Rotorua Smokefree Rockquest: Taupō's Pocket Watchers win regional final
After gaining first place at the regional Smokefree Rockquest, 16-year-old Leroy Walker (saxophone and backing vocals in the Pocket Watchers) said: 'Everyone was so cool and amazing'.
'We thought everyone today deserved a great chance at it, I wish them all the best of luck in their futures. It's just a great event.'
Second in the band category was Nga Kai Kiore from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau.
The top spot of the solo-duo category went to Mikayla Edwards, from Tauhara College, and second place to Floss Savanah and John Tamuno from John Paul College.
All four Smokefree Rockquest place winners now have the opportunity to submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 15 national finalists to play off at the national finals in September.
The Smokefree Tangata Beats regional winners are Kotahi te Rā from Rotorua Boys' High School.
They now go into the selection process for the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats, at Auckland's ASB Theatre on September 13.
RQP co-founder and co-director Glenn Common said the next stage of the programme offers new opportunities for development, building on what the entrants have already experienced.
'Preparing their performance helps develop their musicianship, songwriting, and performance skills. For bands and duos, it's a collaborative effort that builds teamwork and important life skills, like communication.
'All entrants are learning valuable lessons in setting goals and experiencing the sense of achievement that comes from creating something and showcasing it.'
The full list of awards for Rotorua
1st place Band - Pocket Watchers, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia-College.
2nd place Band - Nga Kai Kiore, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau.
3rd place Band - Rau Huia, Rotorua Boys' High School.
1st place Solo-Duo - Mikayla Edwards, Tauhara College.
2nd place Solo-Duo - Floss Savanah and John Tamuno, John Paul College.
1st place Smokefree Tangata Beats (band) - Kotahi te Rā, Rotorua Boys' High School.
Musicianship Award - Te Ruanuku Teka from Mad Machines, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau.
Musicianship Award - Revamp, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia-College.
Smokefree Best Vocals Award - Te Uamairangi Webster-Tarei from Kotahi te Rā, Rotorua Boys' High School.
ZM Best Song Award - Angelica, John Paul College.
APRA Lyric Award - Tiffany from Stuck In A Smile for Echo In The Room, Reporoa College.
Rockshop Electronic Assist Performance Award - Angelica, John Paul College.
The tour continues with regional events, leading to the Smokefree Rockquest national final on September 20, following the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on September 13, both in Auckland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
27-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Smokefreerockquest East Coast heat finalists moving on to regional final
The top 12 East Coast bands that will perform at the regional final for Smokefreerockquest have been decided. The next step is for them to battle it out to decide the top two bands, top solo/duo acts and Smokefree Tangata Beats award winners, who will represent the region at the
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Rotorua Smokefree Rockquest: Taupō's Pocket Watchers win regional final
After gaining first place at the regional Smokefree Rockquest, 16-year-old Leroy Walker (saxophone and backing vocals in the Pocket Watchers) said: 'Everyone was so cool and amazing'. 'We thought everyone today deserved a great chance at it, I wish them all the best of luck in their futures. It's just a great event.' Second in the band category was Nga Kai Kiore from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau. The top spot of the solo-duo category went to Mikayla Edwards, from Tauhara College, and second place to Floss Savanah and John Tamuno from John Paul College. All four Smokefree Rockquest place winners now have the opportunity to submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 15 national finalists to play off at the national finals in September. The Smokefree Tangata Beats regional winners are Kotahi te Rā from Rotorua Boys' High School. They now go into the selection process for the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats, at Auckland's ASB Theatre on September 13. RQP co-founder and co-director Glenn Common said the next stage of the programme offers new opportunities for development, building on what the entrants have already experienced. 'Preparing their performance helps develop their musicianship, songwriting, and performance skills. For bands and duos, it's a collaborative effort that builds teamwork and important life skills, like communication. 'All entrants are learning valuable lessons in setting goals and experiencing the sense of achievement that comes from creating something and showcasing it.' The full list of awards for Rotorua 1st place Band - Pocket Watchers, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia-College. 2nd place Band - Nga Kai Kiore, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau. 3rd place Band - Rau Huia, Rotorua Boys' High School. 1st place Solo-Duo - Mikayla Edwards, Tauhara College. 2nd place Solo-Duo - Floss Savanah and John Tamuno, John Paul College. 1st place Smokefree Tangata Beats (band) - Kotahi te Rā, Rotorua Boys' High School. Musicianship Award - Te Ruanuku Teka from Mad Machines, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau. Musicianship Award - Revamp, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia-College. Smokefree Best Vocals Award - Te Uamairangi Webster-Tarei from Kotahi te Rā, Rotorua Boys' High School. ZM Best Song Award - Angelica, John Paul College. APRA Lyric Award - Tiffany from Stuck In A Smile for Echo In The Room, Reporoa College. Rockshop Electronic Assist Performance Award - Angelica, John Paul College. The tour continues with regional events, leading to the Smokefree Rockquest national final on September 20, following the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on September 13, both in Auckland.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Musical triumph: Whanganui band shines in regional music competition
The Tangata Beats event started in 1998 as the Urban Beats Award but over time became its own competition. The Lights Go Out members, Alijah Ngaronga, Jeremiah Herewini, Poppy Brooks-Mann, Mason Maraku, Manaia Takiari, Rangitaumata Hayward, Amelia Muir, Arne Leiva-Benegas, Moata Leiva-Benegas and Gio Maraku, met through Te Kura Waenga o Rutherford although some have gone on to secondary school at Cullinane College and Whanganui High School. 'They're still all with our music teacher [Jordan Maraku] and he makes a band every year and most of the years it's been the same people,' keyboardist Amelia Muir said. A previous band, Reckless, containing multiple of Lights Out's current members, made the Tangata Beats national final in 2023 and came third. Reckless only competed in Tangata Beats in previous years, making this the first attempt at Smokefreerockquest. 'We thought we would give both competitions a shot this year and we're glad we did,' trombone player Arne Leiva-Benegas said. 'We were really surprised we won.' For their first-place wins, the band received $500 of musical equipment from the Rockshop. Lights Go Out consists of three brass instruments, three keyboards, two vocalists, a drummer and a bassist. Coming up to the competition, the band practised together for more than 10 hours a week. At the competition, Lights Go Out performed original songs Alive and Light Path. Muir said the songwriting process was collaborative, with each instrument group writing their own parts. Raia (Waihīrere Fifield-Taylor), from Te Aho o Te Kura, came first in the Whanganui Smokefreerockquest's solo/duo category. Muir and Leiva-Benegas said the band was musically inspired by reggae music and New Zealand bands L.A.B., Six60 and House of Shem. A4, from Rangitīkei College, placed second behind Lights Go Out for Smokefreerockquest. Missing Comma, from Whanganui High School, were third. In the solo-duo Smokefreerockquest category, Raia (Waihīrere Fifield-Taylor), from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, was first and Sophie Toyne, from Whanganui High School, second. Nisi (Denise Pio), from Rangitīkei College, won the solo-duo for Smokefree Tangata Beats. Alongside Raia and Sophie Toyne, Lights Go Out can submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 15 finalists to play at Smokefreerockquest nationals in September. Along with Nisi, they can also apply for the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats on September 13 at Auckland's ASB Theatre. Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
