The winners of the Matariki Rhythmz

YPT is pleased to announce the winners of the Matariki Rhythmz finals 2016.

Held at the Vodafone Events Centre on Saturday 9th July, the finals event saw a number of finalists selected from a heats competition held two weeks ago. The heats competition attracted a number of entrants from high schools across the Auckland region and even as far as Whangarei (Waipu).

This was the first year this music and dance event with cultural flavours has been held and YPT is looking forward to seeing it grow from here.

Matariki Rhythmz is a celebration of the time of Matariki Rising as well as celebrating Polynesian culture within Aotearoa. The participants in the competition definitely brought both aspects with them showing aptitude not only for composing to a theme (Matariki) but also for incorporating Polynesian lyrics and instrumentation within their works. The time of Matariki Rising marks the new year in Aotearoa.

YPT would like to congratulate all the participants who have taken part in Matariki Rhythmz both in the heats phase and the finals.

The winners of Matariki Rhythmz 2016 are:

Best Native Reo Award – Alien Weaponry (Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School)
Best Lyrics Award – Melodies (Manurewa HS)
Best Vocals Award – Teejay Nanai – Doubt It (Otahuhu College)
MAINZ Musicianship Award – Deez Coconuts (Manurewa HS)
Best Solo Award – Sipaia (Manurewa HS)
Best Band Award – Jubilee (Aorere College)

The best solo/duo and best band awardees will have their tracks recorded in a professional studio – Roundhead Studios – while the MAINZ Best Musicianship Awardee will receive a scholarship with MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of NZ). All awardees received cash prizes on the night.

The night was MC’d by YPT’s youth ambassadors Olly Coddington and Lavinia ‘Uhila while DJ Poroufessor rocked the beats on the floor. The judges for Matariki Rhythmz 2016 were Kiwi popstar and radio host K’Lee, bass player Junior Nansen and well known actor/director Tammy Davis.

Freshman’s Dance Crew also featured prominently during the night and premiered a brand new dance work at the event called ‘Vaka Moana’.

Matariki Rhythmz 2016 is part of Auckland Council’s Matariki Festival and is supported by:

Auckland Council, Creative NZ, MAINZ, Te Puni Kokiri, Health Promotion Agency, DANZ, Roundhead Studios, and the New Zealand Music Commission.

ENDS

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