Once again, country music artists from around New Zealand will be competing for prizes at the prestigious NZ Country Music Star Awards being held in Tauranga at Labour Weekend.

Previous winners have used their win at the NZ Country Music Star Awards as a stepping stone to launch successful singing careers, both in New Zealand and Australia, with Dennis Marsh and Mike Roycroft making a name for themselves in the entertainment industry.

Coopers Run: Michael Tipping and his wife Ashley. Photo: Supplied.

On offer is a total prize pool of $6700, with contestants competing in various groups and categories.

Auditions started yesterday, where the highest scoring acts were selected to appear on the Premier Finals Concert, to be held at the Bethlehem College of Performing Arts commencing at 1pm today.

Next year the current NZCM Star Awards Committee will be handing the reins over to a new-look committee to be led by Michael Tipping. Michael and his wife Ashley are well-known country entertainers and recording artists Coopers Run (pictured).

NZ Country Music Star Awards convenor Merv McEnteer says, 'We have been fortunate in securing the services of Bacchus showband, and we will have guitarist and vocalist extraordinaire Lance Murch to entertain us with a guest spot at the Premier Finals Concert.”

Tickets can be purchased at the door: $25 for adults or $20 if you produce your TECT card. Come along, support and applaud the emergence of New Zealand's up and coming country music stars of the future.