Matariki Star Search returns to Rotorua

Last year's Matariki Star Search winner Promise Royal. Photo/file

One of Rotorua's premier events for talented youth, Matariki Star Search, is back promising to be bigger and better than last year.

Organised by Nga Pumanawa e Waru and Rotorua Library, Matariki Star Search 2017 is open to singers, dancers and performers aged from 8-18 years living in the Rotorua district.

Prizes include a $1000 Noel Leeming voucher for the winner and $500 vouchers for the runner-up in each of the three categories.

A $250 Noel Leeming voucher will also go to the People's Choice Award winner on the night of the finale.

"The talent among youth in Rotorua is outstanding and Matariki Star Search gives our young people competition and stage experience, exposure and the chance to shine," Matariki Star Search organiser Te Aroha Rangi said.

New categories have been added this year and individuals, duos and groups can enter in singing, dance or nga mahi a rehia o te ao (global performing arts) categories.

Dance has been added, given the strength of dance performances seen in last year's finale with Madelyn Skilton receiving a highly commended and Promyss Pitman taking out the People's Choice Award for 2016.

The Nga mahi a Rehia category has been extended to include performing arts that draw on cultural traditions from anywhere in the world, including Maori and Pasifika performing arts.

As well as receiving vouchers to spend on digital equipment, winners will also have their names engraved on the Matariki Star Search trophies held at Rotorua Library.

This year's winners will join the likes of Promise Royal and Rhodesia Boyz, Marangai Wainohu-Savage, Manunui Te Rangi and Potaua Tule-Morgan, who took out the Performance and Nga mahi a Rehia category in 2016.

Following on from her success at Matariki Star Search, Promise Royal has performed at the Rotorua GLO Festival, sung the national anthem at the Bayleys National Sevens women's final and been a guest singer at the 2016 Rotorua Hospitality Awards and the Trustpower National Community awards held in Rotorua in March.

She has modelled at New Zealand Fashion Week and been selected as a model for Rotorua designer Kharl WiRepa at the Pacific Runway in Sydney in October.

Entries for Matariki Star Search 2017 are now open and close May 22. Auditions will be held between June 6 and 15 at Rotorua Library and the finale will be at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday July 19.

For entry forms and further information go to www.rotorualibrary.govt.nz or npew.org.