# Taite Music Prize

The Taite Music Prize is an annual New Zealand music award event. The prize of the same name is one of five to be awarded. It recognises the best New Zealand album from the previous year.
The prize is named after respected New Zealand music journalist and broadcaster Dylan Taite, who died in 2003. The Taite Music Prize was established in 2009 in his honour by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) in conjunction with the Taite family. The first prize was awarded in 2010. The Taite takes its inspiration from successful international prizes such as the Mercury Prize in the UK and the Australian Music Prize.

## The Taite Music Prize

The award carries a cash prize of NZ$12,500 and sponsors' prizes. It is primarily sponsored by Recorded Music NZ (formerly known as PPNZ Music Licensing). The award is judged on originality, creativity, and musicianship displayed on an album, rather than on sales or commercial factors.
Each award cycle begins with open nominations. Self-nominations are accepted. Albums must be:
* At least 6 songs or 25 minutes long.
* Original (no rereleases, no more than 25% covers).
* Released in the previous calendar year (e.g. the 2025 award is for albums released in 2024).
* Attributed to one artist or group - no compilations.
* Recorded by artists who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. For bands, at least half of members must qualify.
* Either self-released, or owned by a recording label that is NZ-owned or has an office in New Zealand.
The prize shortlist is decided by votes from a group of over 1,000 musicians (APRA members), industry figures and IMNZ members. The size of the shortlist has varied, but since 2019 there have been 10 albums each year. The winner is decided by a 10-person judging panel chosen by IMNZ.

## Other awards

In 2013 a second award was added to the Taite Music Prize event. The Independent Music NZ Classic Record award honours a previously released record that is now considered a classic, and the award aims to "acknowledge New Zealand’s rich history of making fine records that continue to inspire us and that also define who we are." Like the Taite Music Prize, it is selected by music media and music industry specialists. The inaugural recipient of the Classic Record award was the Gordons' 1981 album Gordons.
In 2017, a third award was added to the Taites. The Best Independent Debut Award honours the best debut release of an artist that is on a member label of Independent Music New Zealand. The winner receives a $2000 cash prize and a performance slot in the annual Summer In The Square festival. This prize was awarded for the first time in 2017 to Merk for Swordfish.
Since 2019 the Independent Spirit Award has been given to an individual to acknowledge their support for the local music industry and their personal contribution to its growth. The winner is selected by the IMNZ Board.
An Outstanding Music Journalism Award was added in 2022. The winner receives a $2500 cash prize. The first recipient was RNZ music journalist Tony Stamp. The 2023 winner was Namnita Kumar and Nadia Freeman, for the Eastern Sound Stories Podcast. The 2024 winners were Cushla Dillon and Andrew Moore for their King Loser documentary.

## History

The Taite Music Prize was first awarded in 2010. In 2009 Independent Music New Zealand, Phonographic Performances New Zealand (which has since merged with RIANZ and become Recorded Music New Zealand) and members of Dylan Taite's family, notably his son John, worked together to establish and fund the award.
With prize money originally set at $10,000 (and since raised to $12,500), the award was designed to focus on originality, creativity and musicianship. It was compared to the APRA Silver Scroll, which awards similar aspects of singles rather than albums.
Music executive John Taite, who is also Dylan's son, has remained closely involved with the Prize, often as a judge.
The first ceremony included only five shortlisted albums, with the total varying between seven and ten ever since. Since 2019, there have been ten finalists.
A record of 92 nominations was set in 2018, while the smallest (known) longlists contained 52 albums in 2014 and 2016. There were 81 in 2025.

### Notable winners

Lawrence Arabia won the inaugural Taite Music Prize, accepting it via video link from London.
In 2014, Lorde asked that the $10,000 cash prize, studio time and other sponsors' prizes be split among the seven other nominees, saying, "I think everyone is kind of sick of me winning stuff at the moment and other people are in more in need of the funds and exposure right now."
Brothers Ruban and Kody Nielson, both formerly of The Mint Chicks, have each won the Taite Music Prize for different music projects - Ruban as Unknown Mortal Orchestra in 2012 and Kody as Silicon in 2016. Kody was also nominated in 2013 for OPOSSUM.
In 2019 Tom Scott of Avantdale Bowling Club won after being shortlisted for a record fifth time (which he extended to six with Home Brew in 2024). His acceptance speech began, "Um. Fuck. I’ve lost this thing four times already."

### Venues

The first Taite Music Prize award ceremony was held at Plaything Gallery in Auckland on 31 March, 2010. Auckland has hosted every live ceremony, with 2020's event moving online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous venues have included Sale Street Bar (2011), Gelatos Live (2013-2015), and the Wintergarden at the Civic Theatre (2017-18). Since 2019 Q Theatre, also used in 2012, has hosted the ceremony.

## Winners and shortlisted nominees

| Year | Winner | Shortlisted nominees | Longlist size |
| 2010 | Lawrence Arabia – Chant Darling | The Checks – Alice by the Moon David Dallas – Something Awesome Kerretta – Vilayer Shapeshifter – The System Is a Vampire | |
| 2011 | Ladi6 – The Liberation Of... | Dudley Benson – Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne Connan Mockasin – Please Turn Me Into the Snat Julia Deans – Modern Fables Die! Die! Die! – Form The Naked and Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo Street Chant – Means | 73 |
| 2012 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Andrew Keoghan – Arctic Tales Divide Beastwars – Beastwars David Dallas – The Rose Tint She’s So Rad – In Circles The Bats – Free All the Monsters Tiny Ruins – Some Were Meant For The Sea | 87 |
| 2013 | SJD – Elastic Wasteland | @Peace – @Peace Aaradhna – Treble & Reverb Collapsing Cities – Strangers Again Home Brew – Home Brew Lawrence Arabia – The Sparrow OPOSSOM – Electric Hawaii | 75 |
| 2014 | Lorde – Pure Heroine | Unknown Mortal Orchestra – II Beastwars – Blood Becomes Fire Sheep, Dog & Wolf – Egospect The Phoenix Foundation – Fandango David Dallas – Falling Into Place @peace – Girl Songs Jonathan Bree – The Primrose Path | 52 |
| 2015 | Jakob – Sines | @peace – @peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony Aldous Harding – Aldous Harding Delaney Davidson – Swim Down Low Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail Grayson Gilmour – Infinite Life! Kimbra – The Golden Echo Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One Mulholland – Stop & Start Again Tami Neilson – Dynamite! | 65 |
| 2016 | Silicon – Personal Computer | Anthonie Tonnon – Successor Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams Nadia Reid – Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs The Phoenix Foundation – Give Up Your Dreams Princess Chelsea – The Great Cybernetic Depression SJD – Saint John Divine Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love | 52 |
| 2017 | Street Chant – Hauora | Aaradhna – Brown Girl Hopetoun Brown – Look So Good Lawrence Arabia – Absolute Truth Leisure – LEISURE Lontalius – I'll Forget 17 Pacific Heights – The Stillness Shayne P Carter – Offsider | 70 |
| 2018 | Aldous Harding – Party | Nadia Reid – Preservation Grayson Gilmour – Otherness Fazerdaze – Morningside TEEKS – The Grapefruit Skies EP Kane Strang – Two Hearts and No Brain Mermaidens – Perfect Body The Bads – Losing Heroes | 92 |
| 2019 | Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club | Alien Weaponry – Tū Jonathan Bree – Sleepwalking Julia Deans – We Light Fire Marlon Williams – Make Way For Love Mel Parsons – Glass Heart Tami Neilson – SASSAFRASS! The Beths – Future Me Hates Me Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex & Food Wax Chattels – Wax Chattels | 67 |
| 2020 | Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres | Aldous Harding – Designer Beastwars – IV JessB – New Views L.A.B. – L.A.B. III Lawrence Arabia – Lawrence Arabia's Singles Club Louis Baker – Open Mermaidens – Look Me In The Eye Miss June – Bad Luck Party Tiny Ruins – Olympic Girls | 54 |
| 2021 | Reb Fountain – Reb Fountain | Anna Coddington – Beams L.A.B – L.A.B IV Nadia Reid – Out Of My Province Ria Hall – Manawa Wera Tami Neilson – Chickaboom! The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers The Phoenix Foundation – Friend Ship Troy Kingi – The Ghost of Freddie Cesar Wax Chattels – Clot | |
| 2022 | Anthonie Tonnon – Leave Love Out of This | Dianne Swann – The War On Peace of Mind French For Rabbits – The Overflow Lips – I Don't Know Why I Do Anything Luke Buda – BUDA Reb Fountain – IRIS Sheep, Dog & Wolf – Two-Minds Team Dynamite – Respect the Process Troy Kingi – Black Sea Golden Ladder Vera Ellen – It's Your Birthday | |
| 2023 | Princess Chelsea – Everything Is Going To Be Alright | Aldous Harding – Warm Chris Avantdale Bowling Club – Trees Erny Belle – Venus Is Home Fazerdaze – Break! Hans Pucket – No Drama Marlon Williams – My Boy Tami Neilson – Kingmaker TE KAAHU – Te Kaahu O Rangi The Beths – Expert In A Dying Field | 61 |
| 2024 | Vera Ellen – Ideal Home Noise | Dick Move – Wet Ebony Lamb – Ebony Lamb Erny Belle – Not Your Cupid Home Brew – Run It Back Mermaidens – Mermaidens Shepherd's Reign – Ala Mai Tiny Ruins – Ceremony Unknown Mortal Orchestra – V Tom Lark – Brave Star | 68 |
| 2025 | To be announced 15 April 2025 | Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha DARTZ – Dangerous Day to be a Cold One Delaney Davidson – Out of My Head Earth Tongue – Great Haunting Fazerdaze – Soft Power Georgia Lines – The Rose of Jericho Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams Mel Parsons – Sabotage MOKOTRON – WAEREA Troy Kingi - Leatherman & the Mojave Green | 81 |

### Acts with three or more shortlisted albums

Although a number of acts and artists have been shortlisted multiple times, after fifteen annual awards there has not yet been a two-time winner of the Taite Music Prize.
| Artist | Shortlists | Wins | Years |
| Unknown Mortal Orchestra | 5 | 1 | 2012, 14, 16, 19, 24 |
| Lawrence Arabia | 4 | 1 | 2010, 13, 17, 20 |
| Troy Kingi | 4 | 1 | 2020-22, 25 |
| The Phoenix Foundation | 4 | 0 | 2011, 14, 16, 21 |
| Tami Neilson | 4 | 0 | 2015, 19, 21, 23 |
| Tiny Ruins | 4 | 0 | 2012, 15, 20, 24 |
| Aldous Harding | 3 | 1 | 2018, 20, 23 |
| David Dallas | 3 | 0 | 2010, 12, 14 |
| @Peace | 3 | 0 | 2013-15 |
| Beastwars | 3 | 0 | 2012, 14, 20 |
| Nadia Reid | 3 | 0 | 2016, 18, 21 |
| Marlon Williams | 3 | 0 | 2016, 19, 23 |
| The Beths | 3 | 0 | 2019, 21, 23 |
| Mermaidens | 3 | 0 | 2018, 20, 24 |

### People with three or more shortlisted albums under different names

| Person | Acts | Shortlists | Wins | Years |
| Tom Scott | Home Brew (2), @peace (3), Avantdale Bowling Club | 6 | 1 | 2013 (2), 14, 15, 19, 24 |
| Kody Nielson | OPOSSOM, Silicon, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (3) | 5 | 1 | 2013, 16 (2), 19, 24 |
| Luke Buda | The Phoenix Foundation (4), Luke Buda | 5 | 0 | 2011, 14, 16, 21, 22 |
| Gussie Larkin | Mermaidens (3), Earth Tongue | 4 | 0 | 2018, 20, 24, 25 |
| Haz Beats (Harry Huavi) | Home Brew (2), Team Dynamite | 3 | 0 | 2013, 22, 24 |
* ↑ Excludes UMO albums before Kody Nielson was a full band member.

## Independent Music NZ Classic Record award

| Year | Winner | Record | Label | Year of release |
| 2013 | The Gordons | Gordons | Gordons | 1981 |
| 2014 | Various artists | AK79 | Ripper Records | 1979 |
| 2015 | Herbs | What's Be Happen? | Warrior Records | 1981 |
| 2016 | Upper Hutt Posse | "E Tu" | Jayrem Records | 1988 |
| 2017 | The Clean | Boodle Boodle Boodle | Flying Nun Records | 1981 |
| 2018 | Headless Chickens | Stunt Clown | Flying Nun Records | 1988 |
| 2019 | Moana and the Moahunters | Tahi | Southside Records | 1993 |
| 2020 | Shona Laing | South | Pagan Records | 1987 |
| 2021 | Pātea Māori Club | "Poi E" | Maui Records | 1983 |
| 2022 | Alan Jansson | Proud: An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation | Huh Records | 1994 |
| 2023 | Micronism | Inside a quiet mind | Kog Transmissions | 1998 |
| 2024 | Look Blue Go Purple | Compilation | Flying Nun Records | 1991 |
* ↑ "E Tu" is a 12-inch single.
* ↑ Boodle Boodle Boodle is a 12-inch EP.
* ↑ "Poi E" is a single.

## Best Independent Debut Award

| Year | Winner | Album |
| 2017 | Merk | Swordfish |
| 2018 | The Miltones | The Miltones |
| 2019 | Alien Weaponry | Tū |
| 2020 | Repulsive Woman | Relief |
| 2021 | Na Noise | Waiting For You |
| 2022 | Jazmine Mary | The Licking of a Tangerine |
| 2023 | TE KAAHU | Te Kaahu O Rangi |
| 2024 | JuJuLipps | Get That Shot |

## Independent Spirit Award

| Year | Winner |
| 2019 | Bernie Griffin, founding IMNZ chairman and mentor |
| 2020 | Murray Cammick, music journalist record label founder |
| 2021 | Pate Rainey & Glenn Common, Smokefree Rockquest |
| 2022 | Karyn Hay ONZM, broadcaster and author |
| 2023 | Paul Huggins, producer and store owner |
| 2024 | Teremoana Rapley, musician and presenter |