Announcing the Winners of the 2019 NZ Children’s Music Awards
APRA AMCOS, Recorded Music New Zealand and NZ On Air are excited to announce the winners of the 2019 NZ Children’s Music
Awards – celebrating those writing and recording for our youngest generation of Kiwi music fans.
APRA Best Children's Song winner:
- Simon Stanley for Marley Sitting on a Pumpkin Seed written by Cy Winstanley
Recorded Music NZ Best Children's Artist winner:
- Craig Smith for Not Just For Kids 2
NZ On Air Best Children's Music Video winner:
- Suzy Cato and Kath Bee for Sprinkle A Little Sunshine, video by Raymond McGrath
This years winners represented the diversity and quality of the music being produced in NZ. From first-time finalist Cy
Winstanley’s infectious folk song, world-famous Wonky Donkey Man and NZ’s finest, Suzy Cato and Kath Bee, the winning
songs are equal to anything from international artists. They cover a diverse range of genres all guaranteed to touch
hearts, funny bones and get kids toes tapping.
Craig Smith is a two-time APRA Best Childrens Song Award winner, two-time ISC finalist (children’s secton), NZ Post children’s book
award winner (children’s choice) and #1 best selling author with The Wonky Donkey. Not Just For Kids 2 is the long-awaited follow up from Not Just For Kids released in 2007. The 2CD compilation includes The Wonky Donkey musical statues and a bonus Live from Glastonbury CD.
Kath Bee & Suzy Cato are two of NZ’s most well-known faces in Children’s music. Individually they have achieved awards, tours, radio & TV shows. The video for Sprinkle A Little Sunshine is made by Raymond McGrath, award-winning animation director, animator, illustrator, designer and writer. Suzy was a Tui
finalist in 1996 for ‘You & Me Songbook’ while Kath won the NZ On Air Best Music Video Award for Individuality in 2010, and Dragons Under My Bed in
2014.
Simon Stanley is the pseudonym of Cy Winstanley – songwriter and frontman of Tui Award Winning and APRA Silver Scroll Award nominated
duo, Tattletale Saints. Recorded in Nashville, Marley Sitting on a Pumpkin Seed is Cy’s first foray into Children’s Music and was inspired by the birth of his niece Marley. Cy wanted to create
something that captured the surreal beauty of her home in Central Otago and also teach her about the crazy banjos and
mandolins that have become part of his life in Tennessee.
All three awards were presented at a special family friendly event at the Tuning Fork, Spark Arena Auckland this
morning. Hosted by Suzy Cato, guests were treated to performances by Levity Beet, Anna van Riel, Craig Smith plus Marian
Burns and kids. Following the awards, guests enjoyed a BBQ and creative musical activities on the plaza courtesy of
Spark Arena.