The 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards was the 58th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for New Zealand music recording artists, and the 60th anniversary of the awards. The ceremony took place on 29 May 2025 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland and was hosted by Radio NZ presenters Jesse Mulligan and Kara Rickard.
The awards were live streamed by Radio New Zealand, and made available to watch the next day on TVNZ+.
The event was notable due to an incident where Chris Bishop was recorded calling a performance by Stan Walker "a load of crap" and the audience applause "performative acclaim". Bishop declined to apologise for the comments, saying he was frustrated by the "politicisation" of the performance, but admitted he should have kept it to himself. Bishop acknowledged he had consumed alcohol but denied he was intoxicated.
Nominees and winners Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (). Album of the YearSingle of the Year Fazerdaze – Soft Power Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha CHAII – Safar 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 Lorde – "Girl, So Confusing featuring Lorde" (Charli XCX, Lorde) 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"
MOKOMOKAI – "KUPE" feat. MELODOWNZ Reb Fountain – "Come Down" Stan Walker – "Māori Ki Te Ao" Theia – "BALDH3AD!" Troy Kingi – "Silicone Booby Trap"Best Solo ArtistBest Group Fazerdaze – Soft Power Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This MOKOTRON – WAEREA Stan Walker Earth Tongue – Great Haunting Corrella – Skeletons DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One Foley L.A.B – L.A.B VI SKILAA – Tiger In The RiverBest Māori ArtistMana Reo Stan Walker Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha Corrella – Skeletons Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice MOHI TAWAZ Stan Walker – "Māori Ki Te Ao" Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha Haami Tuari – Taku Kaenga Jordyn with a Why – "Reia" TAWAZ – "Tātarakihi" (feat. MOHI) Tuari Brothers – "Higher"Breakthrough Artist of the YearBest Pop Artist Hori Shaw A.R.T DARTZ Cassie Henderson – The Yellow Chapter Frankie Venter Georgia Lines – The Rose Of JerichoBest Alternative ArtistBest Soul / RnB Artist Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn Louisa Nicklin – The Big Sulk Vera Ellen – heartbreak for jetlag Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender Sam V Stan WalkerBest Hip Hop ArtistBest Roots Artist David Dallas – Vita Jujulipps – Superstar RNZŌ Corrella – Skeletons Christoph El Truento – Dubs From The Neighbourhood Lomez BrownBest Rock ArtistBest Electronic Artist DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One Devilskin – Surfacing Troy Kingi – Leatherman And The Mojave Green MOKOTRON – WAEREA CHAII – Safar Lee Mvtthews – EXITBest Classical ArtistTe Manu Mātarae Jian Liu – Where Fairburn Walked Justin DeHart – Towards Midnight: NZ Percussion Vol 2 Michael Houstoun – The Well-Tempered Clavier 9lives L.A.B
Additional awards The following awards were also presented: Best Country ArtistBest Folk Artist Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson – Happiness Is Near Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams Kerryn Fields – The Folk Singer Mel Parsons – SabotageBest Children's Music ArtistBest Jazz Artist Claudia Robin Gunn Lucien Johnson – Ancient Relics Thabani Gapara – Dzindza Umar Zakaria – Family Music
Artisan awards Best Album ArtworkBest Music Video Content Matt Sinclair – Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson) Emma Hercus – Sabotage (Mel Parsons) Natalie King, Chris Schmelz – Uneven Ground (Death and the Maiden) Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – "Paradise" (DARTZ) CHAII – "Night Like This" (CHAII) Night Watch – "Nightshift" (Jujulipps)Best ProducerBest Engineer Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines) CHAII, Frank Keys – Safar (CHAII) Rory Noble Simon Gooding – Safar (CHAII) Emily Wheatcroft – Snape, Amelia Murray – Soft Power (Fazerdaze) Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Special awards People's Choice Award DevilskinHighest Selling Artist Six60Radio Airplay Record of the Year "Take It Away" – L.A.B
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