An Otumoetai College's Delta has taken out first place at this year's Bay of Plenty regional Smokefreerockquest final at Totara Street on Saturday night.

The band named Delta, who play jazz-funk fusion, have been performing together for 9 months. Singer Emily Ardern says the band were absolutely stoked with the win.

'There was very tough competition this year so we were nervous about the results,” says Emily.

'When they called our names out we were ecstatic to hear all our hard work had paid off.”

The full lineup is Emily Ardern, vocals, Eden Exelby, bass, Kristian Reid on the guitar, Jerome Morris, drums, and Ben Thompson on the keyboard.

Second place in the band category went to Elevar from Mount Maunganui College.

Delta join solo-duo winners for Bay of Plenty including Louie Campbell from Katikati College, Bree from Katikati College and Max Harvey from Rotorua Boys' High School with the opportunity to submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 10 national finalists to play off at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland on Saturday September 14.

The new Rockshop Best use of Electronic assistance Award went to Good Morning Good Night, from Mount Maunganui College and Mount Maunganui Intermediate.

For founder and director Glenn Common, the potential of each new round of regional finalists is reflected in a music industry full of past participants.

'It's fascinating for us to look back at success stories like Kimbra, Marlon Williams and Broods where we could see the star factor right back at the regional level,” he says.

'Each event gives a new cohort of bands the opportunity to take their obsession with music and develop the organisational and stagecraft skills that will help them become another Kiwi music success.”

The full list of awards for Bay of Plenty is:

Band 1: Delta - Otumoetai College

Band 2: Elevar - Mount Maunganui College

Band 3: Suds - Otumoetai College

Solo/Duo 1: Louie Campbell from Katikati College

Solo/Duo 2: Bree from Katikati College & Max Harvey from Rotorua Boys' High School, second equal

ZM People's Choice: Vegan Funk Machine - Mount Maunganui College

Rockshop Electronic Performance: Good Morning Good Night - Mount Maunganui College, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Smokefree Best Vocals: Emily Tattersall, Hurley caught a rat - Mount Maunganui College

Musicianship: Jack Hendy, High Resolution - Bethlehem College

Best Song: Vegan Funk Machine - Mount Maunganui College

Smokefreerockquest powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners, including $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 Australasian Performing Right Association Lyric Award, Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, Best Song Award, and Smokefree Vocals Award.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest include Broods, Marlon Williams, Robinson, Fazerdaze, Drax Project, Six60, Leisure, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Die!Die!Die!, Leroy Clampitt, Aldous Harding, 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.