Teeks told his followers he was "glad I didn't win" after the ashes of Headless Chickens member Grant Fell were scattered on stage.
He wrote: "First time I'm glad I didn't win an award. Wouldn't have gotten on stage with those ashes under my feet. Huge congrats to Aldous, still extremely humbled to have been nominated don't get me wrong, but I was raised in a culture where that shit isn't ok."
He followed up that tweet by saying he didn't want his opinion to "diminish" the night.
The government website Te Ara says "Maori and Pacific Island peoples often object to cremation because of their beliefs about the sanctity of the body".
Fell's ashes were scattered by Headless Chickens front man Chris Matthews in the middle of the ceremony as the band accepted the Classic Record award for their 1988 debut Stunt Clown.
Fell died in January at the age of 56 after battling cancer.
As the ashes were scattered, another band member pretended to snort them, then started coughing. As they erupted with laughter, Matthews asked him: "Did you inhale Grant?"
Speaking to Radio NZ, band member Rupert Taylor said scattering Fell's ashes on stage was organised by his wife Rachael Churchward.
Taylor called the moment a "surprise" and a "beautiful thing".
"I was thrilled. I felt like he was there with us and it was a total magic moment for me. I waved his ashes into my face and all over my workshop suit and it was a surprise and it should happened. He should have been there with us," Taylor said.
"His wife supplied the ashes. It was a total surprise to me and it was absolutely wonderful and magical."
When asked if he understood how some could take offence, he said he respected those views but called it a "family" issue.
"We are family and for Rachael, who is part Maori, to do that was an amazing thing. It was a beautiful thing ... Don't be upset by it. It was pure and a gorgeous moment.
"We loved Grant Fell so much, so it was lovely to have his wife do that for us on this important night."
In a statement, Independent Music New Zealand and Auckland Live said they were "unaware of plans to scatter the ashes of the late Grant Fell from the Headless Chickens during the Taite Music Prize.
They continued: "This was not scripted into the ceremony. Tangata whenua have been consulted and will be performing a blessing at The Wintergarden in the coming days."