"It was a huge event. When it came to the finals, the stadium was full so Shamika was certainly nervous before going on stage, however once she started singing you couldn't see any nerves."
Winning the Ivan Lea Memorial Trophy - open to all entrants aged 18 and under won Shamika a recording package worth $500 and the trophy. The winner is selected by the conveners, and Maree says Shamika is delighted with the win.
"It shows how good she is, and she was certainly a popular choice for it. Some members of the audience where wiping away tears when she sang at times, and one couple came up to her saying they would eat their hats if she didn't win her categories!"
Shamika and her mother already have a CD to be released before Christmas, titled Singing with Angels, featuring Shamika on her own, a duet with Maree, and Maree has 12 solos.
A highlight of the competition over Labour Weekend at Tauranga's Bethlehem College, was catching up with George and Jocelyn Tuahine, who have mentored Shamika.
The couple help run the Riverside Music Club and are organising the inaugural Taranaki Country Music Festival in Waitara next February.
Shamika will be performing at the event.