2015 New Zealand Music Awards

Excellence in New Zealand music

19 November 2015 (2015-11-19)

Tui award trophy

The first was awarded in January, with the Tui for Best Folk Album presented at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu to Auckland group Great North for their album Up In Smoke.

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The Tui for Best Jazz Album was presented in April at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga to Auckland band DOG for their debut album DOG.

[4]

The Best Country Music Album Tui was presented in May at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore to for her album Dynamite!.[5]

Tami Neilson

The Tui for Best Pacific Music Album was presented in June at the to the duo Cydel for their album Memoirs of a Midnight Cowboy.[6]

Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

In August the Best Children's Music Album award was presented live on to fleaBITE for her album The Jungle is Jumping.[7]

What Now

While most of the awards will be presented at the main awards ceremony held in November, five genre awards were presented earlier in the year at ceremonies of their field.


The nominees for the three technical awards were announced on 1 October, and the technical award winners, legacy award recipient and the Critics' Choice Prize shortlist were announced on 13 October.[8] The Critics Choice showcase and award presentation will be held on 5 November.[9]

Controversy[edit]

During the live broadcast of the main awards ceremony, six awards - including Best Maori Album - were presented during the ad breaks and omitted from the television broadcast. This was criticised by previous NZMA winner Tama Waipara, who described the incident as "disgusting and it's not surprising but it is extremely disappointing and moreover, it's unconstitutional." A Mediaworks spokesperson responded, saying, "We can't broadcast the entire awards ceremony without commercial breaks, so many awards aren't televised."[10]

Official New Zealand Music Awards website