Bay of Plenty musicians have claimed two major honours at the 2026 Smokefreerockquest national finals.

Bethlehem College band Go Getter finished second in the national band competition and Pāpāmoa College singer-songwriter Stella Riley won the prestigious Wright Family Foundation Best Song Award.

The achievements capped an outstanding year for Bay performers at New Zealand’s premier youth music competition, in which more than 1100 acts and 3700 student performers competed nationwide.

Go Getter get $5000 worth of musical equipment from the Rockshop for coming second.

The band also picked up the Sapiens Content Creator Award, which includes a social media mentoring package and content shoot.

Riley impressed judges with her original song Sober, winning as part of the solo/duo competition and earning the opportunity to professionally record the track.

Pāpāmoa College singer-songwriter Stella Riley.

Judge Raegan White said Riley’s song stood out from the moment she first heard it during the regional heats.

“Stella Riley’s song Sober is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard through Smokefreerockquest. It’s radio-ready.

“It has really stuck with me ever since I heard it at regional heats.”

This year’s national finals were held in Wellington for the first time in more than two decades, with finalists performing on the Great Hall stage at Massey University.

The solo/duo title went to Lily Moore from Havelock North High School on September 17, while Northland punk rock band Fork, from Bream Bay College, claimed the national band title the following night.

Both winners received NZ On Air recording, video and promotion packages valued at $10,000, with musical equipment prizes from the Rockshop.

Bay of Plenty talent was further recognised when Te Puke High School student Anna King won the APRA Lyric Award and its accompanying $500 cash prize.

Founded in 1988 by Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, Smokefreerockquest has helped launch the careers of some of New Zealand’s most successful musicians, including Six60, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, Bic Runga, Marlon Williams and Drax Project.

Competition organisers said this year’s finalists represented the best emerging young talent in the country after progressing through a series of regional heats and live events stretching from the Far North to Southland.