Aotearoa Music Awards

The Aotearoa Music Awards is New Zealand's premier annual music ceremony, organized by Recorded Music NZ. It celebrates excellence across all genres of New Zealand music and presents Tui trophies in categories spanning Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Solo Artist, Best Group, and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The 2026 ceremony took place on May 28 at The Civic in Auckland.

How the Aotearoa Music Awards Works

Formerly known as the New Zealand Music Awards (and before that, the VNZMAs), the ceremony traces its origins to 1965 with the Loxene Golden Disc. It was rebranded as the Aotearoa Music Awards to reflect the country's bilingual identity. Recorded Music NZ, the industry body representing major and independent labels in New Zealand, administers the awards.

Eligibility requires that artists be New Zealand citizens or residents, and that releases meet specific New Zealand content criteria. Entries are submitted through Recorded Music NZ during defined eligibility windows. Categories are judged through a mix of industry voting panels and data-based assessment depending on the category.

The ceremony is broadcast live on Radio New Zealand and made available on TVNZ+. The Tui trophy (named after the native bird) is awarded to winners in each category.

Real-World Example: 2026 Winners

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards produced a historic sweep by Marlon Williams, who won three of the top categories: Album of the Year for Te Whare Tiwekaweka, Single of the Year for "Aua Atu Ra," and Best Solo Artist. Williams also won the 2026 Taite Music Prize and the APRA Silver Scroll Award for the same single, making it a dominant year.

Lorde won Best Pop Artist and the International Achievement Tui for her 2025 album Virgin, which debuted at number 1 in New Zealand and Australia, reached number 2 in the US, and hit number 1 in the UK. The Beths took home Best Group for their 2025 release Straight Line Was A Lie.

Che Fu was inducted into Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa (the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame), 25 years after the release of his debut album Navigator. Breakthrough Artist of the Year went to Te Wehi, a chart-topping artist from the East Coast who also won Best Roots Artist.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The Aotearoa Music Awards is one of the few national ceremonies where independent New Zealand artists can compete on equal footing with major label acts. Several recent winners and nominees self-release or work with independent labels.

If you are a New Zealand artist, ensuring your releases are registered with Recorded Music NZ and meet eligibility requirements is the first step. Submitting entries during the open period is typically handled by your label or distributor, but independent artists can submit directly.

Winning or being nominated can lead to increased radio play on RNZ, streaming bumps, and booking opportunities across Australasia. The International Achievement category specifically recognizes artists breaking beyond New Zealand, which can open doors to Australian and global markets.

New Zealand artists should also register with APRA AMCOS for royalty collection, and with a PRO if they also work in international markets. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate how a nomination might affect your streaming revenue.

Related Resources

• Music Awards Directory - Browse other music award programs
• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue from award recognition
• Performance Rights Organizations Directory - Register with APRA AMCOS for royalty collection
• Recorded Music NZ - Official industry body administering the awards
• Aotearoa Music Awards - Official awards website with entry guidelines