Building the Maori Music Industry
The Waiata Māori Music Awards seek to ‘develop, encourage and honour the achievements of outstanding traditional and contemporary musical compositions and performances.’
The awards are unique and prestigious in their acknowledgement of Māori artists and individuals involved in the music industry.
Launched in 2007 to honour Sir Howard Morrison, Tommy Taurima and Missy, the Waiata Māori Music Awards' mission is to :
- acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Māori music
- continue to develop and promote the diversity of all Māori music
- showcase and celebrate the excellence of Māori music
- recognise the unique vision of Māori composers and musicians
- and enrich this rich cultural voice.
The first official Waiata Māori Awards Ceremony was in 2008 and since then they have become an annual celebration and a significant event in the Maori and New Zealand Music Industry calendars.
‘We are really looking to build the Māori music industry,' says CEO Tama Huata, 'It’s unique and we need to give people recognition… this is an opportunity to do that.’
NZ On Air is pleased to support the awards through sponsoring the NZ On Air Best Music Video Award and the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award which goes to the most-played song by a Māori artist in the last 12 months.
The 2017 NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award winner is Six60 for their song Mothers Eyes.
We also celebrate Stan Walker on being awarded the NZ On Air Best Music Video Award for his video for the song A New Takeover which was made by Shay Sterling.