The Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA) took place at the Viaduct Events Centre, marking a grand finale to New Zealand Music Month. This event was the first AMA gathering since November 2022, celebrating a diverse range of winners.
Indie band The Beths won the prestigious Spotify Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for their third album, “Expert In A Dying Field.” They also took home Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group. Avantdale Bowling Club’s song “Friday Night @ The Liquor Store” won Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year.
Marlon Williams was awarded Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for his album “My Boy,” which also earned Tom Healy & Alexandra Corbett the award for Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer. TAWAZ won both Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist and Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo for the song “He Aho.”
JD Sports Tā te Iwi | People’s Choice went to newcomer Hori Shaw, while COTERIE won Radio BurgerFuel Te Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year and had six singles in the NZ Top 20 during the eligibility period. Corrella’s “Blue Eyed Māori” won Te Tino Waiata ā-Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Single of the Year and Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist.
Stan Walker received the first-ever Te Manu Mātārae award for his impactful single “I AM,” written for the film “Origin.” Country artist Kaylee Bell won Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Artist and was also recognized with a Te Manu Mātārae award for her global success.
Aaradhna, returning to the music scene, won Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist for her single “SHE.” Princess Chelsea was awarded Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist. Home Brew took Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist, and Haz Beats won Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer.
Georgia Lines, the 2022 Breakthrough Artist, won Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist, while Amamelia was named Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist. Folk legend Adam McGrath won Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist, and Racing won Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist.
Lily Paris West won Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Mermaidens’ eponymous LP. Myele Manzanza received Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist, and the New Zealand String Quartet won Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist.
Six60 secured NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Hokona | Highest Selling Artist, and L.A.B won NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year. Dame Hinewehi Mohi was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, with a tribute performance featuring various artists.
The event, co-hosted by Jesse Mulligan and Kara Rickard, was livestreamed by Radio New Zealand and will be available on TVNZ+ from May 31.
