A Mochaccino with reggae/soul flavours has won over Smokefreerockquest judges.
The band, made up of pupils from Te Kura Hourua O Whangarei Terenga Paraoa and Kamo High School, was the Northland regional winner of Smokefreerockquest on Saturday.
Mochaccino took the top honour ahead of nine other bands. Mollie Harvey from Rodney College was first in the solo/duo section.
Mochaccino guitarist, Mannakitia Rankin (Kamo High School) was humbled to win.
"You think you are really good at something and then you see others who are a whole lot better than you," he said.
Mannakitia said Mochaccino had not been together long but had tried to develop their own style of music.
"We try to be a little different and we've come up with our own genre we call 'funkwop' - it's a little bit of reggae and little bit of soul."
The other band members, Joshua Rawson, (vocals), his brother Caleb (vocals), Henare Beattie (drums) and Whaka Heke (bass) are from Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa.
Second place in the band category went to Alien Weaponry, with Henry de Jong (drums) and Lewis de Jong (guitar) both from Bream Bay College, and Ethan Trembath (bass) from Otamatea High School.
Mollie Harvey from Rodney College was first in the solo/duo section. Mollie says she's been surrounded by music ever since she could walk and talk.
"The first instrument I really played was the drums at 7 years old," she said.
"Then I taught myself to play guitar and after learning the basics I got some lessons - I basically just pick up how to play instruments."
Mollie also won the Lowdown Best Song award and the People's Choice.
Second place in the solo/duo category went to Izaia Tilialo from Te Kapehu Whetu Charter School.
These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland's Raye Freedman Centre on September 11.
-Results from Sunday's Far North Rockquest final will be in tomorrow's Northern Advocate.