AOTEAROA MUSIC AWARDS 2025: Ake Ake and Onward

Every now and again someone will say that awards are a load of crap and that music isn't a competition.

Unfortunately, if we are being honest, it is a competition . .. a competition for attention, chart success, listeners an audience and so on.

In that harsh reality there are winners and losers. Much like life, really.

The very day of this year's Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA) I was talking with someone who is very well informed about this issue and he said in the surveys done, our musicians are overwhelmingly in favour of awards.

You can see why: it gives them (and local music in general) a profile and a platform, if they are in the running they might get their moment in the spotlight (“See Mum, see Dad, this is what I do!”) and outside of that they get to mingle with their peers because they seldom have that opportunity.

Success is rewarded. Much like in life, really.

My friend – and I emphasise he was very involved in the music business culture – also said that our awards are rare in that our musicians have a sense of camaraderie. We can see that in the cross-pollination of artists working across genres in interesting collaborations.

I'd agree. I once attended the Australian music awards – which seemed like it went on for days – and ours might not be quite so whizz-bang but we keep the focus on our own artists and don't hand the spotlight to touring internationals.

The first New Zealand music awards I attended was in 1987, it was in a small room in what is now the Cordis Hotel. At a guess there were maybe 30-40 people there, many of them from Herbs.

I've attended many awards nights since: the one where no local music was played; the noisy ones; the one when there was a punch-up (but that was musician on civilian so my friend's position holds); those where there were surprise performers; that one where the host looked like he'd rather be anywhere else and told a 10-year old's poo joke . . .

The awards have been huge (in the Spark Arena) and the 2025 event was a good one, despite the whole thing dialled down from when people sat at tables and could chat. Now we are all forward facing in rigid rows so there's not quite the same collegial – and let's be honest – slightly tipsy ambience..

The music and performances were very good and professional (not a dirty word) and it was wonderful to see populist and popular artists being given their due.

A special congratulations to Fazerdaze on her two awards (see below). Her road hasn't been easy but here was the pay-off in front of her peers.

And congratulations to Rattle Records, not just for having the winner in the classical category but for having all three of their albums as finalists. And this wasn't the first time, Rattle has been scoring with classical and jazz albums for many years now, rolling into decades.

The most astonishing performance of the night came from Stan Walker with Māori Ki Te Ao when he was joined on stage by a huge group which stood up for honouring the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tino rangatiratanga, offering one of the most moving, uplifting and thrilling performances I've ever seen at an awards. Or indeed anywhere.

Apparently the National MP Chris Bishop wasn't that impressed and was making derogatory comments during the performance – which was more than a music performance but a statement of intent – and called it “a load of crap”.

I have commented on this elsewhere but will say this again: I just wish more politicians would have that one drink too many to loosen their tongues and then we'd know what they really think.

I'm glad we now know what Bishop thinks and we can hold him and his fellow travellers to account, sooner rather than later I'd hope.

Look at the video and stick with it, the last 90 seconds should make your heart swell.

.

Here are the winners in the various categories, those highlighted will take you to our review or article. We picked up quite a few last year. Again.

.

Kia kaha

.

Aotearoa Music Awards 2025 Winners 

NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year
Fazerdaze – Soft Power

Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year
Lorde – ‘Girl, so confusing featuring lorde’ (Charli xcx, Lorde)

Spotify Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist
Fazerdaze – Soft Power

Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group
Earth Tongue – Great Haunting

Te Manu Mātārae
9Lives

Te Manu Mātārae
L.A.B

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’

Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Stan Walker

Te Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Hori Shaw

Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist
Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn

Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist
Jian Liu – Where Fairburn Walked

Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson

Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist
MOKOTRON – WAEREA

Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist
Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams

Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist
David Dallas – Vita

Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist
Lucien Johnson – Ancient Relics

Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist
Cassie Henderson – The Yellow Chapter

Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist
DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One

Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist
Corrella – Skeletons

Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender

Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork
Matt Sinclair – Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson)

Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer
Simon Gooding – Safar (CHAII)

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content
Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – ‘Paradise’ (DARTZ)

Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)

Te Taumata o te Hokona | Highest Selling Artist
Six60

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year
L.A.B

JD Sports Tā te Iwi | People's Choice
Devilskin