Their There, a band from Mount Maunganui College has taken out first place at this year's Bay of Plenty regional Smokefreerockquest final.

"They know how to all play in each other's pockets... Love the half times in the songs," says judge Omega Lane about the winning act.

"[It} takes a lot of technique to do that so well. Melodically great tunes and love how the bass player plays through the instrumental sections. Cant wait to hear more."

Their There made up of Felix Bird on bass, Ezra Beckett on drums and Emily Tattersall on guitar and vocals are now up for semi-finalist selection in Smokefreerockquest.

Second place in the band category went to Alchemy from Pāpāmoa College and Mount Maunganui College. They join solo-duo winners MICAH (Micah Porter) from Mount Maunganui College and The Darlings also from Mount Maunganui College moving on to the top 30 semi-finalist selection.

The top 30 will play off at one of three semi-finals held in different centers around New Zealand in late August.

For Rockquest Promotions - RQP - general manager Matt Ealand, running the programme this year feels "hugely" significant.

'This year we really feel how much living through the pandemic has affected our rangatahi," says Matt.

"Not only in Smokefreerockquest but across all our programmes we are seeing themes of mental health, connection through social media, and also just Covid in general pop up again and again."

Matt has been working with RQP for two decades.

'Having this creative outlet is just so important. It's fantastic seeing how resilient these young people are if they have a space to express themselves.”

The full list of awards for the Bay of Plenty region:
Band 1: Their There, Mt Maunganui College
Band 2: Alchemy, Pāpāmoa College, Mt Maunganui College
Band 3: Temp22, Otumoetai College
Solo/Duo 1: MICAH, Mt Maunganui College
Solo/Duo 2: The Darlings, Mt Maunganui College
Rockshop Electronic Performance: MICAH, Mt Maunganui College
Best Vocals: Maysen Mitchell of OCD, Papamoa College
Musicianship (jointly awarded): bla bla uh huh boo hoo, Otumoetai College (Band)
Musicianship (jointly awarded) : Joshua Hall (lead guitar) of Deeds of Mars, Bethlehem College
ZM Best Song: Emessgee, Tauranga Boys' College (2nd Song)
APRA Lyric Writers' Award: 'Left for Dead” by Markus Mossert of Simple Creatures, Papamoa College

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.

There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, ZM Best Song Award, and Vocals Award.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest include Broods, Marlon Williams, Fazerdaze, Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid, Drax Project, Six60, Leisure, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Chelsea Jade, Die!Die!Die!, Leroy Clampitt, Robinson, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Skinny Hobos, Kimbra, Aaradhna, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and Balu Brigada. Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing, and Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.