We are pleased to announce the results of the latest Te Māngai Pāho - NZ On Air co-funded music round, Waiata Takitahi, which looks to support waiata that has great broadcast and online audience potential, and incorporates a minimum 25% te reo Māori in the song lyrics.
For this December 2025 Waiata Takitahi round, we are able to invest up to $15,000 per single (plus GST if applicable) for 15 waiata to be released in the coming year. This amount includes a mandatory $1,000 Artist Creation Fee. Supporting the creation of new bilingual waiata helps te reo Māori reach broader audiences through local broadcast and online music spaces.
Since it’s beginning in 2020, this co-funded round has now successfully funded 87 waiata. This growth reflects an increasing in audience engagement with music which embraces te reo Māori.
Waiata Takitahi funding includes pūtea for a Mātanga Reo - a language consultant available for any artist who may need support in fully realising their work with confidence and clarity. This funding also supports the recording process, the creation of video content, and the promotion and marketing of the song - all designed to help enhance the discoverability of these great bilingual waiata by audiences in Aotearoa and beyond.
The quality of music submissions continues to be of an incredibly high calibre, and we thank this month's judging panel for their hard mahi and considerable expertise in deciding the final results. Tēnā rawa atu koutou:
- Ani-Piki Tuari - Freelance [Tereanini, Takitimu, Mataatua]
- Kara Rickard - RNZ [Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Porou, Tainui Awhiro]
- Moana Marsh - Te Māngai Pāho [Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa]
- Noema Te Hau - Producer & songwriter [Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine]
- Jeff Newton - NZ On Air [Tainui Awhiro]
