Bloody crocs, vomit socks: The best moments from the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards
Alex Casey recaps the highlights of the 60th Aotearoa Music Awards.
Last night the Viaduct Event Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau hosted the 60th Aotearoa Music Awards, a celebration of our best and brightest musicians and an annual opportunity to see just how many outfit changes Jesse Mulligan and Kara Rickard can pack into one awards night (I counted just four this year, but we are in tough times). Here are my observations from watching the RNZ livestream from my couch (you can now watch it on TVNZ+ if you missed out) with bonus commentary from awards attendee Toby Manhire, who sent me an email with the subject line 'Unsolicited radnom opinions' at 1.26am this morning.
Category is: charcoal
This is humiliating to admit, but I did have a tab open the other day to watch the red carpet of the American Music Awards, convinced like all the other idiot clowns around the world that Taylor Swift was going to slither out in a snake outfit and announce Reputation TV. That didn't happen, but what struck me was how boring everybody looked in their same-y sequins, deep plunge dresses and really bad wigs (she says in her trackpants). Dare I say that New Zealand turned it out comparatively, nailing a thrilling brief that can only be described as 'Charcoal! At the Disco'
Dangerous day to be a pair of crutches
Poor DARTZ drummer Rollyz, aka Hakopa Kuka-Larsen, who had to take the stage not once but twice on a pair of crutches to accept the Tui for best rock artist and best video content. 'What happened?' asked Mulligan. 'Carrying the band has its downsides,' joked Kuka-larsen.
Poli-poli-poli, politicians
It isn't a music awards night without some politicians in the house, including minister for arts, culture and heritage Paul Goldsmith wearing what our insider described as 'a t-shirt with a lion in sequins'. He was also spotted introducing his daughter to Lorde in the crowd, before announcing 'I could use some chips.'
Later in the proceedings, Mulligan gave the esteemed guests a shout out. 'Tonight we have Paul Goldsmith, Tamatha Paul, Jenny Salesa, Chris Bishop, and Kahurangi Carter,' he said. 'Yes, I said them in a weird order so you wouldn't know when to boo.' There was an indiscernible hubbub in the crowd, soon revealed to be a cluster of people yelling 'Chloe! Chloe! Chloe!'. 'We love Chloe, our Tāmaki Makaurau MP,' said Rickard. 'Hey, we're not playing favourites here,' quipped Mulligan.
One of the most heartwarming moments of the night came from best classical artist winner Jian Liu, who seemed totally chuffed to accept his award. 'Music, it doesn't matter what we do, it takes a lot of passion and dedication,' he said, gesturing out to the crowd of artists. 'Maybe we can jam together if you need a good pianist.' Later in the night, L.A.B. picked up that gauntlet after winning radio airplay record of the year: 'Maybe we have a jam with Jian Lu after this and come up with another one.'
Stan Walker had a showstopper
He won best Māori artist earlier in the night, describing the award as 'a win for all of us, as Māori we do everything collectively, I am them, they are me,' and dedicating it to 'all our tangata whenua here who make this possible.' That kaupapa was laid bare during Walker's live performance of 'Māori Ki Te Ao' in the second half, in which the stage swelled with Toitū Te Tiriti flags, kapa haka performers and supporters. 'I'd like to say another kia ora to our politicians still in attendance,' said Mulligan, flags still waving proudly in front of the camera. 'It's great to have you here.'
As a sidenote, another cool Stan Walker tidbit came during one of the throwback packages, in which he reflected on the success of 'Little Black Box' and his initial resentment of it. 'That was a song that was given to me and it wasn't really my style,' he explained. 'For a little while I didn't even know what a black box was, and years later I found out the black box was actually orange.' Still, he acknowledged the role the song had in his career and that he has now come to embrace it. 'Felt like a microcosm for the night,' wrote our awards insider. 'The snobbery of NZ music is gone.'
Hori Shaw had the speech of the night
Accepting his award for best breakthrough artist in camouflage and Crocs, Ōpōtiki reggae artist Hori Shaw had the acceptance speech of the night (even if they were less speeches, more awkies Q&As). 'I came prepared but everything's just gone now,' he said into the microphone. 'What about thanking some people? Family?' suggested Mulligan. 'I'd like to thank my family,' said Shaw. 'I'm just a hori fulla from the East Coast, I feel more comfortable like this instead of wearing suits and all that. Still got a bit of blood on my Crocs from last night… chur cuz.' Mulligan summed it nicely: 'Fuck I love New Zealand.'
And Callum Devlin had the scream of the night
Accepting the best group award for Earth Tongue with a handicam and Ezra Simons' mum Pauline, Callum Devlin from Sportsteam and Hans Puckett unleashed an impressively long scream.
Cat got your Earth Tongue, Mulligan?
Jesse Mulligan… was in a metal band?
Speaking of screams, when Devilskin took the stage to accept the people's choice award, Mulligan had a fan moment in front of guitarist Paul Martin. 'I used to love listening to you on the Axe Attack growing up,' he said, asking if Martin could have ever expected this success all these years later. 'Probably like you and Vomit Socks back in the day,' said Martin. Wait, what? 'Are are you saying Jesse Mulligan was in a metal band?' asked Rickard. 'That's all we've got time for,' said Mulligan. We need answers.
It's a woman's world
Sorry to sully this celebration of the best music of the year with a Katy Perry reference, but by god did the women of New Zealand music own the live performances last night. There was Aaradhna, winner of best soul/RnB artist, with the dreamy purple gold haze of 'Love 2 Love', CHAII commanding in a white taffeta cloud for 'We Be Killing It' and Fazerdaze bringing the house down with the shimmering ennui of 'Cherry Pie'. Special shout out to our faves Atomic, who performed a thrilling medley of iconic NZ tracks by women including Julia Deans and Vera Ellen dusting off 'Lydia'. 'My baaaaaaby' never sounded better.
Flowers for Fazerdaze
Taking out both best solo artist and best album of the year, Fazerdaze aka Amelia Murray finally got her flowers after one hell of a journey through the industry. She was visibly moved as the audience got to their feet in a standing ovation, including a very cute supportive Kris Jenner moment from her pal and stylist Rose Hope. 'I'm very overwhelmed in a really nice way, this feels like a dream,' Murray said. 'I've been doing this for 10 years and tonight I've won my first music awards.' Our insider had this to say: 'Fazerdaze! Incredible. So much love for her tonight. Felt like being at the launch pad of a rocket.'
Lorde (and now honorary NZer Charli xcx) won single of the year
Fresh out of the YMCA toilets and having just released her bare-torsoed, dirt-laden music video for 'Man of the Year', Ella Yelich-O'Connor took the stage to accept the Tui for single of the year for the 'girl, so confusing' remix with Charli xcx. 'It happened incredibly quickly and it truly changed my life,' said Yelich O'Connor on the collaboration, before thanking all the women in the industry who paved the way for her: 'it's hard to have these hard conversations as women but its easier if you do it.'
Although there was still no acknowledgement of the New Zealander who said she walked like a bitch, Lorde also gave a shout out to Stan Walker's powerful performance. 'I want to say thank you to Stan, that was so moving,' she said. 'Watching from overseas this year as te reo Māori is defended the way that it is is so inspiring for me, it's so beautiful.' Explicitly addressing the sequin lion t-shirt types in the room, she then went on to say this: 'are we going to honour that treaty or what?'
Six60 are so popular they had to make up an award for them
The lads took the stage to accept the inaugural and definitely real 'Charts Icon' award, as Rickard listed off some truly ridiculous numbers and milestones. Four number one albums. 586 weeks in the singles charts. 1232 weeks in the album charts. Their albums have been certified platinum 38 times over, and their singles 48 times. They also won highest selling artist of the year, a prize that was previously won by acts such as Six60, Six60, Six60 and Six60 for the last seven years. 'I don't know if hold music is part of the charts, but that's probably why we are standing here,' joked Chris Mac. 'And for that, I apologise.'
There was an amazing closing medley
It began with Don McGlashan picking his way slowly through fallen leaves, and it ended with Troy Kingi absolutely shredding his way through 'Slice of Heaven'. The all star supergroup anthem to close the show was celebrating 60 years of the local music awards and 50 years of local music charts (what happened in that first decade?) and it did not disappoint. I'm talking Savage coming out for 'Swing', soon joined by Aaradhna for 'They Don't Know'. I'm talking Hollie Smith belting 'Bathe in the River'. I'm talking How bloody Bizarre. In the words of Vomit Socks frontman Jesse Mulligan, I fucking love New Zealand.
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