Singer songwriters are being call on to show their talents at an Eastern Bay of Plenty music event which also asks them to bring an anti-violence message to their region.

The ‘Yeah, Nah, It's Not OK' song quest is back again this year with registrations now open to 13 to 18 year olds in two categories: a group entry with up to 10 members, or a solo entry.

Those musically-talented are being called on to enter the Eastern Bay's ‘Yeah, Nah, It's Not OK' song quest this month.

Organising committee chair and Family Works' Family Violence Response coordinator Helen Holt says entrants compose a song with a violence-free message, and perform it before an audience and a panel of judges.

'We hope this year's event is bigger and better than ever,” says Helen.

'I hope we can expand the song quest into the Western Bay of Plenty and eventually take in nationwide, as the message promoted is so important for people everywhere.”

The song quest finals will be held at the Liberty Centre in Whakatane on Saturday, August 30.

The overall winner receives recording time at a local studio; and their song will be played on local radio with potential for a national radio audience.

Other prizes will be awarded for best words, best musical arrangement and the best presented entrant.

Helen says the aim of the song quest is to raise awareness and provide information about family violence to young people.

'It allows teenagers to help inform their community about the issue in a fun and creative way.”

The song quest – which is a combined initiative of the It's not OK campaign and Family Works Northern, and organised by the Family Safety Events Committee – was won last year by Manawa Toa with their song ‘Take This Away'.

Family Works Northern provides social services for more than 15,000 children and their families in the upper North Island each year – about 40 people every day – as part of Presbyterian Support Northern.

In Whakatane, Family Works provides social work and counselling, parenting support programmes, social workers in schools, group programmes for women and children affected by violence, a family Violence Response coordinator, and strengthening Families coordination and facilitation.

Knox Presbyterian Church and the Whakatane District Creative Communities Scheme are also kindly supporting this year's event.

To register, please contact Helen Holt at helen.holt@fwn.org.nz or 027 563 1077.