Strath Taieri School teacher Casey Kennett (26) and University of Otago music student Teisha Seymour (20) are the only Kiwis selected to compete in the 2015 Gympie Muster Talent Search, from hundreds of online auditions from across Australia and New Zealand.
''It's amazing - very exciting. We feel very honoured to be part of it,'' Miss Kennett said.
The competition, to be held near Brisbane from August 27-30, is billed as being an event that can establish music careers.
That is because there is a $30,000 prize pool, which equates to an EP recording contract with professional mentoring, she said.
''It's the step before a record label. It's a big prize.''
Miss Kennett said the duo had been singing together for the past four and a-half years, and met as members of the Silver Peaks Country Music Club.
Their friendship grew into a musical partnership, she said.
During the past year, the duo had been working hard, giving concert performances almost every weekend at venues from Christchurch to Invercargill.
''We're hoping to make a big impact over there.
''We're out to win it.''
The competition is part of the Gympie Music Muster - one of Australia's largest outdoor music festivals.
Thousands of country music fans flock to the event every year for the diverse programmes, rich with Australia's finest folk, bluegrass, ballad, gospel and blues musicians.
