October 12, 2020
Media Release: Waiata Māori Music Awards 2020 – Congratulations!
Waiata Māori Music Awards 2020 – Congratulations!
Media Release – Saturday 10 October 2020
On Friday October 9, the National Waiata Māori Music Awards was held. This annual event aims to promote the diversity of all Māori music and celebrate its excellence and recognise the unique vision of Māori composers and musicians, and has been proudly hosted in Kahungunu since its first awards event held in 2008.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated has been a proud sponsor since its inception and acknowledges the creator of this significant event, the late, Tama Huata. In 2007, Mr Huata held a celebration event in Palmerston North to honour composers and artists including the late Sir Howard Morrison, Tommy Taurima, Missy and Prince Tui Teka, and Kapa Haka legends Ngapo and Pimia Wehi. At this event, categories were launched and artists and composers were invited to submit their work to be considered as the first recipients of the first awards ceremony which was held in 2008 at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House.
This significant national event continues to be planned, led and organised by the National Waiata Māori Music Awards team under the management of executive director, Ellison Huata.
“Each year the event gets bigger and better”, says Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chairman, Ngahiwi Tomoana. “It was a fantastic outcome from the fabulous innovative awards ceremony this year”, “It’s important to celebrate the achievements of our Māori composers, songwriters and musicians and it’s important that we support these artists to keep achieving onto the world stage”, “This event continues to celebrate the best music makers Kahungunu has provided to the world such as Paraire Tomoana, Tommy Taurima, Wi Huata and Pixie Williams to name a few”.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated was the sponsor and presenter of the Te Tohu Kopāe Māori Autaia – Pop (Best Pop Album by a Māori Artist) category and the winner was L.A.B.
It is with pleasure that we congratulate all the winners of the 2020, National Māori Music Awards. Ka mau te wehi!!
The mission of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is to enhance the mana and wellbeing of Ngāti Kahungunu (the people of Kahungunu), and the vision is for Ngāti Kahungunu to be strong, vibrant, healthy whānau, hapū and iwi. The Te Ara Toiora (Health and Wellbeing) strategy aims to promote the aspirations of the Iwi and enable access to quality health services, quality housing opportunities, quality education, opportunities for employment and cultural development initiatives that will inspire and strengthen whānau wellbeing.
THE WINNERS FOR THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MĀORI MUSIC AWARDS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
October 9 – A blend of live and recorded performances provided a unique event to celebrate singers, songwriters, producers and performers working in the Māori music industry.
The 13th annual National Waiata Māori Music Awards event was held online on Friday night, October 9, hosted by Luke Bird and Crystal Edwards, from the Toi Toi Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre.
The continuing threat of Covid-19 prompted organisers to move the awards event online to ensure people were safe, but still able to celebrate Māori music.
National Waiata Māori Music Awards Executive Director Ellison Huata said she was pleased with the way the event was able to adapt to offer a virtual awards offering.
“It’s important we continue to recognise and celebrate all of our Māori artists working in the industry.
“It’s been a very difficult year, with many of our artists unable to perform at live gigs. Hopefully this will provide them with something positive to focus on with the possibility of live performances returning to New Zealand heading into summer.”
The awards event aims to develop and promote the diversity of all Māori music to showcase and celebrate its excellence, to recognise the unique vision of Māori composers and musicians.
“It’s always great to celebrate the achievements for those working in the music industry but also we do our best to encourage new and emerging artists, to ensure we have a continuing stream of talent coming through.
“We hope to see more of that new talent at Waiata Māori Music Awards events in the coming years.”
Ria Hall and Troy Kingi won the prestigious Best Māori Female Solo Artist Award and Best Māori Male Solo Artist Award titles respectively.
Ria Hall dedicated her award to “all of the young wāhine Māori who are coming through the [music] ranks – this tōhu is for you.”
“I am really grateful that this tōhu is coming to Tauranga Moana [her home], although I want to recognise the caliber of all of the musicianship among my peers, it is so high and I am really proud of us all.
“It really showcases our diversity and the various forms of Māori music.”
Troy Kingi also won the Best Music Video of the Year by a Māori Artist Award for his work on Ethiopia, and Best Roots Reggae Album by a Māori Artist, for Holy Colony Burning Acres.
L.A.B which was founded by the Kora brothers Brad and Stu, secured four awards for 2020.
The group won Best Single by a Māori Artist Award, for their single, In The Air, and Best Pop Album by a Māori Artist, for their work on L.A.B. III. It was their third album in three years and it combines rock, roots, soul, funk & dub.
The band was also awarded the Best Māori Group and Best Māori Songwriter titles.
Lead vocalist Joel Shadbolt, after winning the Best Pop Album Award, said it was an incredible experience to be a finalist among so many other talented artists.
“I want to give a massive shout out to our families. Nothing happens without sacrifice, and as a lot of you know, following your dreams and what you want to do in a creative life, requires a lot of sacrifice.
“When you get recognition for what you do, it makes your family proud and the people in your life proud, thanks so much Waiata Māori Music Awards.”
He said song writing for L.A.B was a collaborative process but he credited Brad Kora for his leadership and his ability as “an incredible songwriter”.
The Best Te Reo Māori Album Award was won by Wellington band, Grove Roots, which was formed by Noel Woods.
The Best Hip Hop Album by a Māori Artist Award was won by Rei, for his work on Hoea, which he said was his first te reo Māori project. Rei also launched a new single recently, called Borderline.
La CoCo is a Samoan-Māori music artist from South Auckland and she won Best RnB Album by a Māori Artist in 2020 for her work on Grateful.
Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist Award was won by SIX60 for their song, The Greatest.
A unique waiata combining the voices of Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Horomona Horo, Majic Paora, Troy Kingi, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu and Bella Kalolo, won this year’s Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist in Te Reo Award.
The song, Ka Mānu was composed by Rob Ruha. The musicians worked together to record the song to support the Ihumātao land protectors.
The Emerging Artist Award Under 25 Award was won by SIIAM (Sam Love) and the Emerging Artist Award Over 25 Award was won by Teia Kennedy.
SIIAM thanked the National Waiata Māori Music Awards and said the tohu was confirmation of the musical journey he was on.
He also thanked his music tutors at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s Bay as well as his family and friends.
“I will leave you with this: Music can change the world because music can change people.”
SIIAM was also one of the performers for the show, singing his waiata, Now U Know.
There were also performances by Troy Kingi, Amber Holly, Valkyrie, Seth Haapu. A performance by Waiata Māori Music Awards Ambassador, Taisha Tari featuring Kahurangi Māori Dance Theatre, opened the virtual awards show.
In the Iconic Awards category, Upper Hutt Posse founder Darryl Leigh Tomson (DLT) was the recipient of the Lifetime Contribution To Māori Music Award, recognising his work as a singer, songwriter, producer and mentor for many young Polynesian hip hop artists, as well as being an advocate for all things Māori.
The late Te Taite Kupa was the recipient of the Iconic Māori Music Composer Award, recognising decades of work performing and writing songs internationally which continue to inspire new generations of Māori artists.
The award was accepted on his behalf by his whanau.
The 2021 National Waiata Māori Music Awards event will be held on September 10.
Full details of this year’s award winners:
Te Tohu O Manawa Rahi Ki Te Aa Pūoru Māori
Lifetime Contribution To Māori Music Award
Sponsored by Ngāti Kahungunu Rūnanga Arts & Culture Board
Presented by Narelle Huata
Winner: Darryl Leigh Tomson (DLT)
Te Tohu Kōpae Reo Māori Autaia
Best Te Reo Māori Album
Sponsored by Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori
Presented by Tuehu Harris
Winner: Grove Roots
Te Tohu Kaiwhakairo I Te Kupu o Nehe
Iconic Māori Music Composer Award
Sponsored by Hastings District Council
Presented by Mayor Sandra Hazelhurst
Winner: Te Taite Kupa
Te Tohu Kopāe Māori Autaia – Pop
Best Pop Album by a Māori Artist
Sponsored by Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporation
Presented by Ngahiwi Tomoana
Winner: L.A.B
Te Tohu Kōpae Māori Autaia – RnB
Best RnB Album by a Māori Artist
Sponsored by NZ Music Commission
Presented by Mike Young
Winner: La CoCo
Te Tohu Waiata Reo Irirangi o Te Tau
Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist Award
Sponsored by Toi Toi Arts & Events Center
Presented by Megan Peacock-Coyle
Winner: The Greatest – SIX60
Te Tohu Waiata Reo Māori Reo Irirangi o Te Tau
Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist in Te Reo Award
Sponsored by NZ Music Commission
Presented by Mike Young
Winner: Ka Mānu – composed by Rob Ruha. Performed by: Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Horomona Horo, Majic Paora, Troy Kingi, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu & Bella Kalolo.
Te Tohu Kōpae Irirangi Kaipūoru Māori o Te Tau
Best Music Video of the Year by a Māori Artist Award
Sponsored by Toi Toi Arts & Events Centre
Presented by Megan Peacock-Coyle
Winner: Troy Kingi
Te Tohu Kaipūoru Rangatahi Hou Rangatahi
Emerging Artist Award Under 25
Sponsored by Aotearoa’s Most Talented
Presented by Hinera O’Rourke
Winner: Teia Kennedy
Te Tohu Kaipūoru Pakeke Hou
Emerging Artist Award Over 25
Sponsored by Aotearoa’s Most Talented
Presented by Hinera O’Rourke
Winner: SIIAM (Sam Love)
Te Tohu Kōpae Māaori Autaia – Hip Hop
Best Hip Hop Album by a Māori Artist
Sponsored by Indelible
Presented by Dan Browne
Winner: Rei
Te Tohu Kōpae Māori Autaia – Reggae
Best Roots Reggae Album by a Māori Artist
Sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri
Presented by Farley Keenan
Winner: Troy Kingi
Te Tohu Waiata Autaia
Best Single by a Māori Artist Award
Sponsored by Kahurangi NZ Māori Dance Trust
Presented by Henry Heke
Winner: L.A.B
Te Tohu Rōpū Māori Autaia
Best Māori Group
Presented by Kahurangi NZ Māori Dance Trust
Presented by Henry Heke
Winner: L.A.B
Te Tohu o Te Kaitito Waiata Māori Autaia
Best Māori Songwriter
Presented by Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu
Presented by JB Heperi-Smith
Winner: L.A.B
Te Tohu Manu Tioriori Wāhine Autaia
Best Māori Female Solo Artist Award
Presented by Te Mangai Paho
Winner: Ria Hall
Te Tohu Manu Tioriori Tāne Autaia
Best Māori Male Solo Artist Award
Presented by Te Mangai Paho
Winner: Troy Kingi
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