Pacific artists big winners at AMAs

After a day dominated by the government‘s budget, as well as peaceful hikoi protests that took place around the country, a celebration of New Zealand’s best and brightest musicians kicked off at Viaduct Events Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau for the Aotearoa Music Awards.

One of the hotly contested awards of the night was the Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau (Best Hip Hop Artist) which went to Home Brew’s Harry Huavi, whose stage name is Haz Beats, and Tom Scott for their Run it back album.

In his acceptance speech, Scott mentioned Diggy Dupe (Stephen Atutolu), a nominee in the category.

“I wanna thank Diggy, bro, you should’ve won for central. I wanna thank tangata whenua for the sauce source in this country.”

Three other Pacific artists were also nominated throughout the evening.

Sam V for Best R&B/Soul, Jordan Gavet in the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category, and Jordan.with.a.y in the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award.

But the winner who lit up the crowd was Aaradhna Jayantilal Patel, who added another trophy to her impressive resume, after winning the Best Soul/R&B Artist.

She says her mum instantly came to mind.

“I think the first person I thought about was my mum, she was everything to me and she recently passed away.”

And her video She won best video, which filmmaker Anahera Parata directed.

Haz Beats also took out the best producer joining Aarahdna winning two trophies on the night.

Haz Beats’ fellow Home Brew collaborator is Tom Scott, who has made headlines at previous music awards for bringing a goat, says the two awards are dedicated to all those labelled weirdos.

And the artists said they believed their awards were just the beginning of the pair’s future success.

The 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards winners

Spotify Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year - The Beths – Expert In A Dying Field

Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year - Avantdale Bowling Club – Friday Night @ The Liquor Store

Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group - The Beths

Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist - Marlon Williams

Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer - Tom Healy and Alexandra Corbett – Marlon Williams, My Boy

Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist - TAWAZ

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo - TAWAZ – He Aho

JD Sports Tā te Iwi | People’s Choice - Hori Shaw

Radio Burgerfuel Te Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year - COTERIE

Te Tino Waiata ā-Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Single of the Year - Corrella – Blue Eyed Māori

Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist - Corrella

Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Artist - Kaylee Bell

Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist - Aaradhna

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content -Anahera Parata – Aaradhna, SHE.

Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist - Princess Chelsea.

Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist - Home Brew

Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer, presented by Massey University - Haz Beats – Home Brew, Run It Back

Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist - Georgia Lines

Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist - Amamelia

Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist - Racing

Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork - Lily Paris West – Mermaidens, Mermaidens

Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist - Myele Manzanza

Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist - New Zealand String Quartet

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Hokona | Highest Selling Artist - Six60

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year - L.A.B – Take It Away

Te Manu Mātārae - Kaylee Bell & Stan Walker

Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame - Dame Hinewehi Mohi