New Zealand Music Award for Best Māori Artist


Best Māori Artist is a New Zealand Music Award that honours New Zealand music artists for outstanding recordings which reflect a unique Maori identity and/or are an expression of an artist’s Maori culture. The nominated work can be in te reo Maori, English or be bilingual. The award is presented annually at the New Zealand Music Awards where the winner receives a Tui trophy.
The award was established in 1992 as Best Maori Album, however it was soon criticised for being too broad. The category was withdrawn in 1994 and 1995, and relaunched in 1996 as two separate categories: Best Mana Maori Album and Best Mana Reo Album. From 2004, the award reverted to only the Best Maori Album category. In 2017 the award was changed to Best Maori Artist with the entry criteria changed to require either an album or a minimum of five single releases in the eligibility period. The award was not presented in 2005, 2009 and 2010 due to insufficient entries.
In 2015, the presentation of the Best Maori Album award was not shown in the live broadcast, as the network cut to an ad break, resulting in complaints from viewers and musicians.

Recipients

Best Maori Album (1992 to 1993)

Best Mana Maori Album & Best Reo Maori Album (1996 to 2003)

YearAwardWinnerAlbumOther finalistsRef.
1996Best Mana Maori AlbumSouthside of Bombay with Mina Ripia"Kia Mau"
  • Maree Sheehan – "Past to Present"
  • Moana and the Moahunters – "Give it Up Now"
  • Ruia – "Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi to Kaakaa"
1996Best Mana Reo AlbumSouthside of Bombay with Mina Ripia"Kia Mau"
  • Ruia – "Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi te Kaakaa"
  • Moana and the Moahunters – "Akona Te Reo '95"
    • 1997Best Mana Maori AlbumEmma PakiOxygen of Love
  • DLT – The True School
  • Dam Native – "Behold My Kool Style"
    • 1997Best Mana Reo AlbumSt Joseph's Māori Girls' CollegeHe Koha Waiata – A Gift of Song
  • Te Kura Tuatahi Me Te Ropu Kapahaka O Ranana – Te Wainui A Rua
  • Turakina Maori Girls College – Mana Wahine
    • 1998Best Mana Maori AlbumTe MatapihiTe Matapihi
  • Maori Volcanics – Kia Ora
  • Dam Native – Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted
    • 1998Best Mana Reo AlbumSt Joseph's Māori Girls' CollegeE Hine
  • The Willie Matthews Quartet – A Treasury of Maori Songs
  • Nga Kura O Hananah – Nga Kura O Hananah
    • 1999Best Mana Maori AlbumMoana and the MoahuntersRua
  • Hori Chapman – Toku Reo
  • Waihirere Maori Club – Waihirere: National Champions
  • Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi
    • 1999Best Mana Reo AlbumTraditional WaiataHe Waiata Onemata
  • Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi
  • Moana and the Moahunters – Rua
  • Waihirere Maori Club – Waihirere National Champions
    • 2000Best Mana Maori AlbumSouthside of BombayLive In Aotearoa
  • Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Maori Songs
  • Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On
    • 2000Best Mana Reo AlbumIwiIwi
  • Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Maori Songs
  • Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On
  • He Taonga Reo – Tahi/Rua
    • 2001Best Mana Maori AlbumWaiWai 100%
  • Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori
  • Big Belly Woman – Dance with the Wind
    • 2001Best Mana Reo AlbumWhirimako BlackShrouded in The Mist/Hinepukohurangi
  • Ruia & Ranea – Whare Maori
  • Wai – Wai 100%
    • 2002Best Mana Maori AlbumRangiateaRangiatea Concert Party
  • Ruia and Ranea – Waiata of Bob Marley
  • Te Ati Kimihia – Te Ati Kimihia and the Children of Tane
    • 2002Best Mana Reo AlbumRuia and RaneaWaiata of Bob Marley
  • Brannigan Kaa – Taputapu
  • T-Sistaz – Whakamanahia
    • 2003Best Mana Maori AlbumUpper Hutt PosseTe Reo Maori Remixes
  • Soul Paua – Pohewa
  • Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha
    • 2003Best Mana Reo AlbumNgahiwi ApanuiE Tau Nei
  • Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2
  • Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto

    • Best Māori Album (2004 to 2016)

    Best Māori Artist (2017 to present)

    YearWinnerOther finalistsRef.
    2017