Local songwriting competition winner announced

Jasmine Pene performing during NZ Music Month at the Rotorua Night Market last year.

Rotorua's Jasmine Pene has won the inaugural Te Manu Tito Waiata Rotorua Song Writing Competition.

Jasmine won, ahead of 12 other entries, receiving a $1000 prize for her song Your mind is the Garden.

Throughout May, during New Zealand Music Month, locals had the opportunity to enter the first Te Manu Tito Waiata Rotorua Song Writing Competition.

After graduating from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology only last year Jasmine says it's a massive honour and privilege to have her song chosen.

'I am pretty new to the music scene but I am excited to develop my music and turn my passion into a profession.

'The song is about self-love. By thinking good thoughts, you can have a better future for yourself. You have the choice and power to decide," she says.

The chorus of Your Mind is the Garden perfectly reflects those thoughts;

Your mind is the garden

and your thoughts are the seeds

you can grow flowers or you can grow weeds

Last year Jasmine performed alongside Lewis Baker at a NZ Music Month performance at the Rotorua Night Market.

The tough job of judging the 13 entries fell to well-known local performers Jack Grace, Noel Lamberton and district counsellor Mercia Yates.

"Kai tawhiti kē koutou katoa. These were extraordinary submissions and this year's winner, whose mindset grew her garden to fruition, certainly realised her dream”, says Mercia.

The judges felt like two other songs required recognition and gave Highly Commended awards to Rob Desian for his song Nervous and to the songwriting team behind the song I've Been Waiting, who included Te Ara Pounamu Pukeroa, Totorewa Malcolm, Uale Lefaoseu and Terrence Katipa.

The two highly commended songs will receive $100 Rock Shop voucher each.

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