The 2017 Far North's Got Talent organisers promised the stars would come out at Te Ahu on Saturday, and so they did.
An ivory-tickling duo, a Stevie Wonder-inspired songstress, a fresh hip-hop crew and an ethereal dance troupe were among those who shone the brightest, but pint-sized Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rangi student Kapowairua Waitai owned the stage the moment she appeared in her cut-off denims and specially braided hair, her enormous voice making no race of the junior section with her flawless rendition of the soul classic Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing.
Runner-up was vocalist Te Koha Shortland (Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro) and third country and western crooner Kees Cherrington (Paparore).
![Senior winners Marama McCloud and Bowen Matthews, who have only been performing together for a few weeks.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/AG5JZ3UM6WPSHJ6O5N7GYGXS2E.jpg?auth=421eb00407307a27c836abf53e9523e8d4801fafab23bef9300a07325b3558d1&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Meanwhile, swathed in black, blood red velvet and Doc Marten boots, Taipa Area School's Bowen Matthews and Marama McCloud stunned the audience into silence with a moving three-part piano medley. They were a little surprised to win the senior title, however, given they had only been performing together for a month, and had entered the competition simply to show what they could do.