Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats

Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats aim to inspire young musicians to see where they can go with their music careers and encourage their peers to support original music made in Aotearoa. 

These competitions provide opportunities for young musicians to showcase their talents live in their regions and, if successful, at the national finals.

The Smokefreerockquest stage has hosted the original songs of rangatahi since 1989, with live performances in more than 40 events around the country. Today, two-thirds of secondary schools in Aotearoa participate in the competition throughout 23 regions, with audience numbers exceeding 10,000 every year.  

2024 saw highest ever number of students and schools participate, giving it the biggest competitive edge we’ve ever seen. Check out some of the webisodes on Instagram.

Smokefree Tangata Beats focuses on music that reflects our unique cultural identity in Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. This competition explores and celebrates the ways Māori and Pacific identities, cultures, styles, actions, flavours and topics can be woven into contemporary music through writing, language and sound. 

Smokefree continues to support Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats to:

• engage with youth in a meaningful way
• empower youth to make positive choices about their wellbeing
• encourage youth connectedness, a protective factor in preventing youth from starting to smoke
• promote being smokefree as part of the New Zealand way of life.

Get involved

• Check out how to get involved in Smokefreerockquest and stay up to date with the competitions on the Smokefreerockquest Facebook page.
• Find out more about Smokefree Tangata Beats and follow them on Facebook for the latest photos and videos.