Finalists for the 2019 Waiata Māori Music Awards have been announced, the Kora brothers-founded group L.A.B. and Wellington band Grove Roots leading the way with four nominations each.

Now in its 12th year, the Waiata Māori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Māori music, honouring the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Māori music. The awards will be presented at Club Hastings on September 13. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the WMMA’s Facebook page and broadcast live by Radio Kahungunu.

The full list of finalists follows:

Best Māori Female Solo Artist

• Amba Holly
• Theia
• La Coco
• JaLeace

Best Māori Male Solo Artist

• Tipene
• Israel Starr
• Pere (Maimoa)          

Best Traditional Album Te Reo Māori

• Te Kākano – ‘Te Kākano’
• Grove Roots – ‘Waka’
• Maaka Fiso – ‘Ngaro’

Best Māori Pop Album

• L.A.B. – ‘L.A.B. II’
• Te Kākano – ‘Te Kākano’
• Tipene – ‘Tautoko’

Best Māori Urban Rap / Hiphop / RnB Album

• Tipene – ‘Tautoko’
• Grove Roots – ‘Waka’
• Rugged and Wylde – ‘The King and the Chief’

Best Māori Urban Roots Album

• Grove Roots – ‘Waka’
• NLC – ‘Know Your Roots’

Best Song by a Māori Artist

• Katchafire – Fyah In The Trenches
• Te Kākano – Tōrea
• L.A.B. – ‘L.A.B. II’
• RunTingz Family – Runtingz Anthem

Best Māori Songwriter

• Katchafire
• L.A.B.
• Te Kākano
• Amba Holly  

Best Music Video by a Māori Artist

• Grove Roots – Aotearoa
• L.A.B. – Baby Will You Let Me
• Tipene – Nanny’s House
• La Coco – Back When
• Theia – Candy