The Waiata Māori Music Awards are kicking off Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori (Māori Music Month) this August with the announcement of the 2017 awards finalists.

Now in its 10th year, the Waiata Māori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Māori music and also aim to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of this cultural taonga.

The awards were established by the late composer and teacher Tama Huata ONZM (Ngāti Kahungungu), a renowned leader in and champion of the performing arts. Tama’s daughter Ellison now helms the awards.

Acclaimed singer/songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari are the official Ambassadors of the Waiata Māori Music Awards and they will be joining the finalists as the winners are revealed at this year’s ceremony in Hastings on the evening of Friday, September 15.

The 2017 Waiata Māori Music Awards finalists are:

Best Māori Traditional Album

• Grove Roots: ‘Hikoikoi’
• Auaha: ‘Auaha’
• Maisey Rika: ‘Tira’

Best Māori Urban Rap/Hip Hop/RnB Album

• Taipari Waaka: ‘Me, My Selfie & Ice Pro’
• Rei: ‘A Place to Stand’
• Rugged and Wylde: ‘4108sis’
• Melodownz: ‘AvonTales’

Best Māori Urban Roots/Reggae Album

• Grove Roots: ‘Hikoikoi’
• Israel Starr: ‘Dance Hall Vol 1’
• NLC: ‘Love not War’

Best Māori Pop Album

• Troy Kingi: ‘Guitar Party at Uncle’s Bach‘
• Maaka Fiso: ‘Written in the Stars’
• Maisey Rika: ‘Tira’

Best Māori Male Solo Artist

• Troy Kingi
• Maaka Fiso
• Teeks
• Seth Haapu

Best Māori Female Solo Artist

• Toni Huata
• Pianika Duncan
• Maisey Rika

Best Song by a Māori Artist

• Maaka Fiso: Written in the Stars
• Teeks: Never Be Apart
• Grove Roots: Te Kura
• Toni Huata: Mohaka
• Maisey Rika: Taku Mana

Best Māori Songwriter

• Maaka Fiso
• Teeks
• Grove Roots
• Toni Huata
• Maisey Rika

Best Video by a Māori Artist

• Valkyrie: Lost Soul
• Alien Weaponry: Ru ana te Whenua
• Stan Walker: New Take Over
• Teeks: If Only 
• Maimoa: Wairua