Howick College punk trio Minimal Silence took out the national final of Smokefree Rockquest on Saturday night.
Bass player and vocalist Logan Anderson, guitarist Sabastian Munro, and drummer Mark Tohovaka have been together for four years and competed in three Smokefree Rockquest competitions - though Logan said they were still all very nervous.
"When we didn't get announced as second placed we thought we had missed out - it was awesome to come first."
They plan to stay together as a band when they leave school at end of this year, with Logan and Mark intending to study sound engineering, and Sabastian taking up a trade.
Minimal Silence won $10,000 in musical equipment from the Rockshop, plus an $8,000 recording and music video grant from NZ on Air and a branding package from Imaginary Friends.
Indie-rock four-piece Daffodils from Western Springs College and Kristin School took second place for the second year running, as well as the Lowdown Best Song Award.
The winner of the solo/duo category was Sonatane Kaufusi from Manurewa High School, who sings and plays keyboard and guitar. Second place went to Sam Egli from New Plymouth Boys' High School.
The judges were Chris Mac from Six60, Joe Farris from Ezra Vine, Lani Purkis from Elemeno P and Delete Delete, Stephen Marr from Doprah and Jeff Newton from NZ on Air.
Past successes from Smokefree Rockquest include Broods, Aaradnha, Opshop, Anika Moa and Bic Runga.
Newshub.
