Two young Kaeo girls and budding songwriters are $2000 richer after being presented with a cheque at a special assembly at Whangaroa College.
The reward was for Year 12 students Te Rina Flavell-Kahle and Fairy-Allen Rikihana, who took out second prize for their original song Moving Forward as part of a nationwide competition run by Maori Media Network in conjunction with Maori Radio Stations and E Tu Whanau during New Zealand Music Month in May.
Miss Flavell-Kahle and Miss Rikihana wrote the song together over two days. For both girls it was their first attempt at musical composition.
"One of us would write some lyrics and the other one would add to it," said Miss Flavell-Kahle.
"Then we would put those words and the music together and it sort of grew from there."