A Tauranga Girls' College student is being hailed as one of the best singers to hit the stages of the nationwide talent show New Zealand's Got Talent.

Calista Nelmes appeared on the show on TV One last night wowing judges with her audition song ‘It's a Man's World' by James Brown.

Tauranga Girls' College student Calista Nelmes performing her audition song on New Zealand's Got Talent.

The 14-year-old is the lead singer of a young Tauranga rock band ‘Chase Replica', which made the final of TV One's Youth Battle of the Bands competition last year.

Following last night's performance judge and Opshop frontman Jason Kerrison told Calista she was one of the best singers he had ever seen.

The Year 10 student has been singing since she could speak, but is also learning the art of piano, drums and guitar.

She practises weekly with her band, and has played at various venues around the city.

Calista has been taking private singing lessons for the last four years in an effort to master her craft.

Her favourite genre of music is soul and she loves pop artist Christina Aguleira.

In her spare time, Calista plays hockey and is a member of a Tauranga acting troupe, but she says singing and songwriting is her biggest passion.

'Ever since I was a little girl I've always loved singing. I'd like to go to America or London to study performing arts.

'I intend to make it big in the music industry.”