Sandra Roberts' life over the last few days has been the envy of just about every woman in New Zealand.

Our showbiz writer has been on tour with Westlife, as they thrilled audiences across the country.

The concerts were all sold out in double-quick time, and fans loved the shows.

Sandra reports on all the behind-the-scenes activity, and tells web editor Andy Morris how the boys enjoyed their time in New Zealand.

click here to hear the audio

Credit/Source: www.stuff.co.nz / westlife.gr

It's been a very close contest, but Shane narrowly triumphed with 29.45% in our poll to find out whose gossip you're most looking forward to reading in Westlife: Our Story. Hot on his heels was Nicky with 25.41%, just ahead of Mark who scored 24.34%, followed by Kian on 20.8%.

Now over to you again to have your say in our new poll: Westlife's ten year anniversary concert in Croke Park is taking place on 1st June and we want to know which of their number one hits you'd most like them to perform. Head to the poll on the homepage or click here to vote.

Credit/Source: www.westlife.com

WATCH VIDEO OF WESTLIFE ARRIVING IN PLYMOUTH
The video also includes Kevin, Gillian and Nicole

It is not easy being international stars - especially when you are not clued up on local customs.

Irish boy-band Westlife were not sure what to do when they landed in New Plymouth for the last leg of their New Zealand tour and were greeted with a powhiri.

They are used to 'Flying Without Wings', but today they took the conventional approach, flying into town. And, while fans were anxious to see them, the boys were not so anxious to be seen.

They had hoped to sneak in through a private door at the airport. Instead they received the traditional greeting - a powhiri.

"We've never had a welcome like that before," says the group's Mark Feehily. "It was truly stunning to be honest, and very heart-warming."

They are in New Plymouth for the last night of their five-show tour.

It was marred this morning when a truck, carrying some of their gear, skidded on black ice and overturned. He was seriously enough injured to be spending tonight in Waikato Hospital.

"The show is going ahead," says New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennant. "It will be a top show. If it's not the world best I'll be surprised."

There was just enough time to receive Tarankai rugby shirts, and then they were off.

3 News shared the short hop from Auckland to New Plymouth with the Westlife boys, not that they were keen to see us. They were not too thrilled either with the two fans who asked for their autographs. And they are the only band who have been greeted with a Tarankai welcome and failed to respond with a song of their own.

Let's hope they warm up in time for tonight.

Credit/Source: www.tv3.co.nz

LATEST: Irish superstars Westlife flew into New Plymouth this afternoon, touching down to a stirring powhiri in front of about 300 eager fans.

New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennent welcomed the lads, following a haka performed by Kanohi Ki Te Kanohi.

Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, were then presented with Taranaki rugby jerseys as a memento of their stay.

Byrne thanked the crowd for the "interesting" welcome and sent their best wishes to the truck driver seriously injured when a truck and trailer carrying the band's lighting gear rolled in heavy fog near Pio Pio about 4.30am this morning.

Egan said facing the haka was a special moment, especially being a big rugby fan.

"You can see why people get intimidated by it, but when you know the meaning it's nice," he said.

This morning's crash will not delay the show, which gets underway at 8pm tonight at the TSB Stadium.

Tickets for the concert, the fifth and final of Westlife's New Zealand tour, had all but sold out, The Taranaki Daily News was told this afternoon.

Credit/Source: www.stuff.co.nz

A truck driver was seriously injured while transporting the gear of Irish pop band Westlife to their New Plymouth concert.

His truck and trailer unit rolled between Mokau and Piopio at 4.30am.

A passing motorist said the driver struck black ice and unsuccessfully tried to correct the vehicle, which suffered extensive damage.

Promoters said the show would definitely go ahead tonight and the band was very upset about what had happened to the driver.

Credit/Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

Westlife's album 'Back Home' re-enetered the Australian Albums chart at No.14 after the promotion Westlife did there last week.

Well done Westlife! Hopefully the album can climb higher too

Credit/Source: www.ariacharts.com.au

Watch Video: Westlife romp in Christchurch (1:47)


Irish boy band Westlife are in New Zealand on their first ever tour here.

They performed in Christchurch on Wednesday night, one of five concerts planned around the country. They play two shows in Auckland, one in Wellington and one in New Plymouth.

Westlife started out 10 years ago as a five-member boyband, though today they are a man-band quartet after one member left.

They have more number one hits in the UK than the Rolling Stones - 14 to be exact, beaten only by the Beatles and Elvis.

With hits including Seasons in the Sun, Swear it again and Flying without Wings, Westlife is one of the most successful modern bands of all time, having sold over 36 million records globally.

Westlife have been to New Zealand shores once before, but only to promote a new album.

This time with a glut of five shows, of which three have already been sold out, the boys say it will have huge payoffs for them and their New Zealand fans.

"We're gonna see our fans face to face tonight and throughout the whole tour, which for us is the best part," says Mark Feehily, Westlife band member.

Despite all the fame, they remain level headed blokes, saying the fame could all be over tomorrow.

As a special gift to their Kiwi fans, Westlife will be releasing a New Zealand only edition of their "best of" album featuring all their greatest hits.

Credit/Source: tvnz.co.nz

Kristy Lyttle with band members (from left) Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily. Photo / Simon Baker

Watch Video: Westlife fan gets to interview her heroes

What do you ask one of the world's biggest bands when they have probably heard every conceivable question many times over?

Answer: Turn to the fans.

When the Herald was given a chance to talk to Irish heart-throbs Westlife in Christchurch yesterday, this journalist stood aside, and long-time fan Kristy Lyttle stepped up.

Westlife, with 40 million albums sold and nearly as many number one hits as the Beatles, started their New Zealand tour with a sold-out show in Christchurch last night and will finish with a concert in Auckland on Monday that has been added because of the huge demand for tickets.

A self-described "old school fan", Miss Lyttle, 25, has followed thefortunes of Westlife since she was a teenager.

But even before the seed analyst got to the hotel function room for the interview of her life, the anxiety almost became too much.

"When I was first asked, I had a little freak-out," she said. "I've never met a celebrity before."

Amid the hustle and bustle of interviews and photographs, a highly stressed Miss Lyttle was thrust before the band before she knew it, and was delving into her carefully considered questions.

Miss Lyttle: Growing up, you guys were on our bedroom walls; who was on your bedroom walls?

Nicky Byrne recalled posters of Kylie Minogue and busty Baywatch actress Erika Eleniak, while fellow band member Mark Feehily remembered pictures of Mariah Carey and Claudia Schiffer among many.

Miss Lyttle: If you could be anyone else, and have any other job for a day, what would it be and why?

An eclectic mix of answers: Tiger Woods, pro surfer Kelly Slater, Brad Pitt and Prince.

Miss Lyttle: What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever given you?

Band member Kian Egan: We've had some, not just weird stuff, but pretty disgusting stuff as well, and I won't go into too much detail. There's stuff that could be funny weird - I was given a potato once, Mark was given a turnip.

Miss Lyttle: Is there one Westlife song you guys are just sick to the gills of singing?

Mark Feehily: We have recorded literally over 200 songs, so I think there probably are a few.

Shane Filan: The ones that we don't sing that much are the ones we don't like much.

With the interview complete, and a photograph with the band to remember it, Miss Lyttle's job was done.

"You've made my day," she said, "you've made my year."

Credit/Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

Watch Video

Over the past decade boy bands have come and gone and so have the number of people who admit to being fans.

So when Nightline found out Westlife were coming down under, straws were drawn to decide who would get to do the interview, until it became clear there was a closet fan amongst us... Charlotte Tonkin.

Over the years Westlife have sold 36 million records, won loads of awards, and captured many hearts, including my own.

And while they were feeling the love in Christchurch today, they were also feeling a bit chilly.

“My God it's cold, by the way,” says Nicky Byrne, the short one.

In 1998 their target market was teenage girls, fond of knee length jackets and matching outfits.

“There are very few ten, 12, even fifteen-year-olds out there now. Our crowds have changed, like a lot of the girls who were 15 are now 25," says Byrne.

That was pretty much bang on, and it was time to let these Irish lads know I was ‘flying without wings’ at the thought of interviewing them.

But sadly it was a task thwart with like minded individuals.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker hogged the quartet from the start.

“So do I just shut up and leave you to ask the questions,” he asked.

Yes! But he did not, and then a local fan commandeered the Irish lads, leaving me with no choice but to woo them with food, local food, Pineapple Lumps.

Which went down so well I forgot to listen to what Mark was saying...

“This is nice by the way, a bit dangerous though, you could pull a tooth out,” says Shane Filan.

Then it was onto some searching questions...

“Who's the most likely to leave the toilet seat up?” “All of us. We're men,” says Westlife.

Not a great start.

Mirrors are also a must have for the boys.

“I think we're all very vain,” was the Westlife answer.

Pretty boys? Maybe, but also very sweet and nice enough to let me have a photo.

And for the record that was the first time they had ever had a Polaroid picture taken.

Credit/Source: www.tv3.co.nz

Watch Video Here

Westlife fan Kristy Lyttle had the opportunity to ask her favourite band some questions during a press conference in Christchurch today.

Lyttle asked the band the tough questions, such as who the band had posters of in their bedrooms growing up, and who they would chose to be in another life.

The Irish band play their first NZ concert in Christchurch tonight before heading to Wellington, New Plymouth and two concerts in Auckland.

What did she discover about the band? Watch the video above to find out.

Credit/Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

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