Tāmaki Makaurau electronic artist MOKOTRON has been awarded the 2025 Taite Music Prize for his breakout album ‘WAEREA’, released on the Sunreturn label in December 2024.
An uncompromising album that evolved from the artist’s life experiences as an urban Māori, intertwining whakapapa with contemporary narratives, the work also expands the horizons of bass music in Aotearoa. Mokotron, the artist persona of Tiopira McDowell, was presented with the weighty trophy by 2024 Taite Music Prize winner Vera Ellen and Nick Atkinson (Supergroove, Hopetoun Brown), as Recorded Music NZ’s Independent Artist Representative. Reflecting on the intent behind ‘WAEREA’ Mokotron noted, “Whānau, when I write music, I want people to know that it could only come from one place in the world – Aotearoa.”
Staged at Auckland’s Q Theatre, a live performance by Vera Ellen and band opened the evening, which also included a striking performance from JUJULIPPS and a number of entertaining introductory and acceptance speeches, both on point and off, something that’s become a hallmark of the annual Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) Taite prize ceremonies.
Chris Schulz was awarded the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award for Boiler Room, his Substack dedicated to long form stories exploring NZ music. With Schulz unavailable his fellow finalist Karl Puschmann accepted the award on his behalf, noting he felt a bit like Kanye and setting a tone of hilarity that balanced the night’s more serious content.
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award went to Byllie-Jean for her debut experimental pop album ‘Filter’.
“Well, this is going to take a young minute to process – thank you! For me, this is a win for all wāhine Māori. Congratulations, wāhine Māori! No matter what happens, we just keep holding it down,” said Byllie-Jean in her acceptance speech.
Along with a standing ovation the Independent Spirit Award was presented to Rohan Evans as a champion of New Zealand’s independent music scene. Evans founded The Wine Cellar, the much loved indie venue beneath Karangahape Rd’s St Kevin’s Arcade, and as host, sound engineer and mentor has been instrumental in nurturing emerging Kiwi artists since 2004, an unflagging two decade stint.
Previously announced, the IMNZ Classic Record Award was presented to John Toogood and Karl Kippenberger for Shihad’s groundbreaking ‘Killjoy’ album, a cornerstone of New Zealand’s rock legacy, which was released on Wildside Records in 1995. Presenting the award their former label owner Murray Cammick observed, “What’s so special about ‘Killjoy’ is the energy it captured in its time. As the decades have passed, the songs from ‘Killjoy’ have become the encores people look forward to.” Describing it as, ‘Churn’ with tunes, Toogood and Kippenberger noted that ‘Killjoy’ was all about the riffs, and intentionally made for being played live and loud, through thumping PAs.
More about the finalists here.
Taite Music Prize 2025: MOKOTRON – ‘WAEREA’
Auckland Live Best Independent Debut: Byllie-Jean – ‘Filter’
Independent Spirit Award: Rohan Evans
NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award: Chris Schulz
Independent Music NZ Classic Record: Shihad – ‘Killjoy’
