Aotearoa Music Award for Best Māori Artist

Best Māori Artist is an Aotearoa Music Award that honours New Zealand music artists for outstanding recordings which reflect a unique Maori identity and/or are an expression of an artist’s Maori culture. The nominated work can be in te reo Maori, English or be bilingual.[1] The award is presented annually at the New Zealand Music Awards where the winner receives a Tui trophy.

The award was established in 1992 as Best Maori Album, however it was soon criticised for being too broad. The category was withdrawn in 1994 and 1995, and relaunched in 1996 as two separate categories: Best Mana Maori Album and Best Mana Reo Album. From 2004, the award reverted to only the Best Maori Album category.[2] In 2017 the award was changed to Best Maori Artist with the entry criteria changed to require either an album or a minimum of five single releases in the eligibility period. [3] The award was not presented in 2005, 2009 and 2010 due to insufficient entries.

In 2015, the presentation of the Best Maori Album award was not shown in the live broadcast, as the network cut to an ad break, resulting in complaints from viewers and musicians.[4]

Recipients

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Best Maori Album (1992 to 1993)

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Year Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
1992 Moana and the Moahunters AEIOU
  • John RowlesE Te Tamaiti
  • The Whanau Funksters – Funky Whanau Feeling
[5]
1993 Southside of Bombay All Across the World [6]
1994 No award presented [7]
1995 No award presented [8]

Best Mana Maori Album & Best Reo Maori Album (1996 to 2003)

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Year Award Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
1996 Best Mana Maori Album Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia "Kia Mau"
  • Maree Sheehan – "Past to Present"
  • Moana and the Moahunters – "Give it Up Now"
  • Ruia – "Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi to Kaakaa"
[9]
Best Mana Reo Album Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia "Kia Mau"
1997 Best Mana Maori Album Emma Paki Oxygen of Love [10]
Best Mana Reo Album St Joseph's Māori Girls' College He Koha Waiata – A Gift of Song
  • Te Kura Tuatahi Me Te Ropu Kapahaka O Ranana – Te Wainui A Rua
  • Turakina Maori Girls College – Mana Wahine
1998 Best Mana Maori Album Te Matapihi Te Matapihi
  • Maori Volcanics – Kia Ora
  • Dam NativeKaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted
[11]
Best Mana Reo Album St Joseph's Māori Girls' College E Hine
  • The Willie Matthews Quartet – A Treasury of Maori Songs
  • Nga Kura O Hananah – Nga Kura O Hananah
1999 Best Mana Maori Album Moana and the Moahunters Rua
  • Hori Chapman – Toku Reo
  • Waihirere Maori Club – Waihirere: National Champions
  • Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi
[12]
Best Mana Reo Album Traditional Waiata He Waiata Onemata (Songs From the Past)
  • Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi
  • Moana and the MoahuntersRua
  • Waihirere Maori Club – Waihirere National Champions
2000 Best Mana Maori Album Southside of Bombay Live In Aotearoa
  • Maisey Rika20 Favourite Maori Songs
  • Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On
[13]
Best Mana Reo Album Iwi Iwi
  • Maisey Rika20 Favourite Maori Songs
  • Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On
  • He Taonga Reo – Tahi/Rua
2001 Best Mana Maori Album Wai Wai 100%
  • Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori
  • Big Belly Woman – Dance with the Wind
[14]
Best Mana Reo Album Whirimako Black Shrouded in The Mist/Hinepukohurangi
  • Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori
  • Wai – Wai 100%
2002 Best Mana Maori Album Rangiatea Rangiatea Concert Party
  • Ruia and Ranea – Waiata of Bob Marley
  • Te Ati Kimihia – Te Ati Kimihia and the Children of Tane
[15]
Best Mana Reo Album Ruia and Ranea Waiata of Bob Marley
  • Brannigan Kaa – Taputapu
  • T-Sistaz – Whakamanahia
2003 Best Mana Maori Album Upper Hutt Posse Te Reo Maori Remixes
  • Soul Paua – Pohewa
  • Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha
[16]
Best Mana Reo Album Ngahiwi Apanui E Tau Nei
  • Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2
  • Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto

Best Māori Album (2004 to 2016)

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Year Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
2004 Ruia Hawaiki [17]
2005 No award presented [18]
2006 Te Reotakiwa Dunn Te Reotakiwa Dunn
  • Mahara Tocker – Hurricane's Eye
  • Rodger Cunningham – Toto
[19]
2007 Richard Nunns & Hirini Melbourne Te Whaiao: Te Ku Te Whe Remixed
  • Adam Whauwhau – Tukuna Mai
  • Toi Hautu – Na Te Atua
[20]
2008 Ruia 12:24 Tekau Ma Rua – Rua Tekau Ma Wha [21]
2009 No award presented [22]
2010 No award presented [23]
2011 Tiki Taane In the World of Light
  • Miss Black – Black Light
  • Wai – Ora
[24]
2012 Ria Hall Ria Hall [25]
2013 Maisey Rika Whitiora
  • Kirsten Te Rito – Te Rito
  • Ngatapa Black – I Muri Ahiahi
2014 Rob Ruha Tiki Tapu
  • House of Shem – Harmony
  • Tama Waipara – Fill up the Silence
[26]
2015 Ranea Tihei Mauri Ora
  • Whaia and the Mahician – Whaia
  • Moana and the Tribe – Rima
[27]
2016 Rob Ruha Pumau
  • Kirsten Te Rito – Aiotanga
  • Dennis MarshMaori Songbook 2
[28]

Best Māori Artist (2017 to present)

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Year Winner Other finalists Ref.
2017 Teeks [29]
2018 Troy Kingi
2019 Troy Kingi & The Upperclass - Holy Colony Burning Acres
2020 Maimoa - Rongomaiwhiti

References

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  1. ^ "AWARDS JUDGED BY THE ACADEMY". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Music show dumps Maori class". National Library. National Library. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Nominations for 2017 Vodafone NZ Music Awards Open Today". Scoop. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Backlash after Māori award excluded from broadcast of Vodafone NZ Music Awards". Radio NZ. Radio NZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  5. ^ "1992 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. ^ "1993 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. ^ "1994 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  8. ^ "1995 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. ^ "1996 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  10. ^ "1997 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  11. ^ "1998 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  12. ^ "1999 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  13. ^ "200 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  14. ^ "2001 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  15. ^ "2002 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  16. ^ "2003 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  17. ^ "2004 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  18. ^ "2005 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  19. ^ "2006 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  20. ^ "2007 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  21. ^ "2008 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  22. ^ "2009 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  23. ^ "2010 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  24. ^ "2011 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  25. ^ "2012 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  26. ^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2014". NZMA. RMNZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  27. ^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2015". NZMA. RMNZ.
  28. ^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2016". NZMA. RMNZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  29. ^ "Lorde to perform at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards". Radio NZ. Radio NZ. Retrieved 5 October 2017.