New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards

New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, the leading country music festival of New Zealand has drawn tourists since 1974 all over the world and continue to attract larger populace every year with the popularity growing manifold. This illustrious event gives a boost to the talents of the budding singers and amateur musicians. This prestigious New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards has helped to launch many professional careers. Some of the feted Musicians and singers of New Zealand and Australia who have hailed from this event and gained national and international recognition are Noel Parlane, Patsy Riggir, the Warratahs, Kylie Harris and Bob Mason. Other illustrious song writers are
Winning the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards has been a significant stepping stone for some of New Zealand's and Australia's most outstanding Country Music artists. Singers such as & the Apache and songwriters such as Ian Betteridge, Jeff Rea, Rosy Parsons, Joy Adams ,Allan Barron, Eddie Low, McTaggart and Judy Terry Gavin.

It all started in the year 1974 when a group called Country Style Promotions awarded the Gold Guitar Trophy to the Gore Country Music Club to be competed for at an annual Gold Guitar Awards. There were only 38 entries competing for the 1974 Gold Guitar Award at the one-day occasion in the James Cumming Wing, Gore. The first Gold Guitar Award winner was Patsy Riggir, a young singer from Putarura.

Currently the ten day festival that is held in various venues in Gore Town and Country stadium consists of the Gold Guitar Queens contest, New Zealand Line Dancing Championships, the Gold Guitar Queens contest, a Mardi Gras, a song writing contest and the International Showcase.