Rotorua teenager Tino Pai Daniela has won Te Arawa Whānau Ora’s Toitū singer/songwriter competition.
As well as requiring the 12 contestants to write and perform a song on the theme of smoking and vaping, not our future, Toitu also included a 12-week leadership programme.
Organiser Selwyn Lloyd says there were prizes for composition, legacy, advocacy, te reo Maori, as well as the $5000 top prize.
“We looked at their identity, we looked at educating them in different fields – marketing, how to sell themselves, how to advocate for different kaupapa so it was a very long journey but it was worth it in the end,” he says.
Te Arawa Whānau Ora is concerned at the prevalence of vaping among rangatahi in Rotorua.
