60 Years of Tuis! 2025 Finalists announced.
Tuesday 08 April 2025
Recorded Music NZ, producer of the Aotearoa Music Awards, has announced the finalists of the 2025 Tūīs.
Two artists lead the way this year with five nominations each, Persian-New Zealand talent CHAII and inaugural (2024) Te Manu Mātārae recipient, Stan Walker.
The 60th Tui Awards will be celebrated on Thursday 29 May at the Viaduct Events Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau – closing out New Zealand Music Month.
And the finalists are:
Aotearoa Music Awards 2025 Finalists
(by category)
AMA 2025 category sponsors:
NZ On Air
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of The Year
Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content
Te Māngai Pāho
· Mana Reo
· Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Spotify
· Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year
· Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist
NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year
Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
CHAII – Safar
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho
Jordan Rakei – The Loop
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
L.A.B – L.A.B VI
Mel Parsons – Sabotage
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson
Troy Kingi – Leatherman And The Mojave Green
Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year
Cassie Henderson – ‘Seconds To Midnight (11.59)’
CHAII – ‘We Be Killing It’
Fazerdaze – ‘Cherry Pie’
Georgia Lines – ‘The Letter’
JessB – ‘Power’ (feat. Sister Nancy & Sampa the Great)
Kaylee Bell – ‘Cowboy Up’
Lorde – ‘Girl, so confusing featuring lorde’ (Charli xcx, Lorde)
MOKOMOKAI – ‘KUPE’ feat. MELODOWNZ
Reb Fountain – ‘Come Down’
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
Theia – ‘BALDH3AD!’
Troy Kingi – ‘Silicone Booby Trap’
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group
Corrella – Skeletons
DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Earth Tongue – Great Haunting
Foley
L.A.B – L.A.B VI
SKILAA – Tiger In The River
Spotify Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist
Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Stan Walker
Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo
Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
Haami Tuari – Taku Kaenga
Jordyn With a Why – ‘Reia’
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
TAWAZ – ‘Tātarakihi’ (feat. MOHI)
Tuari Brothers – ‘Higher’
Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
Corrella – Skeletons
Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice
MOHI
Stan Walker
TAWAZ
Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist
Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn
Louisa Nicklin – The Big Sulk
Vera Ellen – heartbreak for jetlag
Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist
Jian Liu – Where Fairburn Walked
Justin DeHart – Towards Midnight: NZ Percussion Vol 2
Michael Houstoun – The Well-Tempered Clavier
Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist
Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson – Happiness Is Near
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson
Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist
CHAII – Safar
Lee Mvtthews – EXIT
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist
Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams
Kerryn Fields – The Folk Singer
Mel Parsons – Sabotage
Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist
David Dallas – Vita
Jujulipps – Superstar
RNZŌ
Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist
Lucien Johnson – Ancient Relics
Thabani Gapara – Dzindza
Umar Zakaria – Family Music
Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist
Cassie Henderson – The Yellow Chapter
Frankie Venter
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho
Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist
DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Devilskin – Surfacing
Troy Kingi – Leatherman And The Mojave Green
Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist
Christoph El Truento – Dubs From The Neighbourhood
Corrella – Skeletons
Lomez Brown
Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Sam V
Stan Walker
ARTISAN AWARDS
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork
Emma Hercus – Sabotage (Mel Parsons)
Matt Sinclair – Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson)
Natalie King, Chris Schmelz – Uneven Ground (Death and the Maiden)
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer
Emily Wheatcroft-Snape, Amelia Murray – Soft Power (Fazerdaze)
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Simon Gooding – Safar (CHAII)
NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content
CHAII – ‘Night Like This’ (CHAII)
Night Watch – ‘Nightshift’ (Jujulipps)
Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – ‘Paradise’ (DARTZ)
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer
CHAII, Frank Keys – Safar (CHAII)
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Rory Noble
Aotearoa Music Awards 2025 Finalists
(by artist)
Aaradhna
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Sweet Surrender
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for Sweet Surrender
Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Anna Coddington
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Te Whakamiha
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist for Te Whakamiha
Mana Reo for Te Whakamiha
Barry Saunders & Delaney Davidson
Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist for Happiness is Near
Cassie Henderson
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Seconds To Midnight (11.59)’
Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist for The Yellow Chapter
CHAII
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Safar
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘We Be Killing It’
Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist for Safar
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Video Content – ‘Night Like This’
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer – Safar (CHAII & Frank Keys)
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer – Safar (Simon Gooding)
Christoph El Truento
Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist for Dubs From The Neighbourhood
Corrella
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group for Skeletons
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist for Skeletons
Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist for Skeletons
DARTZ
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group for Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist for Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Video Content for ‘Paradise’ (Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li)
David Dallas
Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist for Vita
Devilskin
Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist for Surfacing
Earth Tongue
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group for Great Haunting
Emily Wheatcroft–Snape & Amelia Murray
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer for Soft Power (Fazerdaze)
Emma Hercus
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Sabotage (Mel Parsons)
Fazerdaze
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Soft Power
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Cherry Pie’
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for Soft Power
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer – Amelia Murray & Emily Wheatcroft-Snape for Soft Power
Frankie Venter
Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist
Foley
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group
Georgia Lines
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for The Rose Of Jericho
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘The Letter’
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for The Rose Of Jericho
Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist for The Rose Of Jericho
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer – The Rose Of Jericho (Nic Manders)
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer – The Rose Of Jericho (Nic Manders)
Haami Tuari
Mana Reo for ‘Taku Kaenga’
Holly Arrowsmith
Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist for Blue Dreams
Jess B
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Power’ (feat. Sister Nancy & Sampa the Great)
Jian Liu
Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist for Where Fairburn Walked
Jim Nothing
Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist for Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn
Jordan Rakei
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for The Loop
Jordyn with a Why
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist for Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice
Mana Reo for ‘Reia’
Jujulipps
Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist for Superstar
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Video Content for ‘Nightshift’ (Night Watch)
Justin DeHart
Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist for Towards Midnight: NZ Percussion Vol 2
Kaylee Bell
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Nights Like This
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Cowboy Up’
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for Nights Like This
Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist for Nights Like This
Kerryn Fields
Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist for The Folk Singer
L.A.B
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for L.A.B VI
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group for L.A.B VI
Lee Mvtthews
Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist for EXIT
Lorde
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Girl, so confusing featuring lorde’ (Charli xcx, Lorde)
Louisa Nicklin
Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist for The Big Sulk
Lucien Johnson
Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist for Ancient Relics
Lomez Brown
Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist
Matt Sinclair
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson)
Mel Parsons
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Sabotage
Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist for Sabotage
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Sabotage (Emma Hercus)
Michael Houstoun
Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist for The Well-Tempered Clavier
MOHI
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
MOKOMOKAI
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘KUPE’ feat. MELODOWNZ
MOKOTRON
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for WAEREA
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist for WAEREA
Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist for WAEREA
Natalie King, Chris Schmelz
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Uneven Ground (Death and the Maiden)
Nic Manders
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Night Watch
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Video Content for ‘Nighshift’ (Jujulipps)
Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li
Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Video Content for ‘Paradise’ (DARTZ)
Reb Fountain
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Come Down’
RNZŌ
Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist
Rory Noble
Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer
Sam V
Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Simon Gooding
Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer for Safar (CHAII)
SKILAA
Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group for Tiger In The River
Stan Walker
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Mana Reo for ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist
Tami Neilson
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Neilson Sings Nelson
Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist for Neilson Sings Nelson
Related Nominations
Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork for Neilson Sings Nelson (Matt Sinclair)
TAWAZ
Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist
Mana Reo for ‘Tātarakihi’ (feat. MOHI)
Thabani Gapara
Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist for Dzinda
Theia
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘BALDH3AD!’
Troy Kingi
Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year for Leatherman And The Mojave Green
Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year for ‘Silicone Booby Trap’
Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist for Leatherman And The Mojave Green
Tuari Brothers
Mana Reo for Higher
Umar Zakaria
Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist for Family Music
Vera Ellen
Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist for heartbreak for jetlag
Finalists and recipients in the following categories are still to be announced:
· Te Iti Rearea o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year (TBA in May)
· Tā te Iwi | People's Choice (winner TBA at AMA 2025)
· Te Taumata o te Hokona | Highest Selling Artist (winner TBA at AMA 2025)
· NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year (winner TBA at AMA 2025)
· Te Manu Mātārae (recipients TBA at AMA 2025)
About Aotearoa Music Awards
The Aotearoa Music Awards is the annual showcase event for the music industry, celebrating artists and music from Aotearoa. The event recognises the biggest musical successes of the year while also providing a platform to promote emerging artists. Grounded in 60 years of history, the Aotearoa Music Awards has evolved to reflect our unique cultural identity. It has launched music careers, told artists’ stories and created memorable moments.
Recorded Music NZ produces the Aotearoa Music Awards and acts as its kaitiaki – preserving our musical heritage, celebrating the hits of today and paving the way for the artists of tomorrow.
