SmokeFree Rock Quest Napier
The Smokefreerockquest is one of New Zealand's most cherished youth music competitions, and one with a history that runs deep. Founded in 1990, it has grown over more than three decades into the country's largest original music competition for young people, discovering and nurturing generations of New Zealand musical talent along the way. Many of the artists who have gone on to define New Zealand music cut their teeth on the Rockquest stage, and the competition remains as vital and relevant today as it has ever been.
Being asked to photograph the Smokefreerockquest Napier heats at the iconic Toi Toi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre was something I jumped at immediately. Toi Toi is one of the Bay's great cultural venues — a world-class facility that has hosted everything from international touring productions to community events, and it provided the perfect backdrop for a night of raw, passionate, original music from some of Hawke's Bay's most talented young performers.
As a Hawke's Bay event photographer it was a shoot that took me straight back to my roots. Long before commercial photography, I was photographing bands for a fanzine I produced myself — shooting on film and assembling the finished product on a photocopier. There's something about live music photography that never loses its energy, and capturing young musicians pouring everything they have into an original performance brought all of that back.
What struck me most on the night was the sheer breadth of talent on display from right across Hawke's Bay — bands and duos showcasing their songwriting, musicianship, and performance skills in front of a genuinely enthusiastic crowd. As a Hawke's Bay commercial photographer, and as a dad of younger children, watching young people channel their energy into something this positive and creative made me genuinely hopeful for the future.
If you're an events organisation, arts body, or venue in Hawke's Bay looking for an event photographer who brings real passion and experience to live and cultural events, I'd love to hear from you.
