Hastings prepares for Friday's Waiata Maori Music Awards

Rapper Rei, who won Best Video at last year's Waiata Maori Music awards, is nominated this year for Best Maori Urban Rap/R & B/Hip Hop album. Photo / File

This year's Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony will be held in Hastings tomorrow night.

Nominees for 2017 include Stan Walker, Troy Kingi and Grove Roots.

The categories span several genres including pop, reggae, R & B, rap and traditional Maori.

The awards were established by the late composer and teacher Tama Huata in 2007 - this year marks their 10th anniversary.

Organiser Ellison Huata, Mr Huata's daughter, is enthusiastic about the talent on show.

"The calibre of the finalists in our 10th anniversary year is a great testament to the quality and diversity of Maori composers, musicians and performers that we have in Aotearoa," she said.

"The Waiata Maori Music Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate both our traditional and contemporary Maori musical artists."

Singer-songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari will attend the ceremony as the awards' official ambassadors.

Maisey Rika has also been nominated for Best Maori Female Solo Artist, Best Song by a Maori Artist, Best Maori Songwriter, Best Maori Pop Album and Best Maori Traditional Album.

Previous winners have included Dunedin band Six60 and this year's ambassador, Rob Ruha.

Grove Roots and Toni Huata have each been nominated for four awards, Teeks for three, and Troy KIngi received two nominations.

Soul singer Teeks won an Emerging Artist Award in 2015.

Although finalists and winners have come from all over the country, the ceremony has always been held in Hastings.

It is at Club Hastings at 7pm tomorrow, September 15. Phone (06) 873-0041 or email awards.wma@xtra.co.nz for tickets.

Finalists

Best Maori traditional album
Hikoikoi, Grove Roots
Auaha, Auaha
Tira, Maisey Rika

Best Maori Urban Rap/R & B/Hip Hop Album
Me, My Selfie and Ice Pro, Taipari Waaka
A Place to Stand, Rei
4108sis, Rugged and Wylde
AvonTales, Melowdownz

Best Maori Urban Roots/Reggae Album
Grove Roots, Grove Roots
Dance Hall Vol 1, Israel Starr
Love Not War, NLC

Best Maori Pop Album
Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach, Troy Kingi
Written in the Stars, Maaka Fiso
Tira, Maisey Rika

Best Maori Male Solo Artist
Troy Kingi
Maaka Fiso
Teeks
Seth Haapu

Best Maori Female Solo Artist
Toni Huata
Pianika Duncan
Maisey Rika

Best Song by a Maori Artist
Written in the Stars, Maaka Fiso
Never be Apart, Teeks
Te Kura, Grove Roots
Mohaka, Toni Huata
Taku Mana, Maisey Rika

Best Maori Songwriter
Maaka Fiso
Teeks
Grove Roots
Toni Huata
Maisey Rika

Best Video by a Maori Artist
Lost Soul, Vallkyrie
Ru ana te Whenua, Alien Weaponry
New Take Over, Stan Walker
If Only, Teeks
Wairua, Maimoa