Presented by: Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ)

Founding Partner: Recorded Music NZ

Official Partners: NZ On Air / The Taite whānau

Award Partner: Auckland Live

Supporting Partners: FUGA / Parachute Studios / Panhead Brewery / NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Media Arts Lawyers / Merlin / ToneDeaf / College Hill / Loop

Media Partners: RNZ / 95bFM and the SRN network

Charity Partner: MusicHelps

Celebrating 17 Years of Originality, Independence & Artistic Excellence - Entries Now Open!

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), with the support of Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ, proudly announces that nominations are now open for the 2026 Taite Music Prize – Aotearoa’s annual celebration of creativity, innovation and artistic integrity.

If you’ve released an album during 2025, this is your chance to have it recognised as one of the country’s most artistically compelling works. Entries close 31 January, 2026!

Why Enter – and Why Join IMNZ?

The Taite Music Prize celebrates albums that embody originality and artistic excellence, regardless of genre, sales or profile. Named after legendary music journalist Dylan Taite, the award honours creativity for its own sake – a recognition of artistic risk-taking and authenticity.

Entering is even easier (and cheaper!) when you’re an IMNZ member:

• Members receive up to three free nominations for the Taite Music Prize (each nomination worth $100 + GST).
• Additional nominations only $50 + GST.
• Non-IMNZ members pay $100 per entry + GST, payable on invoice.
  
  

That means joining IMNZ costs less than entering once – and comes with year-round benefits:
🎵 An independent voice representing you across industry and government
📰 Inclusion of your news/releases/shows in the IMNZ weekly newsletter
📈 Eligibility for IMNZ Charts (Singles, Albums and Airplay)
🏆 Eligibility for the Taite Music Prize and Auckland Live Best Independent Debut

 🎟️ Complimentary invitation to the ticketed Taite Music Prize ceremony!
🎟️ Invitations / discounts to IMNZ events & Going Global Music Summit
💡 IMNZ Tip Sheet & upskilling workshops
🎧 Exclusive discounts with Roundhead Studios, Sublime Studios, WARM, BIGSOUND, Shine On Promo (USA)

👉 Join today at www.indies.co.nz/join and don’t forget to submit your album or nominations before 5.00pm Friday 30 January 2026.

Help Us Celebrate 17 Years of the Taite Music Prize!

As part of our 2026 campaign, we’re looking to showcase the history of the Taite Music Prize over the past 17 years – and we need your help! If you have photos, videos, or other memories from past awards, we’d love for you to share them.

Please upload your materials via this Google Form. Don’t forget to include your name, the year, and any details about the photo/video. Selected submissions may be featured across our social media channels as we celebrate the Prize’s rich history.

About the Prize

The winner receives a $12,500 cash prize (thanks to Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ) and the coveted Taite Music Prize trophy.
Eligible albums must be:

• Released between 1 Jan – 31 Dec 2025
• At least 25 minutes long or contain six or more tracks
• 75% original material
• Created by NZ citizens or permanent residents
  

In addition to the main prize, IMNZ will again present the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, recognising emerging talent and offering a $2,000 cash prize plus a Parachute Studios recording package worth $1,250; the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, honouring creative and ethical storytelling across written, audio and visual formats; the Independent Spirit Award for extraordinary contribution to the independent community; and the IMNZ Classic Record Award, acknowledging landmark recordings that have shaped Aotearoa’s sound.

Celebrating 2025 Winners

Last year’s Taite Music Prize honoured MOKOTRON for his powerful album Waerea (Sunreturn Records).
Other 2025 winners included:
• Byllie-Jean – Auckland Live Best Independent Debut for Filter
• Rohan Evans – Independent Spirit Award
• Chris Schulz – NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award for Boiler Room
• SHIHAD – Classic Record Award for Killjoy (1995, Wildside Records)

Revisit the legacy of 2025 Finalists here:
🎶 Taite Music Prize – 2025 Finalists
🎶 Taite Music Prize – 2025 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Finalists

How the Judging Works

Stage One – A voting academy of approximately 1,200 musicians, industry professionals and media select their top albums to form the finalist list.
Stage Two – A ten-person judging panel then assesses the finalists on artistic merit alone – not sales or popularity.
The panel remains confidential until the ceremony to protect the independence and integrity of the process.

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, HopetounBrown 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, Steve Abel - Green Party MP and Reuben Davidson, MP for Christchurch East (Also Delaney's cousin) from the Labour Party.