The Waiata Māori Music Awards are kicking off Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori (Māori Music Month) this August with the announcement of the 2017 awards finalists.
Now in its 10th year, the Waiata Māori Music Awards celebrate excellence in Māori music and also aim to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of this cultural taonga.
The awards were established by the late composer and teacher Tama Huata ONZM (Ngāti Kahungungu), a renowned leader in and champion of the performing arts. Tama’s daughter Ellison now helms the awards and says: “The calibre of the finalists in our 10th anniversary year is a great testament to the quality and diversity of Māori composers, musicians and performers that we have in Aotearoa. The Waiata Māori Music Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate both our traditional and contemporary Māori musical artists.”
Acclaimed singer/songwriters Rob Ruha, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari are the official Ambassadors of the Waiata Māori Music Awards and they will be joining the finalists as the winners are revealed at this year’s ceremony in Hastings on the evening of Friday September 15th.
The 2017 Waiata Māori Music Awards finalists are:
Best Māori Traditional Album
Best Māori Urban Rap/Hip Hop/RnB Album
Best Māori Urban Roots/Reggae Album
Best Māori Pop Album
Best Māori Male Solo Artist
Best Māori Female Solo Artist
Best Song by a Māori Artist
Best Māori Songwriter
Best Video by a Māori Artist
Throughout the month of August during Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori, students nationwide will enjoy teaching and mentoring from Māori musicians in schools, while the MTG Hawke’s Bay will honour Māori Music Month with a series of events, including: exhibition of Taonga Pūoro (traditional Māori musical instruments, vocal technique and composition) and workshops with renowned musician Matiu Bartlett; as well as the Waiata Māori Music Symposium – a panel discussion on the local music industry.
Key Dates for Te Marama Pūoru Waiata Māori & the Waiata Māori Music Awards
Date: August 1st– 31st
Venue: Nationwide
Activity: Māori Musicians in Schools – vocals, composition, turntablism and mentoring
Date: August 1st – 31st
Venue: MTG Museum Hawkes Bay
Activity: Entertaining Exhibition Experience – a Charles Ropitini curated the exhibition – He Manu Tīoriori. The exhibition gives an incredible insight into the social history of Ngāti Kahungunu through music, shining the light on musicians such as Paraire Tomoana, Walter Smith, Ruru Karatiana, Johnny “The Maori Cowboy” Cooper and Tama Huata.
Date: August 1st – 31st
Venue: Aotearoa’s Most Talented – Nationwide
Activity: Emerging Artist Talent search Online Competition
Date: Friday August 11th
Venue: Sydney, Australia – Max Watts House of Music, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Activity: Celebrating Māori Music Month in concert with Sons of Zion
Date: Saturday August 12th
Venue: Brisbane, Australia – The Back Room
Activity: Celebrating Māori Music Month in concert with Sons of Zion
Dates: Monday August 14th – Friday August 18th
Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay
Activity: Taonga Pūoro workshop and exhibition with Matiu Bartlett
Dates: Monday August 21st – Friday August 25th
Venue: Takitimu Performing Arts School
Activity: Various workshops
Dates: Monday August 28th – Friday September 1st
Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay
Activity: Taonga Pūoro workshop and exhibition with Matiu Bartlett
Date: Saturday September 2nd
Venue: MTG Theatre
Activity: Celebration concert starring Ngāti Kahungunu Taikura
Date: Thursday September 14th
Venue: MTG Hawke’s Bay
Actiivty: Waiata Māori Music Symposium – Panel discussion on the Music Industry
Date: Thursday September 14th
Venue: Bar 2013, Hastings
Activity: Open Mic Night
Date: Friday September 15th
Venue: Clubs Hastings
Activity: 7am Breakfast with the stars (including finalists & awards ambassadors)
Date: Friday September 15th
Venue: Clubs Hastings
Activity: 10th Waiata Māori Music Awards
