Te Awanui Reeder accept the award for Best Māori Songwriter.
The flourishing solo career of former Nesian Mistik lead singer Te Awanui Reeder received another stamp of approval as he took home three titles at last night’s National Waiata Māori Music Awards ceremony in Hawke’s Bay.
Reeder stepped up to the stage at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings to collect three awards including Best Māori Male Solo Artist, a title he won ahead of finalists Leon Wharekura, Seth Haapu and Te Huaki Puanaki.
He also won the Best Song By A Māori Artist (If Things Were Different) which was a category that also included finalists Ahorangi/Sid Diamond (Pounamu), Tomorrow’s People featuring Kolohe Kai (Feel Alright), Leon Wharekura/Ora Kihi (Waikato E) and Australian-based band Paua (Coming Home).
Reeder’s love for writing was also rewarded when he won the Best Māori Songwriter award for 2012, which was presented to him by one of New Zealand’s foremost songwriters, Don McGlashan.
Wellington singer Kirsten Te Rito performed for the audience but wasn’t expecting to be on the stage again when her name was called as the winner of the Best Female Māori Solo Artist award. It was a title she claimed ahead Toni Huata, also based in the capital, Ahorangi Winitana, Auckland, Ria Hall, Tauranga and Boston-based Jess Harlen.
One of two new categories this year, Best Video of the Year by a Māori Artist, was won by Ria Hall (artist) and Jessica Sanderson (producer) for their work on the video for the song, Best Of Me.
The other new category was for the Emerging Artist and there were two awards, the first went to urban reggae band Tune of I and the second to solo artist Simone Holland, who both performed last night.
Holland was the winner of the inaugural Waiata Workshop and Showcase Talent Quest in Te Kuiti, in May this year, earning a place to perform at the awards last night.
This year was the fifth birthday of the National Waiata Māori Music Awards and a special opening number was choreographed depicting the story of the journey of people from the Pacific to Aotearoa, featuring Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre.
The Hawke’s Bay Opera House was at capacity with more than 900 guests arriving in the theatre to see this year’s awards ceremony.
Among the performances last night, Ria Hall, Anna Coddington and Majic Paora combined for a tribute song to the late Dr Hirini Melbourne.
Ahorangi Winitana and Sid Diamond performed their song Pounamu, while Waiata Māori Awards Ambassador Taisha Tari and Hawke’s Bay opera singer William Winitana also performed a duet.
Other performances were by Jess Harlen, Leon Wharekura, Te Awanui Reeder, dancer Justin Haiu, 1814, and J GEEKS.
This year’s ceremony also feature two new co-hosts, Brent Mio and Lanita Ririnui-Ryan, from Māori Television’s Kanikani Mai. The awards ceremony was also under the care of new television director Ngatapa Black and viewers can see last night’s show on Māori Television later this year.
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