Rising young stars set sights on competition win

Rotorua Boys' High School band Open Arms will compete in the finals of Smokefree Pacifica Beats this weekend. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Open Arms have their sights set on a win at this weekend's Smokefree Pacifica Beats finals.

The reggae rock group from Rotorua Boys' High School will perform at the finals held at Auckland University of Technology on Friday and Saturday, after they won first place at the regionals.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats is an event that celebrates the unique cultural identity of New Zealand and the South Pacific, with bands required to have some Maori or Pacific Island elements in their music or performance.

The group was one of more than 100 bands that entered this year and one of six chosen for the finals.

Open Arms lead singer Tawhirimatea Witoko said he was "stoked" the group had made it this far, but hoped they would also take out the title.

"We want nothing more than to win. Winning would be amazing and would mean all our hard work over the past few months has paid off," he said.

"It would also help prove Rotorua Boys' High School's excellent reputation for music, as well as all the other positive things the students here are known for."

The band will perform two songs at the event, both of which they have composed and written themselves.

Tawhirimatea said they couldn't have got to finals without the help of their music teacher Cameron Hay, who was an inspiration.

Mr Hay said he was incredibly proud of the group. "It's a big achievement. They're one of the top six groups in country, which is really outstanding."

Neihana Mackey, from the reggae group 1814, has been working with Open Arms preparing them for this weekend.

He said it had been a pleasure watching the band grow and it was amazing how far they had come.

"I think they've got something really special, they could definitely have a shot at winning."

Whatever the outcome this weekend, the group were certain they wanted to keep singing and performing together in the future.

The group is made up of Tawhirimatea Witoko, Arapeta Paea, Wirihana Te Rangi, Te Hakaraia Wilson, Tuariki Brown, Lacey Betham, Te Tahu Kingi, Terence Apiata and AJ Moke.