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 The category was withdrawn in 1994 and 1995, and relaunched in 1996 as two separate categories: Best Mana Maori Album and Best Mana Reo Album.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

Best Maori Album (1992 to 1993)

Year	Winner	Album	Other finalists	Ref.
1992	Moana and the Moahunters	AEIOU	John Rowles – E Te Tamaiti The Whanau Funksters – Funky Whanau Feeling	^[5]
1993	Southside of Bombay	All Across the World	Hinewehi Mohi – Kia U Te Hei O Tahoka – Ahorangi Genesis	^[6]
1994	No award presented			^[7]
1995	No award presented			^[8]

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

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]
1996	Best Mana Reo Album	Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia	"Kia Mau"	Ruia – "Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi te Kaakaa" Moana and the Moahunters – "Akona Te Reo '95"	^[9]
1997	Best Mana Maori Album	Emma Paki	Oxygen of Love	DLT – The True School Dam Native – "Behold My Kool Style"	^[10]
1997	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	^[10]
1998	Best Mana Maori Album	Te Matapihi	Te Matapihi	Maori Volcanics – Kia Ora Dam Native – Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted	^[11]
1998	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	^[11]
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]
1999	Best Mana Reo Album	Traditional Waiata	He Waiata Onemata (Songs From the Past)	Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi Moana and the Moahunters – Rua Waihirere Maori Club – Waihirere National Champions	^[12]
2000	Best Mana Maori Album	Southside of Bombay	Live In Aotearoa	Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Maori Songs Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On	^[13]
2000	Best Mana Reo Album	Iwi	Iwi	Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Maori Songs Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On He Taonga Reo – Tahi/Rua	^[13]
2001	Best Mana Maori Album	Wai	Wai 100%	Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori Big Belly Woman – Dance with the Wind	^[14]
2001	Best Mana Reo Album	Whirimako Black	Shrouded in The Mist/Hinepukohurangi	Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori Wai – Wai 100%	^[14]
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]
2002	Best Mana Reo Album	Ruia and Ranea	Waiata of Bob Marley	Brannigan Kaa – Taputapu T-Sistaz – Whakamanahia	^[15]
2003	Best Mana Maori Album	Upper Hutt Posse	Te Reo Maori Remixes	Soul Paua – Pohewa Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha	^[16]
2003	Best Mana Reo Album	Ngahiwi Apanui	E Tau Nei	Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2 Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto	^[16]

Best Māori Album (2004 to 2016)

Year	Winner	Album	Other finalists	Ref.
2004	Ruia	Hawaiki	Hirini Melbourne, Richard Nunns and Aroha Yates-Smith – Te Hekenga-a-rangi Whirimako Black – Tangihaku	^[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	Moana and the Tribe – Wha Tiki Taane – Past, Present, Future	^[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	Upper Hutt Posse – Declaration of Resistance Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns – Te More	^[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 Marsh – Maori Songbook 2	^[28]

Best Māori Artist (2017 to present)

Year	Winner	Other finalists	Ref.
2017	Teeks	Alien Weaponry Maisey Rika	^[29]
2018	Troy Kingi	Alien Weaponry Katchafire
2019	Troy Kingi & The Upperclass - Holy Colony Burning Acres	Louis Baker - Open Rei - The Bridge
2020	Maimoa - Rongomaiwhiti	Ria Hall - Manawa Wera Stan Walker

References

^ "AWARDS JUDGED BY THE ACADEMY". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
^ "Music show dumps Maori class". National Library. National Library. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "Nominations for 2017 Vodafone NZ Music Awards Open Today". Scoop. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "Backlash after Māori award excluded from broadcast of Vodafone NZ Music Awards". Radio NZ. Radio NZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1992 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1993 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1994 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1995 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1996 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1997 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1998 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "1999 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "200 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2001 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2002 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2003 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2004 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2005 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2006 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2007 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2008 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2009 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2010 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2011 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "2012 Winners". NZMA. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2014". NZMA. RMNZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2015". NZMA. RMNZ.
^ "BEST MAORI ALBUM 2016". NZMA. RMNZ. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "Lorde to perform at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards". Radio NZ. Radio NZ. Retrieved 5 October 2017.

[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.

[nzma2017-3] "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.

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