The 2025 Taite Music Prize Winner Is MOKOTRON - WAEREA

Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, NZ — Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) is proud to announce the winner of the prestigious 2025 Taite Music Prize at an exclusive ceremony held at the Q Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau. The event celebrated outstanding New Zealand albums released in the previous calendar year and showcased exceptional local talent across genres.

Pippa Ryan-Kidd of IMNZ set the tone of the night with an inspiring opening speech, "By recognising and celebrating the most creative and talented musicians, these Awards help to elevate music as an art form and highlight its importance within our culture. It is our job to inform and remind the rest of the nation - how important Aotearoa Music is to them."

Tonight’s main prize winner, MOKOTRON, was awarded the Taite trophy for his album, WAEREA, released via local label, Sunreturn. Mokotron receives a $12,500 cash prize, courtesy of founding partner Recorded Music NZ. The award was presented by 2024 winner Vera Ellen and Nick Atkinson (Supergroove, Hopetoun Brown and Independent Artist Representative from Recorded Music NZ). During the presentation, Vera Ellen said: “May this award be a beautiful sound that echoes out to your family, kids, and community.”

The winning album, WAEREA has been recognised as a bold and uncompromising statement—reclaiming space through sound by intertwining whakapapa with contemporary narratives. This work not only confronts present-day realities but also expands the horizons of bass music in Aotearoa. Reflecting on the intent behind the album, MOKOTRON said: “Whānau, when I write music, I want people to know that it could only come from one place in the world — Aotearoa.”

Additional Honours of the Evening:

The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award goes to Byllie-Jean for her debut album Filter. With a distinctive blend of pop and experimental sounds, Filter has drawn acclaim for its fearless lyricism, genre-defying production, and sharp political edge. Tracks shift seamlessly from soulful vulnerability to wry social critique, marking Byllie-Jean as a vital new voice in Aotearoa music. “Well, this is going to take a young minute to process — thank you! For me, this is a win for all wāhine Māori. Congratulations, wāhine Māori! No matter what happens, we just keep holding it down,” said Byllie-Jean in her acceptance speech. Daniel Clarke, Director of Performing Arts at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, leading Auckland Live says: “Supporting Aotearoa’s community of independent music artists is an important part of our mahi. We’re incredibly proud to be part of the Taite Music Prize eco-system and to help empower our local singers, songwriters and musicians with their artistic endeavours. I’d like to personally congratulate Auckland Live Best Independent Debut winner Byllie-jean for her extraordinary work on Filter.” 

The Independent Spirit Award was presented to Rohan Evans, a true champion of New Zealand's independent music scene. As the founder of The Wine Cellar, a beloved venue beneath Auckland's St Kevin's Arcade, Rohan has been instrumental in nurturing emerging artists since 2004. His dedication has earned him immense respect within the industry. 

Chris Schulz took home the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award for Boiler Room, his Substack dedicated to longform stories from the heart of New Zealand music. From revisiting overlooked albums to tracing cultural shifts through sound, Schulz’s work combines deep research with personal insight—bringing new light to artists and movements that have shaped Aotearoa’s musical identity.  Presenting the award, Suzanne De Spong, Senior Communications Advisor for New Zealand On Air said, “Music journalists are vital in helping New Zealand artists gain the recognition they deserve and play a key role in keeping our music industry thriving. Which is why NZ On Air is very proud to be sponsoring the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award for the fourth year in a row.”

The Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award was presented to SHIHAD for their groundbreaking album Killjoy (Wildside Records, 1995). A cornerstone of New Zealand’s rock legacy, Killjoy continues to resonate with both fans and musicians. While presenting the award, Murray Cammick said: “What’s so special about Killjoy is the energy it captured in its time. As the decades have passed, the songs from Killjoy have become the encores people look forward to.”

Event Highlights:

The ceremony featured performances by previous Taite Music Prize award winners, including Vera Ellen and JUJULIPPS, who joined forces with other artists to celebrate the achievements of the night. The hot ticket event, attended by over 450 IMNZ members and industry professionals, was a vibrant showcase of New Zealand’s rich musical heritage.

Government Officials were in attendance including Hon. Chris Bishop - a self-confessed SHIHAD fan, Green Party Co-Leader and MP for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick; long time Taites Award supporter and Reuben Davidson, MP for Christchurch East (Also Delaney's cousin) from the Labour Party.

Judging Panel:

The 2025 Taite Music Prize panel for the main award was composed of esteemed members of the music media and industry, dedicated to a transparent and fair selection process based entirely on artistic merit. The judges were:

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith - The Spinoff

Hariet Ellis - Flying Nun Records, IMNZ Board member

Jazmine Mary - Artist, IMNZ Board member

Tony Stamp - RNZ

Stormie Kereopa-Lloyd - APRA

Paddy Hill - Roundhead Studios

Karl Puschmann - Freelance Journalist 

Annabel Kean - Sports Team LTD

Damon Newton - Auckland Live 

Sarah Thomson - NZ On Air

Chris Cudby - Under The Radar

Tom Tremewan - 95bFM

With Thanks to Our Partners:

The Taite Music Prize is presented by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), with special thanks to our Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ. 

We also acknowledge the generous support of our Official Partners: NZ On Air and The Taite Family; Award Partner: Auckland Live; and Event Partner: Q Theatre. 

A heartfelt thank you to our Supporting Partners, whose contributions help make this event possible: Parachute Music, Panhead Breweries, NZ Music Commission, APRA AMCOS, Media Arts Lawyers, Merlin, ToneDeaf, College Hill, Loop, FUGA, and Monstavision. 

We also extend our gratitude to our Media Partners: RNZ Music and 95bFM, and our Charity Partner MusicHelps.

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