Whangārei Intermediate band Te Reo Kai Maori Mai after winning the North Shore heat of Bandquest. The youngsters will now compete in the national final of the event on September 20.
They've only been together for 15 weeks, but that didn't stop a group of Whangārei schoolchildren from earning their place in the final of national talent competition Bandquest.
Whangārei Intermediate band Te Reo Kai Māori Mai won the second of two North Shore regional Bandquest finals last week to earn
their place in the national final on September 20.
Teacher Te Morena Peita said the band, from Te Whānau o Waimirirangi syndicate within Whangārei Intermediate School (WIS), was the first band in the school's history to compete in Bandquest. The students, aged 11 and 12, are all part of the Te Ao Māori whānau at WIS.
''The band has been together for 15 weeks and followed the disciplines of traditional Māori values and using the Māori Show band model,'' Peita said.
''This consisted of precision vocal harmonies, instruments, stage moves while performing and purposeful practice. This led them to win the North Shore regionals against very experienced schools.''
