New Zealand's nationwide, live, original music, youth event giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Northland to Southland.
Smokefreerockquest 2022, powered by Rockshop, aims to motivate young musicians to strive for success, to realise the opportunities available in music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand Music.
The founders Glenn Common and Pete Rainey were honoured with the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013, and the Taite Music Independent Spirit award in 2021. They continue to lead the team that now runs this New Zealand institution.
Rockquest Promotions has grown considerably since its beginning 34 years ago.
The company is an Aotearoa owned and operated organisation that exists to serve creative youth and their communities. The team, spread over Nelson and Auckland, is committed to creating opportunities for rangatahi nationwide to participate in a high-quality arts experience and develop their skills.
Alongside Smokefreerockquest, the team at Rockquest Promotions also runs Smokefree Tangata Beats, Rockshop Bandquest, Showquest, Toi, OnScreen, and Stills.
Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. Now in its 34th year, the series of over 40 events reaches audience numbers in excess of 10,000 every year.
Founded in 1989 by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, Smokefreerockquest has now become a New Zealand institution.
Smokefreerockquest aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand music.
Director / Co-founder
This year - friends and whānau can watch the performances either live from the audience, or remotely via live stream on this website.
Tickets for audience members are door sales only, and will be on sale from 30 min before the first act of the day. Prices are $10 for Students, $15 for Adults. (Children 5 years and under - no charge)
Region
Region
Heat Date
We’ve been talking to a bunch of amazing NZ artists about their musical journey and songwriting process. They have generously shared their knowledge, experience, tips and advice.
We are always adding to our collection of artist profiles - from the likes of No Comply, Tomorrow People, Kaylee Bell, There's A Tuesday & heaps more! These profiles are written by the artist especially for YOU - the Smokefreerockquest participants and next generation of musicans!
Covid-19 over the past two years has become an everyday consideration for us all, and will be something we are all thinking about as we move into the event season.
Vaccine passes
In regards to vaccine passes for 2022 - our entry process reflects the latest regulations, which is currently that any student enrolled at a registered school is exempt from vaccine requirements when participating in school related activities. We will not be requiring vaccine passports for Smokefreerockquest or Smokefree Tangata Beats entrants enrolled in registered schools.
Although not required in Orange or Green in the COVID-19 Protection Framework, if we return to Red, Teachers or support crew accompanying the band may be required to show their vaccine passport when entering the venue.
Audiences
Your friends and whānau can watch you perform either live from the audience if your region is still in Orange or Green in the COVID-19 Protection Framework, or remotely via livestream on the Smokefreerockquest website.
Mask wearing (when not performing) is encouraged.
There are many moving parts, and we appreciate your understanding and patience while we continue to adapt alongside the New Zealand Government guidelines.
As always - if you have any questions, send us an email at help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz
We are extremely grateful for our wonderful sponsors.
Without them, Smokefreerockquest would not be possible.
EHARA KOE I A IA!
We’d love to hear from you:
Instagram - @rockquest
Facebook - @rockquest
YouTube - @rockquest
Email us – help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz
Phone us – (03) 545 6574
Write to us – PO Box 568, Nelson
1. All contestants must be enrolled in and attend a school for at least 15 hours a week. If you leave school during the course of the competition, you become ineligible to continue. You can change schools during the competition. (School means secondary, area, intermediate, primary or correspondence school.)
2. All contestants must be no older than 19 (nineteen) years of age on 5th May 2022
(You may be asked to supply proof of eligibility).
3. Smokefreerockquest is for unsigned bands and individuals only. No contestant/s can sign a recording or Management contract prior to or during the competition without the prior written approval of Rockquest Promotions Ltd.
4. A student can only enter in a maximum of one Smokefreerockquest band AND/OR one Solo/duo.
Entries open 7 March and close on 5 May 2022
. You need to have completed the online registration form by this date
Click here – Terms and Conditions
You CANNOT enter in more than one band, or more than one Solo/duo act - but you CAN enter in a band and as a solo/duo – just one of each.
If you’re planning on entering in both categories, you’ll need to enter in the ‘online’ solo-duo region.
You can add a band member, but you will need new forms to be signed off by your principal/HOD, and guardian. Changing band members can only be done before you compete in your regional heat. Email us at help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz for the new forms, and give us a call at (03) 545 6574 to let us know what’s happening. Please note that this can’t be done via the online entry process.
You need to let us know as soon as possible. There are various options available, depending on what stage of the competition it happens. You can always perform without them, but you can only replace them prior to your first performance in the competition. Changing schools is not a problem, but you will still need to contact us.
Contact us at help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz or (03) 545 6574.
Up until you have competed in your regional heat you can change your acts name by emailing us at help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz.
This can cause confusion and admin for our team though, so we do encourage you to pick your name carefully in the first place and then stick with it throughout.
Contact us at help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz or (03) 545 657.
Nope! Lyrics are viewed as their own thing entirely and don’t HAVE to be performed in any of the Smokefreerockquest video entries. They don’t even have to be written by someone entered in an act performing, as long as they are at school!
If there is something we can do to make an event more accessible for you (such as ensuring wheelchair access, providing a sign language interpreter, or reserving seats closer to the front for low visually impaired attendees) - please send us an email to help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz or give us a call on (03) 545 6574
.
There is a notes section on the entry form where this information can also be submitted to our team. Please let us know at least 3 weeks before an event to ensure the needed arrangements can be made.