Every year in May we celebrate New Zealand Music Month.  And its great to clebrate all our new and old kiwi-born musicians of every ilk.  However, in 2016 it was decided that Maori music will be celebrated in the month of August, which will be known as Te Marama Puoro Waiata Māori- Maori Music Month.

The Waiata Māori Music Awards have taken place in Heretaunga from before that, the most recent in 2019,  with an array of talented Māori singers and musicians from across Aotearoa have been showcased, te reo has been honoured, and it has become an iconic event for acknowledging the amazing contribution of Māori music across Aotearoa and beyond.

At the 12^th Waiata Māori music awards in Hastings on Friday, 13 September 2019, in front of an audience of stars from the world of Māori music, Te Kākono, a group of young Māori artists who created the Te Reo compilation album ‘Te Kākono’, claimed the prizes for Best Māori Traditional Album (Te Reo Māori), Best Maori Pop Artists and Best Song by a Māori Artist, for Tōrea.

The 12th Waiata Māori Music Awards winners list comprised:

• Best Māori Traditional Album (Te Reo Māori) Award: Te Kākano
• Best Māori Urban Artist: Tipene (‘Tautoko’)
• Best Māori Male Solo Artist: Pere
• Best Māori Female Solo Artist: Amba Holly
• Best Song by a Māori Artist: Te Kākano (Tōrea)
• Best Māori Songwriter Award: Amba Holly
• Best Roots, Reggae Award: NLC (Know Your Roots)
• Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist in Te Reo Māori Award: Maimoa (Kawea)
• Radio Airplay Song of the Year by a Māori Artist: Six60 (Vibes)
• Best Video of the Year by a Māori Artist: L.A.B (Baby Will You Let Me)

Waiata Maori Music Awards Iconic recipients:

• Trevor Horowaewae Maxwell – Keeper of Tradition / Kaitiaki Tikanga Pūoru 
• Jarrod Huirama – Music Industry Award / Ahumahi Pūoru 
• Abe Phillips – Lifetime Contribution to Māori Music / Mauriora o Te Ao Pūoru Māori  
• Pixie Williams – Lifetime Contribution to Māori Music / Mauriora o Te Ao Pūoru Māori