Johnnie Kapua is a New Zealand-born Māori singer, former rugby player, rugby coach and cybersecurity professional living in Herriman, Utah. He gained wider attention at 32 as a contestant on Season 30 of NBC’s The Voice.
Kapua performed Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” during his Blind Audition. Kelly Clarkson and Queen Latifah turned their chairs, but Clarkson used her First In Button to secure him for Team Kelly.
His appearance also carries cultural significance. Kapua, who has whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu, has been identified as the first known Māori singer to compete on the U.S. version of The Voice.
Who Is Johnnie Kapua?
Johnnie Kapua is a singer and musician originally from Wellington, New Zealand. He now lives in Herriman, Utah, with his wife, Kat, and their children.
Music is only one part of his background. Kapua studied project management in Utah and built a professional career in cybersecurity sales. He also has a long connection to sports, particularly rugby, both as a player and coach.
Although he had performed when he was younger, music became less important as work, marriage and fatherhood took priority. His wife eventually encouraged him to give singing another serious opportunity and signed him up for The Voice.
Johnnie Kapua Age
Kapua was 32 years old when he appeared on The Voice Season 30 in 2026.
Where Is Johnnie Kapua From?
Kapua grew up in Wellington, New Zealand. He later moved to the United States for college and has lived there since. He currently lives in Herriman, Utah.
His life in the United States has not separated him from his New Zealand background. Kapua continues to identify strongly with Māori culture and has spoken about recognizing its importance even more while living overseas.
Māori Heritage
Johnnie Kapua is Māori, with whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu.
His appearance on The Voice attracted attention in Aotearoa because he became the first known Māori singer to compete on the American version of the show. Māori singers have previously competed on versions of The Voice in other countries, including Australia.
Kapua has spoken positively about Māori music, culture and the way Māori performers present themselves. For him, appearing on American television also provided an opportunity to represent that part of his identity.
Johnnie Kapua High School and Education
Kapua is a former student of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Whānui, a Māori-language school in Wellington.
After moving to the United States, he attended Ensign College in Utah from 2017 to 2020. His education profile lists an associate degree in Project Management.
Moving to the United States for college became a major turning point in his life. He remained in the country after meeting the woman who would become his wife and eventually established his career and family in Utah.
Rugby and Sports Background
John Kapua also has a notable sports background. A coaching profile from Mountain Ridge Rugby says he played rugby in New Zealand for the Upper Hutt Rams. It also says he grew up playing against athletes who later became professional rugby and rugby league players.
Kapua later moved into coaching. His profile says he has coached high-school rugby for five years and previously coached the Upper Hutt College varsity basketball team.
The same profile includes an unusual connection to New Zealand rugby history: Kapua says former All Black Tana Umaga babysat him when he was young.
Music Career Before The Voice
John Kapua began singing and playing guitar while he was in high school. He later competed in a national singing competition in New Zealand.
His television experience predates The Voice. Kapua auditioned for the first season of The X Factor New Zealand in 2013.
Music eventually moved into the background as his adult responsibilities increased.
Kapua continued singing informally, however, and posted covers online. His performances have included songs such as “Shallow,” “Heartbreak Anniversary” and “Mirror.”
In 2024, he attracted renewed attention after appearing on New Zealand podcast The Morning Shift and performing Sam Smith’s “I’m Not the Only One.”
That appearance helped put his singing back in front of a larger audience before The Voice.
Wife Kat Kapua
Johnnie Kapua is married to Kat Kapua.
Kat played a major role in bringing her husband’s music back into focus. Johnnie rarely performed unless she volunteered him, and she was ultimately the person who signed him up to audition for The Voice.
During the Blind Audition episode, Kat explained that she had always believed in his ability even when he lacked confidence in his own singing. She was eight months pregnant with their third child when the audition was filmed.
The couple also share a professional connection. Current biographical information says Johnnie and Kat work in cybersecurity sales, while Johnnie’s professional profile identifies his employer as Proofpoint.
Children and Family
Johnnie and Kat are parents of three children. At the time his Blind Audition was filmed, the couple had two children and Kat was expecting their third. Their youngest son was later reported to have been born on August 1.
Their daughter Kikki has also appeared in Johnnie’s social media content singing with her father while playing a toy guitar.
Family is central to Kapua’s Voice story. His decision to step away from serious music was partly connected to providing for his family, while his return happened largely because Kat encouraged him not to abandon that part of himself.
Entertainment coverage has also identified Te Hiwi Preston as Kapua’s older brother.
Career Outside Music
Kapua has built a career outside entertainment. His professional profile lists him at cybersecurity company Proofpoint in Utah, while his Voice biography describes his field as cybersecurity sales.
That career helps explain why music became something he did less frequently after moving to the United States. Rather than depending on performing for his livelihood, Kapua concentrated on work and his growing family.
Johnnie Kapua on The Voice Season 30
Kapua auditioned with “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Kelly Clarkson turned early in the performance, followed by Queen Latifah. Adam Levine and Riley Green did not turn.
Clarkson praised the soulfulness of Kapua’s voice and his distinctive cadence. Latifah also liked the performance but noted some areas of breath control that could be improved through coaching.
Kapua had already hoped Clarkson would turn for him.
He did not ultimately have to choose between the two coaches.
Why Johnnie Joined Team Kelly
Season 30 introduced the First In Button, which allows the first coach to turn for an artist to claim that singer immediately.
Clarkson was the first to turn for Kapua and decided to use her one First In advantage on him. That automatically placed him on Team Kelly.
The result suited Kapua, who later said Clarkson was the coach whose chair he most wanted to turn.
His Blind Audition also reached a large online audience. Te Ao Māori News reported on October 1 that the performance had passed one million views online.
Returning to Music
John Kapua’s story on The Voice is partly about returning to something he had left behind.
He had sung since high school, competed in New Zealand and continued sharing music online, but work and family had become his main priorities.
His wife’s decision to submit his singing to others eventually changed that direction.
For Kapua, competing on The Voice gives him an opportunity to pursue music again while representing his Māori culture and showing his children that fear does not have to prevent someone from pursuing an ambition.
Instagram and Social Media
Kapua has used Instagram, TikTok and other platforms to share music and family moments. His TikTok videos had accumulated more than 200,000 likes before his Voice appearance.
Johnnie Kapua Quick Facts
- Full name: Johnnie Kapua
- Age on The Voice: 32
- From: Wellington, New Zealand
- Lives in: Herriman, Utah
- Heritage: Māori
- Iwi: Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu
- High school: TKKM o Te Ara Whānui
- College: Ensign College
- Degree: Associate degree in Project Management
- Career: Cybersecurity sales
- Employer: Proofpoint
- Wife: Kat Kapua
- Children: Three
- Sports: Rugby
- Former rugby club: Upper Hutt Rams
- Coaching: High-school rugby; previously coached Upper Hutt College varsity basketball
- Known for: The Voice Season 30
- Previous TV competition: The X Factor New Zealand
- Blind Audition song: “Die With a Smile”
- Team: Team Kelly
- Coach: Kelly Clarkson
More The Voice Season 30 Contestants
Kapua is part of a Season 30 cast that includes artists with very different backgrounds.
Joe Henley is a 19-year-old Alabama country singer and high-school basketball player who joined Team Riley.
Mia Knight is a 16-year-old New Jersey singer-songwriter who became the first artist secured through the season’s First In Button.
Allie Rae is a teenage Texas country-blues singer who joined Team Riley.
Other TrendzJoint biographies include Lexi Stephens, Cade Mower and Amanda Mikkel.
