Starting off this year’s Māori Music Month, finalists for the Waiata Māori Music Awards 2023 have been announced, date and location are yet to be confirmed.

Te Tohu Kaipuoru Te Reo Māori – Best Te Reo Māori Album

• Chey Milne: ‘Whaikōrero Raps 2’
• Rei: ‘Ariki’
• ORA (Origin Roots Aotearoa): ‘He Reo Ora’
• Tuari Brothers: ‘Rongo’

Te Tohu Kaipūoru Māori Noho Taone Autaia – Best Hip Hop Album By A Māori Artist

• Rei: ‘Ariki’
• Tuari Brothers: ‘Rongo’
• Chey Milne: ‘Whaikōrero Raps 2’
• Tipene: ‘We No Muck Around’

Te Tohu Kōpaeroa Autaia – Best Roots Reggae Album By A Māori Artist

• NLC: ‘NLC On The Fly’
• Israel Starr: ‘Keepers Of The Flame’
• ORA (Origin Roots Aotearoa): ‘He Reo Ora’
• Chad Chambers: ‘Nāti Shores’

Te Tohu Kaipūoru Aratini Māori Autaia – Best Māori Pop Album

• Valkyrie: ‘Joyride’
• Tuari Brothers: ‘Rongo’
• Rei: ‘Ariki’
• Coterie: ‘Coterie’

Te Tohu Manu Tioriori Tāne Autaia – Best Māori Male Solo Artist

• Seth Haapu
• Rākai Whauwhau
• Rei
• Mohi
• Tipene

Te Tohu Manu Tioriori Wahine Autaia – Best Māori Female Solo Artist

• Jordyn With A Why
• Nikau Grace
• Raiha Moetara
• Te Kurahuia

Te Tohu Rōpū Māori Autaia – Best Māori Group

• Coterie
• Tuari Brothers
• Ora (Origin Roots Aotearoa)
• Lost Tribe Aotearoa

Te Tohu O Te Waiata Māori Hira – Best Song By A Māori Artist 

• L.A.B: Take It Away
• Tuari Brothers: E Tama
• Jordyn With A Why: Raumati
• Seth Haapu: Rongoa
• Coterie Feat Six60: Always Beside You

Te Tohu Ataata Autaia – Best Music Video By A Māori Artist

• Seth Haapu: Tropical
• Tuari Brothers/Taktix Film: E Tama
• Valkyrie: Lights Go Down
• Coterie: De Ja Vu

Te Tohu O Te Kaititio Waiata Māori Autaia – Best Māori Songwriter

• L.A.B
• Seth Haapu
• Tuari Brothers
• Coterie

 Te Tohu Kaitiaki Tikanga Pūoru – Iconic Keeper of Tradition

• Wetini Mitai-Ngatai

Te Tohu O Te Kaititio Waiata Māori Autaia – Best Māori Songwriter

• Whirimako Black

Te Tohu O Te Ahumahi Pūoru – Iconic Māori Music Industry Award

• Katchafire

The theme for the 2023 awards event is ‘Nā parekura ko kahukura’, reflecting on the ongoing impact Cyclone Gabrielle has inflicted on East Coast communities this year. Parekura refers to a tragedy that involves the loss of life and kahukura means rainbow – a symbol of hope and promise.