Winners of the 2026 Country Music Honours were announced at the awards event held on Friday 22 May in Gore, with country music artists from across Aotearoa gathered for the 10-day Tussock Country Festival.

Whakameatia Mai, written by Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Tahu, Te-Āti-Awa) won the APRA Best Country Music Song Award. In his acceptance speech Williams described the waiata as “…an all-in song about togetherness and being fully engaged with the world, that this world is not the rehearsal.” 

The same songwriting duo won the APRA Silver Scroll award last year with Aua Atu Rā, another track on William’s 2025 album, ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’. He is also a previous winner of the Best Country Music Song Award, with co-writer Delaney Davidson for Bloodletter, in 2013.

Ron Mitchell won the MLT Songwriting Award, which celebrates unreleased original songs, for his song Wedding Ring, which was performed by his daughter Maegan Mitchell. Runner-up from the 10 finalists announced was Not Enough written by Mel Parsons.

The audience also witnessed an emotive presentation of the Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa, to the Topp Twins. Introduced in 2025, the honour celebrates members of the country music community who have not only achieved great heights of their own but uplifted others and contributed to the past, present and future of country music in NZ. Dame Lynda and Dame Jools have dedicated their lives to standing up and singing for what’s right and bringing joy to audiences.

In a video tribute Tami Neilson, the honour’s 2025 inaugural recipient, said, “Without the Toppies taking me under their wings, uplifting me and bringing me around NZ on tour with them countless times, I would not be the artist or the person that I am today. They are the touchstone that grounds me and the standard to which I always strive.” 

APRA Best Country Music Song winner: Whakameatia Mai, written by Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, performed by Marlon Williams.
MLT Songwriting Award winner: Wedding Ring written by Ron Mitchell.
Contribution to Country Music: the Topp Twins