Te reo Māori took centre stage at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards last night.
Stan Walker delivered one of the night’s standout moments with a powerful performance of “Māori Ki Te Ao”, backed by kapa haka and Toitū Te Tiriti flags waving in the crowd.
He took home the Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award for the track, which is sung entirely in te reo Māori, and also won Best Māori Artist, beating a strong field including Anna Coddington, Jordyn With a Why, and the Tuari Brothers.
Stan Walker at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Credit: Stijl / Emma Beavis
Co-written with his uncle Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, the song brought together three generations of Tūhoe whānau for its video, filmed in Ruatoki and featuring Tāme Iti.
“I’m so honoured to be part of this,” Walker said. “To be part of a movement that celebrates our reo—te reo Māori ki te ao, tikanga Māori, everything Māori ki te ao.”
“It’s a win for all of us. As Māori, we do everything collectively. I am them, they are me,” he added, dedicating the award to “all our tangata whenua here who make this possible.”
Global pop star Lorde also made a surprise appearance to accept Single of the Year for “Girl, so confusing (feat. Lorde)”, her team-up with Charli XCX.
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Lorde at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Credit: Stijl / Emma Beavis
In her speech, she praised the energy of the night, and especially Walker’s performance.
“Watching from overseas as te reo Māori is defended the way it is—it’s so inspiring for me,” she said. “It’s beautiful. I’m grateful to everyone here for doing that.”
“Are we going to honour that Treaty or what?” The crowd erupted in cheers.
MOKOTRON had a big night too, adding Best Electronic Artist to his earlier Taite Music Prize win. He used his speech to spotlight other Māori artists in electronic music.
“I’m just the tip of the iceberg,” he told RNZ. “There are Māori up and down the country making electronic music.”
Meanwhile, East Coast roots artist Hori Shaw, aka Hori’s the Boaris, was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Wearing camo and Crocs, he laughed, “Still got a bit of blood on my Crocs from last night. I’m just a hori fulla from the East Coast.”
Hori Shaw at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Credit: Stijl / Emma Beavis
