Rotorua Band Kotahi Te Rฤ Crowned Champions of Smokefree Tangata Beats 2025
Rotorua band Kotahi te Rฤ has taken the top prize at the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats, a platform for emerging young musicians reflecting the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealandโ and the South Pacific. The band,comprised of โขWebster on drums,Te Ariki Rogers on bass,Te Irimana Edmunds on guitar,and vocalists Teโค Rauna Webster-Tarei and Te Umairangi Webster-Tarei,whoseโข members trace lineage to Te Arawa,Tลซhoe,Teโฃ Whฤnau-ฤ-Apanui,and Ngฤpuhi,impressed judges with their clear identity and technical skill.
Judge Jeff Newton describedโ Kotahi te Rฤ as the “most realised” band of โคthe competition,โฃ noting, “They had a very clear identity and theyโ knew who they wereโฃ and what they stoodโค for. Technically, they were โขone of the most sound acts of the night.”
The band members expressed their excitement, stating, “It feels good to win, โwe’re proud of ourselves. We just came to jam and have fun, and to shareโฃ the message of our songs.โค Its about to raise up and have a voice. We want to โdemonstrate to the younger generation that you don’t have to be heard just through kaupapa haka. It might very well be other things like theater, music, whatever your passion is.”
Kotahi Te Rฤ secured $3000 in musical equipment from Rockshop and an $8000 New Music Single grant from NZ On Air to record a single, film a โฃmusic video, and promote the release.โ
Mana whenua from Tamatea โขcollege and flaxmere College in Hawke’s Bay placed second in the band category, receiving $1500โค in Rockshop equipment.Levol โขY from Manurewa High School in Auckland was named the winning solo/duo act for 2025.
Smokefree Tangata beats, run alongside Smokefreerockquest, has a provenโฃ track record of โlaunching accomplished musical careers.Past participants include Ria Hall, spacifix, Adeaze, strangely Arousing, โAlienโฃ Weaponry, and โฃNesian Mystik – theโฃ latter being โฃthe only Aotearoa band to achieve 10 gold or platinum-certified โsingles.