Auckland family trio Aumalesulu win RNZ Kiwi Cover Song Contest

Auckland’s Aumalesulu family has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Kiwi Cover Song Contest, beating out nearly 200 musical acts to take the top prize. As reported by RNZ on Monday 14 September, the trio—comprising father Ese Aumalesulu and his daughters Tara, 13, and Sophia, 9—claimed victory with their rendition of 'See What Love Can Do'. The song, originally by Eric Clapton, is well-known in Aotearoa through the iconic reggae version performed by Annie Crummer and Herbs. Nine-year-old Sophia was the one who suggested the whānau enter the competition with that specific track. The victory came as a shock to the sisters, who were photographed in disbelief upon hearing the news from RNZ Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan. Music serves as a vital connection for the family. While Ese is blind and both his daughters are visually impaired, they choose to focus on their musicality rather than their disabilities. Ese told RNZ that the family prefers to be judged on their merits as musicians, noting that they live to prove what can be achieved despite any struggles. He described the win as feeling like "Christmas come early" and an opportunity to show his daughters a positive side of social media. Ese, who arranged the winning song and played the instruments, was described by Tara as her "hero singer." While their father hopes the girls grow up to be good citizens above all else, Tara noted that Sophia harbours dreams of becoming a professional singer. As part of their prize, the Aumalesulu whānau will head to RNZ’s Auckland studios to record their cover with award-winning sound engineer Andre Upston. The track they covered remains a significant piece of New Zealand’s musical landscape, previously cited by singer-songwriter Maisey Rika as a personal favourite.