Ngā Kai Kiore, a six-piece band from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Huiarau in the heart of Te Urewera, received an emerging talent award and took second place overall at the Smokefreerockquest regional finals in Rotorua last month.

The award, sponsored by Toi Ohomai, gives the Ruatahuna band the opportunity to record Tiny Concerts at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s on-campus recording studios.

The tiny concert format, made popular on YouTube, involves making full live audio and visual recordings of original music.

Toi Ohomai music tutor Dave Bishop said the Smokefreerockquest provided a fantastic platform for young musicians to write and perform music that mattered to them and their peers.

“It brings back memories of what it’s like to be young and just starting out. When you’re a teenager with a guitar, drumsticks or a microphone, there’s nothing that beats that feeling. Toi Ohomai is proud to be part of that scene, and sponsoring this year’s Emerging Talent Awards was an exciting opportunity for us.”

Toi Ohomai academic leader for art, design, music and media, Nicol Sanders O’Shea said the Tiny Concert prize awarded to Ngā Kai Kiore not only recognised their musical talent but also provided them with a meaningful introduction to studio production.

“Recording in our on-campus studios gives these young artists insight into what goes into producing an album. It’s a great opportunity for those who may be considering music and performance careers after high school or studying music at a tertiary level.”