Last Friday, the 10^th annual Waiata Māori Music Awards took place in Hastings.

The biggest winner of the night was artist Maisey Rika, who cleaned up with four wins. Rika’s awards included Best Traditional Maori Album (Te Reo Māori), Best Female Solo Artist, Best Song by a Māori Artist and the Best Songwriter Award. 

Three iconic Māori artists were previously named recipients of posthumous awards. This included Bunny Walters, 1970s pop star who received the Music Industry Award, Canon Wi Te Tau Huata who was awarded the Music Composers Award (Historical) and the late Kiritokia Ete Tomairangi Pake, who was named the 2017 Kaitiaki Tikanga Puoru (Keeper of Traditions).

While various artists received awards through the night we also saw performances from Maimoa, Teeks, Seth Haapu, Rugged and Wylde, Groove Roots, Vallkyrie, Alien Weaponry, Kahurangi Dance Company, and Bella Kalolo who sang a rendition of Bunny Walters’ Brandy.

The 2017 Waiata Māori Music Awards winners are:

Best Māori Traditional Album (Te Reo Māori Awards | Tohu – Kōpae Mōteatea Hira
‘Tira’, Maisey Rika
 
Best Māori Pop Artist or Artists | Tohu – Kaipūoru Māori Autaia
‘Guitar Party at Uncle’s Bach’, Troy Kingi
 
Best Māori Urban Artist or Artists | Tohu – Kaipūoru Māori-noho-taone Autaia
‘A Place to Stand‘, Rei
 
Best Māori Male Solo Artist | Tohu – Manu Tīoriori Tāne Autaia
Troy Kingi
 
Best Māori Female Solo Artist | Tohu – Manu Tīoriori Wahine Autaia
Maisey Rika
 
Best Song by a Māori Artist | Tohu – Waiata Māori Hira
Taku Mana, Maisey Rika
 
Best Māori Songwriter | Tohu – Kaitito Waiata-Māori Autaia
Maisey Rika
 
Best Roots, Reggae | Tohu – Kopaeroa Autaia Roots, Reggae
‘Dance Hall Vol 1’, Israel Starr            
 
Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist in Te Reo Māori | Tohu – Kōpae-Irirangi Kaipūoru Reo Māori o te Tau
Mau Tonu, Amba Holly
 
Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist | Tohu – Kōpae- Irirangi Kaipūoru Māori o te Tau
Mother’s Eyes, Six 60
 
Best Video of the Year by a Māori Artist | Tohu – Ataata Māori Hira o te Tau
New Take Over, Stan Walker
 
Iconic – Keeper of Traditions | Tohu – Kaitiaki Tikanga Pūoru
Kiritokia Ete Tomairangi Paki
 
Iconic – Music Industry Award | Tohu – Ahumahi Pūoru
Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters
 
Iconic – Music Composers Award (Historical) | Tohu – Te Puna o te ki o Nehe
Canon Wi Te Tau Huata
 
Emerging Artist (Under 25) | Tohu – Kaipūoro Hau – Rangatahi 
Kaaterama Pou
 
Emerging Artist (over 25) | Tohu – Kaipūoro Hau  – Pakeke
Common Unity