Taite Music Prize
Awarded for	Best album from New Zealand
Sponsored by	PPNZ Music Licensing
Country	New Zealand
Presented by	Independent Music New Zealand
Reward	$NZ10,000 – $12,500
First award	2010
Currently held by	Mokotron (Tiopira McDowell)
Total recipients	16
Website	http://www.indies.co.nz/taite-music-prize.html

TheTaite Music Prize is an annualNew Zealand music award event. A prize of the same name (sometimes called theTaite Music Main) is one of five to be awarded.^[1] It recognises the best New Zealand album from the previous year.

The prize is named after respected New Zealand music journalist and broadcasterDylan Taite, who died in 2003. It was established in 2009 byIndependent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) in conjunction with the Taite family, and first awarded in 2010.^[2] The Taite takes its inspiration from successful international prizes such as theMercury Prize in the UK and theAustralian Music Prize.^[3]

The annual event has grown over time and now includes the Independent Music NZ Classic Record award (since 2013), Best Independent Debut Award (2017), Independent Spirit Award (2019), and Outstanding Music Journalism Award (2022).

The award carries a cash prize of NZ$12,500 and sponsors' prizes. It is primarily sponsored byRecorded Music NZ (formerly known as PPNZ Music Licensing).^[3] The award is judged on originality, creativity, and musicianship displayed on an album, rather than on sales or commercial factors.^[2]

Each award cycle begins with open nominations. Self-nominations are accepted. Albums must be:^[4]

• 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.^[4]

In 2013 a second award was added to the Taite Music Prize event. TheIndependent 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 wasthe Gordons' 1981 albumGordons.^[5]

In 2017, a third award was added to the Taites. TheBest Independent Debut Award (currently^[update] known as theAuckland Live Best Independent Debut Award) honours the best debut release of an artist or group on a member label of Independent Music New Zealand. The winner receives $2000 cash and other sponsors' prize. Like the Taite Music Prize award cycles begin with an open call for nominations (including self-nominations). The same judging panel selects the winners of both awards. Unlike the main Taite, entrants must be IMNZ members and EPs of at least 4 tracks are eligible.^[4] The first winner wasMerk forSwordfish.^[6]

Since 2019 theIndependent 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.^[7]

AnOutstanding Music Journalism Award, currently^[update] sponsored byNZ On Air, was added in 2022. The winner receives a $2500 cash prize. The first recipient wasRNZ music journalist Tony Stamp.^[8][9] Each year three or four finalists are announced ahead of the award ceremony. Documentary directors, podcasters, radio journalists and website creators have all been nominated for the award.

The Taite Music Prize was first awarded in 2010. In 2009Independent Music New Zealand, Phonographic Performances New Zealand (which has evolved intoRecorded Music New Zealand) and members of Dylan Taite's family, notably his music executive son John, worked together to establish and fund the award.^[10] John has remained closely involved with the Prize, often as a judge.^[11]

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 theAPRA Silver Scroll, which awards similar aspects of singles rather than albums.^[10]

The first ceremony included the smallest ever shortlist, five albums. The number has varied between seven and ten ever since. From 2019 on 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.^[12][13] There were 81 in 2025.^[14]

Lawrence Arabia won 2010's inaugural Taite Music Prize, accepting it via video link from London.^[15]

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."^[16]

BrothersRuban andKody Nielson, both formerly ofThe 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.^[17] Kody was also nominated in 2013 for OPOSSUM.

In 2019Tom Scott ofAvantdale 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."^[18]

The first album inte reo Māori to be honoured wasWAEREA byMokotron in 2025.^[19]

The first Taite Music Prize award ceremony was held at Plaything Gallery in Auckland on 31 March 2010.^[20] Auckland has hosted every live ceremony, with 2020's event moving online due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[21] Previous venues have included Sale Street Bar (2011),^[22] Gelatos Live (2013–2015),^[23][24] and the Wintergarden at theCivic Theatre (2017–18).^[25][26] Since 2019Q Theatre, also used in 2012, has hosted the ceremony.^[27][28]

Year	Winner	Portrait	Shortlisted nominees	Longlist size	Ref(s)
2010	Lawrence Arabia –Chant Darling		The Checks –Alice by the Moon David Dallas –Something Awesome Kerretta –Vilayer Shapeshifter –The System Is a Vampire		[15][29]
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	[30][31]
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	[32][33]
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	[34][35][36]
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	[37][38]
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	[39][40]
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	[41][17][42]
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	[43][44]
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	[13]
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	[45][46]
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	[47]
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		[48]
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		[49][50]
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	[51][52]
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	[53]
2025	Mokotron –WAEREA		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 Troy Kingi –Leatherman & the Mojave Green	81	[54][19]

Although a number of acts and artists have been shortlisted multiple times, after sixteen annual awards^[update] there has not yet been a two-time winner of the Taite Music Prize. Troy Kingi and @Peace are the only acts to have been shortlisted in three consecutive years.

Tom Scott and Kody Neilson have been shortlisted as members of three different acts, and have both had two shortlisted albums in a single year. Three other individuals have been finalists with two acts.

Jazmine Mary, 2022's winner as a solo artist, was also a Best Independent Debut finalist in 2025 as one half of Pony Baby.

• Taite Music Prize (Independent Music NZ)Archived 4 April 2014 at theWayback Machine

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