Lights Go Out were awarded the te reo award at the national event for exceptional use of te reo Māori and songwriting in the Māori language.
In its latest iteration, the band consists entirely of Whanganui High School students for the first time.
Brass player Arne Leiva-Banegas said it was pleasing to win the event with the majority of last year’s members again.
“It’s very cool, we feel really happy to win it again and be good enough this year,” he said.
“We’ve done this competition a few times now and I think that’s what makes us tight.
“Overall, I’m really proud of our performance.”
Halfway through the song, two of the brass players switched to ukuleles and the other switched to a guitar, he said.
“[It] is the first time we have switched instruments, which got the crowd cheering for us,” Leiva-Banegas said.
Ngahauewha consists of three brass instruments, three keyboards, three vocalists, a drummer and a bassist.
In the Smokefreerockquest band category, Dead Tie Society from Rangitīkei College was second and Whanganui High School’s Cortina placed third.
Sophie Toyne (Whanganui High School) won the Smokefreerockquest solo-duo category, and Bonnie-Daisy (Whanganui Girls’ College) was second.
Toyne also won the Smokefree best vocals award.
Tuwharetorian, from Rangitīkei College, won the Smokefree Tangata Beats solo-duo category and Rockshop electronic assist performance award.
McCaw (Rangitīkei College) finished runner-up in the Tangata Beats solo-duo category.
Massey University music lecturer and judge Dr Jesse Austin-Stewart said Whanganui’s musical talent “blows me away” every year.
“Across all the schools, the standard of performance was incredible, with some amazing songs, vocals and instrument skills shown off,” Austin-Stewart said.
“All the performers really did their whānau and schools proud.”
The top two acts from each category will advance to video submissions for national finalist selection in September.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
