New Zealand music’s new Tui!

News release tui – 1
October 4, 2006

New Zealand music’s new Tui!

New Zealand, meet your new Tui.

Twenty-five of these 9ct gold plated little beauties are being handed out this year to the country’s top musos, 18 of them on October 18 at the New Zealand Music Awards 2006.

New Zealand Music Awards Tuis have been presented since 1996. Prior to that, winners such Th’ Dudes and Hello Sailor would have taken home to mum anything from a fluorescent Perspex monstrosity to alloy blocks or an imitation record.

Then in the mid-90s the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand decided the native Tui bird would be a good cultural and musical symbol on which to base the design of a new trophy.

Perhaps the good folk at RIANZ had been reading an early version of Wikipedia, which says Tuis “are known for their noisy, unusual call, different for each individual, which combines bellbird-like notes with clicks, cackles and wheezing sounds”!

Sound like any Kiwi musician you know?

Whatever the motivation, the term Tui has stuck and today even the award ceremony itself has become known as the Tuis.

Previously a bronze statuette, the new Tui is now made from 9ct gold plated aluminium with real paua shell inlay all on a black chrome base. It is designed and manufactured by Three Sixty Limited in Albany near Auckland.

- If you’re quick, you’ll be able to see this year’s trophies handed over at The Aotea Centre - THE EDGE® on October 18. For the first time in many years a limited number of tickets have been released for public sale. Go to www.ticketek.co.nz or trundle down to Real Groovy, Sounds or Marbecks. They’re $47.50 a piece, a pittance when you consider you get to see the cream of the country’s music industry in action.

About the New Zealand Music Awards: The New Zealand Music Awards are presented by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) and are held annually to celebrate the achievements of New Zealand musicians. The 41st Annual New Zealand Music Awards ceremony takes place in the ASB Theatre of Auckland’s Aotea Centre - The Edge® on Wednesday October 18. Television audiences will see delayed broadcasts on C4 on Thursday October 19 from 8.30 pm. TV3 also broadcasts the show on Saturday October 21.

The Tuis presented at the NZ Music Awards 2006 ceremony are for:
PlayStation®2 SingStar Album of the Year, The New Zealand Herald Single of the Year
Best Group, Best Male Solo Artist, Best Female Solo Artist, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, The Warehouse Highest Selling NZ Album, Highest Selling NZ Single, C4 Best Music Video, Best Rock Album, Best Urban/Hip Hop Album, Best Dance/Electronica Album, Best Aotearoa Roots Album, Best Maori Album, Best Gospel/Christian Album
Best Classical Album, People’s Choice, NZ on Air Radio Airplay Record Of The Year.

About Rianz: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to protect the rights and promote the interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media