There’s a good chance that a bunch of very talented and photogenic tamariki might steal the ‘show’ at the 2020 Waiata Māori Music Awards.

Māori Television series stars Te Nūtube are finalists in four categories on the back of the delightful single and video Pakipaki Mai (which includes Pere, Kairangi Ihimaera, Chey Milne, Awatea Wihongi, Tangihaere Pere, Atareta Milne and Te Haakura Ihimaera-Manley and should come with a caution: might melt your heart warning). L.A.B match that number, as does Seth Haapu, but both Grove Roots and Troy Kingi trump them with five chances of being category winners on the night.

Ria Hall leads the charge among wahine finalists, also with four places among the total of just 18 artists/acts competing for the 11 awards.

Due to the ongoing Covid alert levels this year’s Waiata Māori Music Awards will be an online event held on October 9, streamed online via YouTube and the Awards’ Facebook page.

The 2020 finalists are:

Best Māori Male Solo Artist:

Israel Starr, Lion Rezz, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi

Best Maori Female Solo Artist

La Coco, Ria Hall, Taisha Tari 

Best Māori Group:

L.A.B, Sons of Zion, Te Nūtube 

Best Hip Hop Album by a Māori Artist: 

Dharmarat (‘WLKNZ’), Rei (‘Hoea’)

Best Māori Songwriter:

L.A.B, Noel Rawiri Woods – Grove Roots, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi 

Best Music Video by a Māori Artist: 

Ed Waaka (Revolution), Seth Haapu (Cool Down), Te Nūtube (Pakipaki Mai), Troy Kingi (Ethiopia), Tūtahi (Stay)

Best Pop Album by a Māori Artist: 

Grove Roots (‘Marae’), Kirsten Te Rito (‘Te Kaitiaki’), L.A.B (‘L.A.B. III’)

Best RnB Album by a Māori Artist: 

Grove Roots (‘Marae’), La Coco (‘Grateful’), Masaya (‘Tongue And Groove’)

Best Roots Reggae Album by a Maori Artist: 

Grove Roots (‘Marae’), Lion Rezz (‘A Lions Worth’), Ria Hall (‘Manawa Wera’), Troy Kingi (‘Holy Colony Burning Acres’)

Best Single by a Māori Artist: 

L.A.B (In The Air), Ria Hall (Owner), Seth Haapu (Cool Down), Te Nūtube (Pakipaki Mai), Troy Kingi (Ethiopia)

Best Te Reo Māori Album: 

Grove Roots (‘Marae’), Kirsten Te Rito (‘Te Kaitiaki’), Rei (‘Hoea’)