About Girls Rock!

Girls Rock offer holiday programmes for young women, trans, intersex, takatāpui, queer and gender-diverse youth where music is the medium to build confidence, empowerment and foster social change. Youth between the ages of 12-17 years will form bands, learn instruments, attend workshops and write an original song to be performed at a concert for friends and family.

The Pathways programme offers collaborative workshops and mentorship for youth aged 16-19 developing our next generation of To The Front organisers.

1. To help young women, and/or intersex, trans, takatāpui, queer and gender diverse youth build confidence and practical skills in songwriting and music through tutoring and practice.

2. To utilise the talent of local songwriters and music-makers to help mentor and guide participants.

3. To educate young people through talks and collaborative workshops on songwriting, design, feminism and wellbeing.

OUR IMPACT

We’ve had a fantastic year at Girls Rock Aotearoa with our To the Front and Pathways programmes.

Check out our 2023 Impact Report to learn all about what we do at Girls Rock Aotearoa!

Rachel Ashby

(She/Her)

Events and Pathways Coordinator

Rachel Ashby is a broadcaster, music journalist and arts writer based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Since 2019 she has been the host of the 95bFM Breakfast Show and previously presented the station’s dedicated arts and culture programme ‘Artbank’. Rachel is passionate about helping young people find their place in Aotearoa’s weird and wonderful creative communities. She has been part of the Girls Rock whānau since 2020 and grew up in quake city Ōtautahi.

Brooke Singer

Board member & Coordinator – Pōneke

Brooke Singer is a musician who is involved in many aspects of the NZ music industry as an educator, publicist, and label co-ordinator but primarily as a songwriter and performer. She has been involved with Girls Rock! Aotearoa since 2018 when she participated as a band mentor, and found it to be an inspiring and rewarding experience. She now assists with the organisation of Girls Rock! Poneke events. In her spare time you’ll find her walking to the far reaches of Poneke’s hilltops and beaches, drinking tea and patting the neighbourhood cats.

Leea Lamatoa

Programme Director Tāmaki Makaurau

Leea is a passionate musician and songwriter with particular interest in the weird and wonderful things the voice can do and helps others to explore their own voice across Tāmaki Makaurau. Leea has been involved in Girls rock since 2019 as a mentor, organiser coordinator and is now the Kaiarahi for To The Front Tāmaki Makaurau. When she is not making music, you can find her playing arcade games and patting neighbourhood cats.

Nicole Gaffney

(She/Her)

Treasurer & Programme Director Te Papaioea

Nicole Gaffney has been a part of Girls Rock since its inception and has been a coordinator and mentor in Aotearoa and Australia. She is a registered teacher and part time youth worker. She is based in Whanganui with her dog Remi, supporting the lower North Island To the Front programmes in Wellington and Palmerston North. Nicole has been playing music since she was a tween and has DIY toured around the world playing music.

Ciara Bernstein

Events and Pathways coordinator

Ciara is a multi-talented musician, producer, and audio engineer. She is the co-owner and operator of The Vault, a rehearsal, recording and event space in Tāmakai Makaurau. The Vault has become a multi-dimensional community hub for local artists and musicians, providing a platform for both established and emerging talent to showcase and develop their work. Ciara has played in almost a dozen bands over the past 8 years, giving her the opportunity to tour in Aotearoa extensively, as well as the UK, Australia, USA and South Africa.

Kelsi Stroud 

Programme Director Pōneke

Kelsi had been a part of the Pōneke team for 5 windy winters and is now Kaiārahi of the region. In their spare time Kelsi plays punk music with their friends and performs as much as possible.