Roll out the red carpet - Rotorua is hosting a national awards competition for the country's most talented country musicians.
Finalists from regional country music competitions throughout the country will be making their way to Rotorua to compete against each other this Saturday for the title of New Zealand CountryMusic Entertainer of the Year.
The event will be held at the Civic Theatre, and 18 musicians will perform two songs in a seven-minute timeframe. The singers will be divided into five different categories - junior, intermediate, premier, veterans and songwriters.
Event organiser Neil Mackenzie-Hall said the premier senior winner will receive a cash prize, a one-track demo, a trip to Norfolk Island to be a guest on the New Zealand Showcase at the Trans Tasman Country Music Entertainer of the Year and a trip to the Tamworth Country Music Festival in Australia.
He said there were two musicians from Rotorua who had earned a spot at the awards. "We have two local Rotorua girls who have made the finals - Anahera Herewini-Waiariki [whose stage name is Taylor] and Luana Karl both from the Phoenix Country Music and Variety club. They are both vying for the title of New Zealand Country Music Entertainer of the year - Anahera for the junior title and Luana for the intermediate."
Country music legends Gray Bartlett and Marion Burns will both play a part in the show, Mr Bartlett as a judge and Burns as a guest artist.
Mr Mackenzie-Hall said people attending the awards could expect to see the best amateur and professional talent in New Zealand.
"Our association has over 5000 members throughout New Zealand. Country music clubs are very popular as they offer young and old an opportunity to sing on stage or just listen to good country music."
Trans Tasman Country Music Entertainer of the Year 2012 winner Hayley Smith will be competing in the premier section and Hannah Cosgrove, who was the junior winner in 2004 and 2006, and the intermediate winner in 2010 will also be vying for the top position.
