The Waiata Māori Music Awards have honoured a host of new names who are fast on the rise in New Zealand music.
The ceremony took place in Hastings on Friday night and saw Maisey Rika and Troy Kingi lead the pack, picking up four and two awards respectively.
Rika won Best Traditional Māori Album (Te Reo Māori), Best Māori Female Solo Artist, Best Song by a Māori Artist and the Best Māori Songwriter Award. And Kingi took out the awards for Best Māori Pop Artist and the Best Māori Male Solo Artist Award.
Rika said: "I believe the Waiata Māori Awards is a great kaupapa for our cultural identity, as Māori singing in Māori from a Māori perspective makes us unique to the rest of the world. It is our very own special point of difference naturally ingrained into our DNA and strongly influenced by our taiao, taha hinengaro, wairua, tinana.
"The Awards are an awesome platform for all or any of our artists that love and respect our reo Māori and our culture. I will always be here for kaupapa such as the Waiata Māori Awards. I feel at home here, not necessarily because of the Awards but because of the wairua in the room. He tau ngā tangata, he ngakau māhaki e poipoi ana tātau i a tātau."
Other winners included Wellington hip hop artist Rei (aka Callum Rei McDougall) who recently recorded an exclusive live performance with the Herald, in which he covered Not Many by Kiwi hip hop legend Scribe (above). He was named Best Māori Urban Artist on the night.
And two emerging artists were also honoured at the awards: Kaaterama Pou - a singer and member of the Maimoa Music collective - was named Emerging Artist in the Under 25 category while Ohakune-based roots/reggae band Common Unity were awarded in the Over 25 category.
And in more familiar names, Stan Walker's video for New Takeover, which was directed and produced by Shae Sterling, won Best Video by a Māori Artist. And Six 60's Mother's Eyes was named Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist.
The ceremony included performances from Maimoa, Teeks, Seth Haapu - who also recorded an exclusive performance for the Herald which you can see here - Grove Roots, Vallkyrie, Alien Weaponry, Kahurangi Dance Company, Rugged & Wylde and Bella Kalolo who sang a rendition of Bunny Walters' 1970s hit Brandy.
*Watch the full awards ceremony here:
• Best Māori Traditional Album (Te Reo Māori Awards | Tohu - Kōpae Mōteatea Hira
Tira, Maisey Rika
• Best Māori Pop Artist or Artists | Tohu - Kaipūoru Māori Autaia
Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach, Troy Kingi
• Best Māori Urban Artist or Artists | Tohu - Kaipūoru Māori-noho-taone Autaia
A Place to Stand, Rei
• Best Māori Male Solo Artist | Tohu - Manu Tīoriori Tāne Autaia
Troy Kingi
• Best Māori Female Solo Artist | Tohu - Manu Tīoriori Wahine Autaia
Maisey Rika
• Best Song by a Māori Artist | Tohu - Waiata Māori Hira
Taku Mana, Maisey Rika
• Best Māori Songwriter | Tohu - Kaitito Waiata-Māori Autaia
Maisey Rika
• Best Roots, Reggae | Tohu - Kopaeroa Autaia Roots, Reggae
Dance Hall Vol 1, Israel Starr
• Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist in Te Reo Māori | Tohu - Kōpae-Irirangi Kaipūoru Reo Māori o te Tau
Mau Tonu, Amba Holly
• Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist | Tohu - Kōpae- Irirangi Kaipūoru Māori o te Tau
Mother's Eyes, Six 60
• Best Video of the Year by a Māori Artist | Tohu - Ataata Māori Hira o te Tau
New Take Over, Stan Walker
• Iconic - Keeper of Traditions | Tohu - Kaitiaki Tikanga Pūoru
Kiritokia Ete Tomairangi Paki
• Iconic - Music Industry Award | Tohu - Ahumahi Pūoru
Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters
• Iconic - Music Composers Award (Historical) | Tohu - Te Puna o te ki o Nehe
Canon Wi Te Tau Huata
• Emerging Artist (Under 25) | Tohu - Kaipūoro Hau - Rangatahi
Kaaterama Pou
• Emerging Artist (over 25) | Tohu - Kaipūoro Hau - Pakeke
Common Unity