MOKOTRON Awarded Taite Music Prize 2025

Tāmaki Makaurau's Q Theatre was bustling to maximum capacity (especially around the bar area), everyone was dressed to the nines and there were even a few high profile politicians in the mix at last night's Taite Music Prize ceremony. Named in honour of legendary Aotearoa music journalist Dylan Taite, the prestigious main accolade was presented to MOKOTRON, aka electronic producer and academic Tiopira McDowell (Ngāti Hine), for 2024's breakthrough long player WAEREA (Sunreturn).

"Whānau, when I write music, I want people to know that it could only come from one place in the world — Aotearoa". - MOKOTRON

Hosted with aplomb by Sarah Thomson and presented by Independent Music New Zealand, attendees were treated to spellbinding live performances on the night by 2024 Taite Music Prize winner Vera Ellen with band, and 2024 Best Independent Debut Award winner Jujulipps. Byllie-jean (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Pahauwera) took away this year's Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award for her Filter EP (Wā-noir Records).

"Well, this is going to take a young minute to process — thank you! For me, this is a win for all wāhine Māori. Congratulations, wāhine Māori! No matter what happens, we just keep holding it down". - Byllie-jean

Hero of Tāmaki Makaurau's live music community and supportive guiding hand for an entire generation of local artists, The Wine Cellar founder Rohan Evans was presented with The Independent Spirit Award, greeted with much joyful hollering from the crowd.

Pōneke heavy rockers Shihad were bestowed with the Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award — recognising their landmark 1995 album Killjoy (Wildside Records) and preceded by an enjoyable speech by Wildside helmsman Murray Cammick ONZM.

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award was presented to Chris Schulz (Boiler Room), magnanimously accepted on his behalf by co-finalist Karl Puschmann, who relished the opportunity to make some very funny jokes onstage.

"By recognising and celebrating the most creative and talented musicians, these Awards help to elevate music as an art form and highlight its importance within our culture. It is our job to inform and remind the rest of the nation — how important Aotearoa Music is to them". - Pippa Ryan-Kidd, IMNZ