The MLT New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards are annual awards for New Zealand country and western music. The awards are held annually each June in Gore, in the southern South Island, as part of that town's Tussock Country Music festival.
The awards have been held regularly since 1974."Who we are," www.goldguitars.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2025. No awards were held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Moffatt, Glen, New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards," www.audioculture.co.nz, 16 March 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
Awards are held in several categories by style of music and by age group. The original (senior) award has been augmented over the years with junior and age-group categories. International guests have attended and presented the awards over the years, among them Freddy Fender, George Hamilton IV, Ricky Skaggs, and Glen Campbell.
Additions to a "Hands of Fame" structure, featuring handprints of prominent country musicians, have been part of the awards festival since 1992, with the prints finding a permanent home in 2004."Glen Moffatt to be inducted into the NZ Gold Guitar Awards Hands of Fame on May 31st, alongside Kaylee Bell," New Zealand Music Commission, 7 April 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
The awards gained negative publicity in 2025 over claims of racism against Māori performers.Waiwiri-Smith, L., "Gold Guitar winner criticises awards, says ‘brown faces’ were treated unfairly," The Spinoff, 11 June 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
Award winners Annual award winners in the senior category have been:"Past winners," www.goldguitars.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
2026 — Simon Thompson"Invercargill teacher 'over the damn moon' to win 2026 Gold Guitar Award," Radio New Zealand, 2 June 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026. 2025 — Keily Smith 2024 — Amy Maynard 2023 — Zac Griffith 2021 — Melissa Partridge 2020 — no award due to Covid-19 2019 — Jaydin Shingleton 2018 — 2017 — Jenny Mitchell 2016 — Alice Fraser 2015 — Kelvin Cummings 2014 — Cameron Luxton 2013 — Cheryl Anderson 2012 — Kylie Price 2011 — Vickie Evans 2010 — Saelyn Guyton 2009 — Helen Van Der Linden 2008 — E-Liza 2007 — Kaylee Bell 2006 — North v South 2005 — Aaron Jury 2004 — Cameron Clayton 2003 — Jane Clarkson 2002 — Louise Wilson 2001 — Sheryl Higgs 2000 — Bryan Townley 1999 — Melissa Daisley 1998 — Camille Te Nahu 1997 — Mikaela Dewar 1996 — Paul Sharplin 1995 — Kelly Blanchard 1994 — John Fletcher 1993 — Martin Colquhoun 1992 — Kylie Harris 1991 — Bob Mason & The Apache 1990 — Sam Mihaere 1989 — Dennis August 1988 — Siteri Temple 1987 — Marianne Stephens 1986 — Vicki Galloway 1985 — Southern Country 1984 — Peter Cairns 1983 — Gena Geeson 1982 — Craig Loader 1981 — Brian Mccauley 1980 — Jenny Blackadder 1979 — Jeanie Thomas 1978 — Noel Parlane 1977 — Ovation 1976 — Janice Ramage 1975 — Joy Pirie 1974 — Patsy Riggir
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