Competition founder and director Glenn Common said the heats provided a "supportive atmosphere" for bands and soloists and duos to perform a song they had created themselves for an audience of their peers, invited friends and families".
"To perform live on stage is a great boost in confidence," Mr Common said.
"It requires a lot of skills and not just musical ability."
He said for many it would be their first live performance while some may have been working towards this moment for several years.
Mr Common said the event was about getting the opportunity to perform live rather than just all about winning.
For those who make the cut the next step, where the public can get their chance to see them, will be at the Hawke's Bay regional finals at Napier Municipal Theatre on Saturday night, June 7.
The national final will be in Auckland on Saturday, September 2.
Mr Common said he was already impressed by the inventiveness of bands in the name department.
Bands like Spoken Static from Havelock North High School, Elephant Room from Napier Boys' High School and Trash and the Boiis from Flaxmere College.
The competition boasts an impressive list of artists who started out being a part of it in their students years, and who went on to create impressive waves in the music business.
Artists such as Ladyhawke, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Midnight Youth, Phoenix Foundation, Big Runga, The Black Seeds and Opshop are among the successes through the Smokefreerockquest years.
The event, which is supported by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a Decent Exposure campaign on The Edge TV, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.
There is also the MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, and the People's Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.