By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua
A tightline up of eight Pacific Island students, Az-One from Forest View High School in Tokoroa, has won the Smokefree Pacifica Beats finals in Wellington.
The group performed in the Wellington Town Hall on Friday night and won the top $2500 prize for their troubles.
They will also have two of their catchy and melodic tunes recorded professionally.
Band spokesman Ian Tuputala was very happy with the win.
"We won if for all our Pacific Island community in Tokoroa," he said.
The group comprises Samoan, Cook Island and Tokelauan performers.
The judging panel of Anahera Higgins from Mai Time, musician and TV personality Jason Fa'afoi, Wellington singer Holly Smith and te reo award judge Ruia Aterahama were all impressed with the band's on-stage energy.
"I'm really excited by this generation," Mr Fa'afoi said. "They're so young and so talented, they're meeting the criteria of this competition, using Maori or Pacific language and they're doing it with impressive musicianship."
Catchy Tokoroa beats take out Pacifica Beats
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