Aotearoa Music Awards 2026: Marlon Williams, Lorde and Te Pāti Māori MP among winners

It has already made history as the first album sung entirely in te reo Māori by a solo artist to chart at No 1 on the Top 40.

He recently won both the Taite Music Prize and Apra Best Country Music Song Award.

Williams is in the final days of a New Zealand tour, after which he will take a break from performing.

“I’m absolutely humbled by what a beautiful night this has been,” he said, after being gifted a special performance by a Kapa Haka group.

“This is not Māori music having its day, this is just a day in Māori music.”

Williams told the Herald: “It’s one beautiful thing to bring te reo Māori to the other side of the world, and it’s another beautiful thing to bring it home again. It’s just a pleasure all in, wherever you are.”

While she wasn’t in the crowd, Lorde was named Best Pop Artist and winner of the International Achievement award, applauded for the widespread success of her album Virgin and her recent Ultrasound tour. At one point after its release, six singles from Virginwere in the NZ Top 40 singles charts.

“This was one of my most challenging years,” the singer said via a video message, adding the award was dedicated to everyone who came to her recent Auckland show at Spark Arena.

She described the gig, which the Herald labelled as “ethereal,” as an “incredible night and point of connection to Aotearoa.”

“Everywhere I go, I am from Aotearoa New Zealand. My beliefs, values, and way of life are shaped from where I’m from. Thank you, and I’ll see you soon.”

Politics and music also came together on the night, with Stan Walker and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke winning the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo award, which celebrates albums or singles with at least 50% te reo Māori content.

Walker’s song Mō Āke Tonuhas been described asan empowering activism anthem, and features Maipi-Clarke’s pao (chant) that preceded a haka she led in Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill.

“She epitomises who we are in this generation, in this time. As rangatira, as a person that lives out and lives for our people, mana motuhake,” Walker told the Herald of Maipi-Clarke, who didn’t attend the ceremony.

“She’s fighting for our rights, but ultimately what she’s doing is she’s living for our rights. She’s living for our people. She’s the living example of what we hope to have and what we have in her.”

Walker was nearly too late to accept the award, as he was in the bathroom when the announcement was made. His wife, Lou, stalled for him until he got to the podium.

“I’ve got no stomach, but it was grumbling,” he joked, while also thanking his wife, whanau, and the wider Māori music community.

“We feel honoured and privileged to be able to do what we do.”

Dame Lynda Topp also made a special appearance, honouring her late sister Jools, and making an impassioned speech about the Government’s newly released budget.

The Topp Twins star urged Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith to support Kiwi musicians.

“We need support for artists in this country. We need a government that says the arts is more important than the defence budget,” Lynda said.

The political messages came a year after Minister Chris Bishop was caught saying Walker’s 2025 performance was “a load of crap” at the 2025 award ceremony.

Bishop later claimed he was frustrated by the politicisation of Walker’s performance, which featured flags displaying “Toitū Te Tiriti”.

After touring the country in tribute to Christopher “Mu” Ta’aloga Faiumu, who died suddenly last year, Fat Freddy’s Drop were named the second-ever Aotearoa Charts Icon, following last year’s inaugural winners Six60.

While not at the ceremony, Chopper Reedz (Scott Towers) paid tribute to the band’s fans and to Faiumu in a video recording.

“It’s been a hell of a journey. We need to mention the big man, Mu. He was an inspirational character to be around. We miss him every day, but we remember him every day as well by playing music and being here on stage,” Towers said.

“I think we really owe a great debt of thanks to our fans first and foremost for getting out there and getting these records and keeping us in the charts, keeping the music out there in the world.”

Frontman Dallas Tamaira added that everything the band did from then would be a tribute to Faiumu.

“I thank him, and also thanks to our families and our partners.”

Six60 didn’t miss out this year, either. After selling out Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium earlier this month, they were crowned the highest-selling New Zealand artist.

Auckland band The Beths were named Best Group, while Home Brew frontman Tom Scott, who recently released his album ANITYA,took home the Best RnB / Soul artist gong.

Relative newcomers Te Wehi and Balu Brigada were acknowledged in the Breakthrough Artist and Te Manu Mātārae categories. Borderline won the People’s Choice Award.

“The creativity and innovation I see in the NZ music scene makes me very proud,” The Beths drummer Tristan Deck said.

“I always used to think that New Zealand being isolated was a weakness, but now I see it as a strength.”