‘Stack of Ches’: Niuean pride and Pacific music pioneers celebrated at Aotearoa Music Awards

The spirit of Niue was in the spotlight at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards, as hip-hop legend Che Fu was formally inducted into Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

The crowd at Auckland’s Civic Theatre erupted as Che Fu, who hails from Mutalau, Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāti Whakatere, performed a powerful traditional Niuean takalo (war dance).

It was a moment of deep cultural pride that set the tone for an evening celebrating the pioneers who paved the way for today’s artists.

Che Fu closed the night with an epic medley of his iconic tracks Chains, Misty Frequencies, and Waka alongside his band The Kratez - expanded to include horns and a choir.

The performance showed his trailblazing career and featured a te reo Māori version of Fade Away with Te Kapa Haka o Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi.

Che Fu was welcomed into the Hall of Fame by his "longtime hero" Betty-Anne Hall of Ardijah. Speaking with RNZ's John Campbell on the night, he reflected on his journey.

"When I [first] ventured out myself, there weren't that many young Polynesian people putting out original music, let alone hip-hop style music,” he said.

“In that way, I do feel like I was part of that first line, a pioneer in certain ways. There was a bunch of us. I wasn't alone."

A tribute video showcased Polynesian music greats celebrating his impact, including King Kapisi, Melodownz, Bella Kalolo, Tiki Taane, Hall, and Mareko.

“Big congratulations to my big brother Che,” Mareko said. “Man, we need you on the $20 bill. We need your face on some money, so that when we’re in the club you can make it rain a stack of Ches.”

Celebrating the Next Generation

Pōneke-based pop artist Riiki Reid (Raquel Abolins-Reid), who is of Māori, Sāmoan, Latvian, and Scottish descent, took home the NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year for her hit single Over Romantic.

“This is really special to me, I truly mean it when I say [for] every kid who dreams of being a musician so young, I feel like the dream is ‘I wanna hear myself on the radio one day’. Tonight that dream has come true.”

Riiki Reid. Photo/Supplied

Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist went to Caru & Brandn Shiraz for their collaborative EP, Back 2 Back.

Shiraz, who is of Kūki ‘Āirani and Pākehā descent, seamlessly blends the pātē drum with modern UK garage.

Shiraz missed the beginning of the acceptance speech, prompting Caru to declare that Shiraz is “the future and the ticket out of here”.

Caru and Brandn Shiraz (right). Photo/Supplied/Finn Bowman

Emerging from the crowd, Shiraz admitted his shock at beating fellow Cook Islands nominee Geneva AM.

“Not gonna lie, I genuinely didn’t think we were going to get this," he said, before turning to Caru to ask: “Wait, what did you say? What have we already said?”

Icons of the airwaves

Rounding out the celebration of musical longevity, legendary roots group Fat Freddy’s Drop was honoured as the 2026 Aotearoa Charts Icon.

Fat Freddy's Drop. Photo/Supplied

The band has spent a staggering 251 weeks in the Top 40 Albums Chart and their seminal record Based on a True Story (BOATS) stands as the highest-selling Aotearoa vinyl release of the last quarter-century.

“On behalf of the band, all the Freddys', a heartfelt thank you to everyone for this award. It’s been a hell of a journey,” saxophonist Chopper Reeds says.

“We really owe a great debt to our fans for keeping us in the charts, keeping the music out there in the world.”

DJ Mu wears his Faiumu jacket during the Fat Freddy’s Drop 'SLO MO' Eurpoean tour in 2024. Photo/Supplied/Jamie Leith

Vocalist, and guitarist Joe Dukie paid tribute to the late Christopher Ta'aloga Faiumu.

“The actual feat of getting the songs we’ve been jamming with no writing whatsoever into an album, having that released to the world, was all thanks to the vision of our big chief, DJ Mu. Everything we do from here is tribute to him.”

Fat Freddy's Drop is currently on their BOATS 21st Anniversary Global Tour across Europe and the UK through October.

Click here for a full list of winners.