour-long grand final was George and the rising star was Betham, who judge Craig Revel-Horwood dubbed an underdog.
The finalists had to perform three dances, one they had performed previously, a new dance, and a freestyle piece before an audience which included Prime Minister Helen Clark and George's partner, former Kiwis and New Zealand Warriors player, Sione Faumuina.
The six eliminated stars - Geeling Ng, Peter Urlich, Martin Devlin, Tina Cross, Cory Hutchings and Miriama Smith made guest appearances.
George notched up the first perfect score of 10 of the night for her foxtrot which scored 37 overall.
"You put the fox in foxtrot," said Revel-Horwood. Betham scored two tens for his second dance. George answered with another 10 for her second dance and three tens on her third dance. Overall George and Olivieri scored 112 and Betham and Jantti scored 108.
Olivieri won last year with partner Suzanne Paul.
- NZPA
