Best Māori Artist () is an Aotearoa Music Award that honours New Zealand music artists for outstanding recordings which reflect a unique Māori identity and/or are an expression of an artist's Māori culture. The nominated work can be in te reo Māori, 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 Māori 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 The category was withdrawn in 1994 and 1995, and relaunched in 1996 as two separate categories: Best Mana Māori Album (for albums from Māori artists) and Best Mana Reo Album (for Māori language albums). From 2004, the award reverted to only the Best Māori Album category. In 2017 the award was changed to Best Māori 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.
At the 2015 ceremony, the presentation of the Best Māori 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 Māori Album (1992 to 1993)
Year Winner AlbumOther finalistsRef. 1992 Moana and the Moahunters AEIOU John Rowles – E Te Tamaiti The Whanau Funksters – Funky Whanau Feeling 1993 Southside of Bombay All Across the World Hinewehi Mohi – Kia U Te Hei O Tahoka – Ahorangi Genesis 1994 colspan="3" 1995 colspan="3"
Best Mana Māori Album & Best Reo Māori Album (1996 to 2003)
Year Award Winner AlbumOther finalistsRef. 1996 Best Mana Māori Album Southside 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" Best Mana Reo Album Southside of Bombay with Mina Ripia "Kia Mau" Ruia – "Ka Tangi te Tiitii Ka Tangi te Kaakaa" Moana and the Moahunters – "Akona Te Reo '95" 1997 Best Mana Māori Album Emma Paki Oxygen of Love DLT – The True School Dam Native – "Behold My Kool Style" Best Mana Reo Album St Joseph's Māori Girls' College He Koha Waiata – A Gift of Song Te Kura Tuatahi Me Te Ropu Kapahaka O Ranana – Te Wainui A Rua Turakina Māori Girls College – Mana Wahine 1998 Best Mana Māori Album Te Matapihi Te Matapihi Māori Volcanics – Kia Ora Dam Native – Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted Best Mana Reo Album St Joseph's Māori Girls' College E Hine The Willie Matthews Quartet – A Treasury of Māori Songs Nga Kura O Hananah – Nga Kura O Hananah 1999 Best Mana Māori Album Moana and the Moahunters Rua Hori Chapman – Toku Reo Waihirere Māori Club – Waihirere: National Champions Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi Best Mana Reo Album Traditional Waiata He Waiata Onemata (Songs From the Past) Ngati Rangiwewehi – Wairua: Spirit of Ngati Rangiwewehi Moana and the Moahunters – Rua Waihirere Māori Club – Waihirere National Champions 2000 Best Mana Māori Album Southside of Bombay Live In Aotearoa Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Māori Songs Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On Best Mana Reo Album Iwi Iwi Maisey Rika – 20 Favourite Māori Songs Hato Paora College – Hato Paora: 50 Years On He Taonga Reo – Tahi/Rua 2001 Best Mana Māori Album Wai Wai 100% Ruia & Ranea – Whare Māori Big Belly Woman – Dance with the Wind Best Mana Reo Album Whirimako Black Shrouded in The Mist/HinepukohurangiRuia & Ranea – Whare Māori Wai – Wai 100% 2002 Best Mana Māori Album Rangiatea Rangiatea Concert Party Ruia and Ranea – Waiata of Bob Marley Te Ati Kimihia – Te Ati Kimihia and the Children of Tane Best Mana Reo Album Ruia and Ranea Waiata of Bob Marley Brannigan Kaa – Taputapu T-Sistaz – Whakamanahia 2003 Best Mana Māori Album Upper Hutt Posse Te Reo Māori Remixes Soul Paua – Pohewa Mahinarangi Tocker – Hei Ha Best Mana Reo Album Ngahiwi Apanui E Tau Nei Hareruia Aperama – Waiata of Bob Marley Vol 2 Adam Whauwhau – He Hua O Roto
Best Māori Album (2004 to 2016)
Year Winner AlbumOther finalistsRef. 2004 Ruia Hawaiki Hirini Melbourne, Richard Nunns and Aroha Yates-Smith – Te Hekenga-a-rangi Whirimako Black – Tangihaku 2005 colspan="3" 2006 Te Reotakiwa Dunn Te Reotakiwa Dunn Mahara Tocker – Hurricane's Eye Rodger Cunningham – Toto 2007 Richard Nunns & Hirini Melbourne Te Whaiao: Te Ku Te Whe Remixed Adam Whauwhau – Tukuna Mai Toi Hautu – Na Te Atua 2008 Ruia 12:24 Tekau Ma Rua – Rua Tekau Ma Wha Moana and the Tribe – Wha Tiki Taane – Past, Present, Future 2009 colspan="3" 2010 colspan="3" 2011 Tiki Taane In the World of Light Miss Black – Black Light Wai – Ora 2012 Ria Hall Ria Hall Upper Hutt Posse – Declaration of Resistance Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns – Te More 2013 Maisey Rika Whitiora Kirsten Te Rito – Te Rito Ngatapa Black – I Muri Ahiahi 2014 Rob Ruha Tiki Tapu House of Shem – Harmony Tama Waipara – Fill up the Silence 2015 Ranea Tihei Mauri Ora Whaia and the Mahician – Whaia Moana and the Tribe – Rima 2016 Rob Ruha Pumau Kirsten Te Rito – Aiotanga Dennis Marsh – Māori Songbook 2
Best Māori Artist (2017 to present)
Year WinnerOther finalistsRef. 2017 Teeks Alien Weaponry Maisey Rika 2018 Troy Kingi Alien Weaponry Katchafire 2019 Troy Kingi & The Upperclass – Holy Colony Burning Acres Louis Baker – Open Rei – The Bridge 2020 Maimoa – Rongomaiwhiti Ria Hall – Manawa Wera Stan Walker 2021Teeks Mara TK Troy Kingi2022Ka Hao – Ka Hao: One Tira / One Voice Rob Ruha – Preservation of Scenery Stan Walker – Te Arohanui2023 colspan="3" 2024TAWAZ Jordyn with a Why MOHI Rei Stan Walker Tuari Brothers2025Stan Walker Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha Corrella – Skeletons Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice MOHI TAWAZ
References