Celebrating 17 Years of Artistic Excellence and Independent Innovation in Aotearoa Music

TĀMAKI MAKAURAU / AUCKLAND — [Tuesday, 25th November 2025]

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), with the support of Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ, announces that nominations are now open for the 2026 Taite Music Prize and associated categories, honouring originality, creativity and integrity across Aotearoa’s independent music community.

The annual ceremony, scheduled for April 2026 in Auckland, marks the seventeenth year of celebrating albums that define the artistic heart of New Zealand music.

Named in tribute to the cutting-edge, independently spirited journalist Dylan Taite, the Prize recognises albums that demonstrate outstanding creativity, innovation and excellence, irrespective of genre, sales or label. The winning artist receives a $12,500 cash prize, courtesy of Recorded Music NZ.

The judging process takes place over two stages: a long-list voting academy of approximately 1,200 musicians, media and industry members, followed by a ten-person finalist judging panel selected by IMNZ. Judges remain confidential until the ceremony to preserve the independence and integrity of the process.

The 2025 Taite Music Prize was awarded to MOKOTRON for his album Waerea (Sunreturn Records). Additional winners included Byllie-Jean for Filter (Auckland Live Best Independent Debut), Rohan Evans (Independent Spirit Award), Chris Schulz for Boiler Room (NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award), and SHIHAD for their landmark album Killjoy (1995, Wildside Records), recipient of the Classic Record Award.

To revisit the 2025 finalists and winners, explore the official YouTube Music playlists:
Taite Music Prize – 2025 Finalists
Taite Music Prize – 2025 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Finalists

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.

IMNZ Chairperson Pippa Ryan-Kidd says “The Taite Music Prize is an award that champions creativity and artistic vision ahead of commercial sales. Seventeen years in, the award still shines a spotlight on the bold, diverse voices driving Aotearoa’s independent music scene.”

Recorded Music NZ CEO Jo Oliver adds, “Recorded Music is proud to support the Taite Music Prize in celebrating the artistic excellence of the independent music sector in Aotearoa.”

To be eligible for consideration, albums must be released between 1 January and 31 December 2025. Entries close 5 pm, Friday 30 January 2026, and nominations can be submitted via www.indies.co.nz. The Prize is open to any New Zealand artist or label meeting the published eligibility criteria.

The Taite Music Prize, presented by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), was established to recognise creativity, originality, and artistic merit in Aotearoa music. Named after Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the award reflects his spirit of fearless storytelling and championing local artists. Read more about Dylan Taite on AudioCulture here.

Presented by: Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ). Founding Partner: Recorded Music NZ. Award Partner: Auckland Live. Official Partners: NZ On Air / The Taite Whānau. Supporting Partners: NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Garage Project / Media Arts Lawyers /  Merlin / ToneDeaf / College Hill / Loop / Parachute Studios. Media Partners: RNZ / 95bFM / SRN Network. Charity Partner: MusicHelps.

Previous winners of The Taite Music Prize:

2010 – Lawrence Arabia – Chant Darling (Honorary Bedouin Records)

2011 – Ladi6 – The Liberation Of (What? Music)

2012 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Seeing Records)

2013 – SJD – Elastic Wasteland (Round Trip Mars)

2014 – Lorde – Pure Heroine (Universal Music NZ)

2015 – Jakob – Sines (Shoot The Freak)

2016 – Silicon – Personal Computer (Weird World/Domino Recordings)

2017 – Street Chant – Hauora (Arch Hill Recordings)

2018 – Aldous Harding – Party (Flying Nun Records / 4AD)

2019 – Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club (Years Gone By)

2020 – Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)

2021 – Reb Fountain – Reb Fountain (Flying Nun Records)

2022 – Anthonie Tonnon – Leave Love Out Of This (Slow Time Records)

2023 – Princess Chelsea – Everything Is Going To Be Alright (Lil Chief)

2024 – Vera Ellen – Ideal Home Noise (Flying Nun Records)

2025 – MOKOTRON – WAEREA (Sunreturn)

Previous Winners of the Independent Music NZ Classic Record:

2013 – Gordons – Gordons (Flying Nun)

2014 – Various Artists – AK79 (Ripper Records)

2015 – Herbs – What’s Be Happen? (Warrior Records)

2016 – Upper Hutt Posse – E Tū (Jayrem Records)

2017 – The Clean – Boodle Boodle Boodle (Flying Nun)

2018 - Headless Chickens – Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)

2019 – Moana and the Moahunters – Tahi (Southside)

2020 – Shona Laing – South (Pagan Records)

2021 – Patea Māori Club – 'Poi E' (Maui Records)

2022 – PROUD – An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation (Second Nature)

2023 – micronism – inside a quiet mind (Kog Transmissions)

2024 – Look Blue Go Purple – Compilation (Flying Nun Records)

2025 – Shihad – Killjoy (Wildside Records)

Previous Winners of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut:

2017 – Merk – Swordfish  (Independent) 

2018 – The Miltones – The Miltones (Independent) 

2019 – Alien Weaponry – Tū (Independent) 

2020 – Repulsive Woman – Relief (Independent) 

2021 – Na Noise – Waiting For You (1:12 Records)

2022 – Jazmine Mary – The Licking of a Tangerine (Independent)

2023 – TE KAAHU – Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd.)

2024 – Jujulipps – Get That Shot (Bigpop Records)

2025 – Byllie-Jean – Filter (Independent)

Independent Spirit Award 

2019 – Bernie Griffin

2020 – Murray Cammick – ONZM

2021 – Pete Rainey and Glenn Common of Smokefree Rockquest

2022 – Karyn Hay – ONZM

2023 – Paul Huggins 

2024 – Teremoana Rapley – ONZM

2025 – Rohan Evans – The Wine Cellar

NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism

2022 – Tony Stamp – RNZ Journalist

2023 – Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman – Eastern Sound Stories Podcast

2024 – Cushla Dillon and Andrew Moore – Directors – King Loser Documentary

2025 – Chris Schulz – Boiler Room