PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Award winners announced
This year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards has produced another multi-winner and for the first time in its four-year
history, two artists have shared the top prize for the best female solo artist.
The 2011 award winners were announced in front of about 800 people at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings on
Thursday night.
Topping the charts, Tiki Taane was named Best Maori Songwriter, Best Male Solo Artist and was judged to have Best Maori
Song (Starship Lullaby) at the awards.
Tiki missed out on a fourth award, Best Maori Urban Rap/Hip Hop/RnB Album, that honour went to Tatou Tatou E. Tiki’s
family accepted the award on his behalf.
Last year singer songwriter Maisey Rika took home four awards and tonight was one of the guest performers at the awards
ceremony.
Singers Anna Coddington and Mina Ripia walked away joint winners for the Best Maori Female Solo Artist award, the first
time in the event’s history that judges were unable to separate two artists to produce a clear winner.
“This is the most laughs I’ve ever had at an awards ceremony and it is the first award I have received since I have been
releasing my own albums,” Anna said to the audience as she received her award.
In the new reggae category, House of Shem was given the award for the Best Maori Urban Roots Album (Island Vibration),
ahead of finalists NRH Rising, Katchafire and Juice Box.
Tyna Keelan, Darren Mathiassen and Christopher Yeabsley who together form The Nok, were awarded Best Maori Pop Album.
The Best Maori Traditional Album in Te Reo was awarded to Henare Waitoa (composer) and Kahu Waitoa (artist) for the
album Nga Waiata o Henare Waitoa.
Two winners from 2010 repeated their success being named on the awards list for this year.
Northland reggae band 1814 again won the Radio Airplay Record of the Year by a Maori Artist in Te Reo Maori award,
sponsored by Te Whakaruruhau o nga Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa.
And Stan Walker, also for the second consecutive year, was the recipient of the Radio Airplay Record of the Year Award
by a Maori Artist sponsored by NZ on Air.
National Waiata Maori Music Awards 2011 Winners
1. Best Maori Traditional Album (Te Reo)
Nga Waiata o Henare Waitoa, by Henare Waitoa (composer)
Kahu Waitoa (artist)
2. Best Maori Songwriter
Tkii Taane
3. Best Maori Song
Starship Lullaby, by Tiki Taane
4. Best Maori Female Solo Artist
Anna Coddington & Mina Ripia
5. Best Maori Male Solo Artist
Tiki Taane
6. Best Maori Pop Album
The Nok, By Tyna Keelan, Darren Mathiassen,
Christopher Yeabsley.
7. Best Maori Urban Roots Album
Island Vibration, by House of Shem
8. Best Maori Urban Rap/Hip Hop/RnB Album
Tatou Tatou E
9. Radio Airplay Record of the Year by a Maori Artist in Te Reo Maori
sponsored by Te Whakaruruhau o nga Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa.
1814
10. Radio Airplay Record of the Year by a Maori Artist sponsored by NZ on Air.
Stan Walker
ends