Marlon Williams makes history at Aotearoa Music Awards before hiatus

Friday, 29 May 2026

Marlon Williams shined at the Aotearoa Music Awards 2026.

Singer Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) has claimed three of the grand awards on New Zealand music’s biggest night at The Civic in Tāmaki Makaurau, adding to his trove of accolades over the past year as he prepares to go on hiatus.

The Lyttelton folk musician, who is currently performing his last shows before taking a break, scooped up Single of the Year for ‘ Aua Atu Rā’, Best Solo Artist and Album of the Year for his critically-acclaimed album Te Whare Tīwekaweka at the Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA). Mark Perkins also scored the Best Engineer title for his work on the album. He also scored a special Charts Number One award alongside Lorde and Devilskin.

On stage, he was congratulated with a performance by Te Kapa Haka o Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi. He said New Zealand's proud history of music stretched back generations. 'This is not Māori music having its day, this is just a day in Māori music.'

Musician Marlon Williams chats on the red carpet about being nominated for Best Solo Artist, how his mindset has shifted over the past year, and why he chooses a very unconventional track when it comes to hitting the karaoke stage.

Williams, who was up against Reb Fountain, Tami Neilson, Lorde, Ladi6, Kaylee Bell and Troy Kingi for album of the year, led the board with seven nominations at the AMA. Last year’s album honour went to Fazerdaze, who missed out on her only nomination this year.

Last month, Williams’ album - his first entirely in te reo Māori and made in collaboration with his friend and rapper KOMMI (Kommi Tamati-Elliffe) - won the prestigious Taite Music Prize. The 2025 Silver Scroll winner also took home the best country song title for ‘Whakameatia Mai’ at the Country Music Honours last week.

Indie quartet The Beths won Best Group for a fourth time at the awards ceremony, beating nominees including Alien Weaponry, Dick Move and MOKOMOKAI. After a 'dark' few years of mental and physical health challenges, lead vocalist Liz Stokes told RNZ she hoped Straight Line Was A Lie could be some comfort to people with ongoing health struggles.

Stokes and Jonathan Pearce were not present for the ceremony, but Benjamin Sinclair and Tristan Deck were there to collect the award. Deck said the creativity and innovation in the music field makes them proud.

Indie quartet The Beths won Best Group for a fourth time. Liz Stokes and Jonathan Pearce were not present for the ceremony, but Benjamin Sinclair and Tristan Deck were there to collect the award.

'The New Zealand scene I think we have a really unique experience here where if you want to make anything happen you have to understand all the parts of it. I used to think New Zealand being so isolated was a weakness but now I think of it as a great strength.'

Lorde (Ella Yelich-O'Connor), who had four nominations, didn’t go home empty handed. She received Best Pop Artist for Virgin and the resurrected International Achievement, which has no nominations but is awarded at the discretion of an AMA panel. (The global popstar won it four times before.) She accepted her awards via video as she's on tour in the US at the moment.

'This was one of my most challenging and rewarding years so far and it felt like it all culminated there at Spark Arena with you, performing Ultrasound, so I want to dedicate this to everyone who came to that show. You gave me such an unforgettable night,' she said.

Popstar Lorde, who won the International Achievement award for the fourth time, said in her video message that 2026 was one of the most challenging and rewarding years of her life.

Last year before her much anticipated album dropped, the 29-year-old revealed to the Rolling Stone her struggles with disordered eating and opened up about psychedelic drug use and an “expansive” journey with gender.

In thanking Aotearoa via the video message, she said: 'My values, my beliefs, and my ways of life are so shaped by being from where I'm from. And I just want to say thank you for being my biggest teacher and source of wisdom.'

Among those who picked up more than one gong was Whakatāne reggae artist Te Wehi, with Best Roots Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Te Wehi, who went from posting song covers online to topping charts, told RNZ’s Music 101 it was “mind-blowing” to see the success when he thought he’d be fencing for the rest of his life.

Te Wehi performed 'Ready To Ride' alongside last year's Breakthrough Artist winner Hori Shaw, who once again casually rocked up in his gumboots, at the ceremony.

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo, which recognises albums or singles with at least half te reo Māori content, went to Stan Walker for ‘ Mō Āke Tonu’ (featuring Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke). Walker previously told RNZ it's an anthem for Indigenous people, not just Māori, but “people groups that have been colonised and marginalised and we have shared histories and shared stories and similar shared histories”.

While accepting his award on stage, after a bit of a mistimed bathroom trip, Walker said he wouldn't be able to do what he's doing without the collective effort as well as the work of artists like TAWAZ, who won Best Māori Artist.

Last year's Best Country Music Artist winner Tami Neilson has once again claimed the award for an eighth time – this time for Neon Cowgirl.

Neilson performed at the ceremony, whilst paying tribute to comedy and music icon Dame Jools Topp who died over the weekend. Her twin, Dame Lynda, came up on stage after and delivered a speech that got the audience cheering and applauding.

Six60 were named Highest Selling Artist for the sixth year in a row.

New Zealand hip hop legend Che Ness, better known as Che Fu, has been inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. (The funk band group he fronted as a teenager, Supergroove, was inducted in 2014.) His closing medley of 'Chains', 'Fade Away', and 'Misty Frequencies' had the audience on their feet after the four-hour show.

Before the awards, Fat Freddy’s Drop were announced as the Aotearoa Charts Icon for this year. The band is being recognised for being a mainstay on the music charts for the past two decades. Founding member Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu aka DJ MU died last year.

The awards ceremony in memoriam section paid tribute to Dame Jools of the Topp Twins as well as a range of other musicians who have died over the past year.

Full list of winners

Album of the Year

Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka

Single of the Year

Marlon Williams – ‘ Aua Atu Rā’

Best Solo Artist

Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka

Best Group

The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie

International Achievement

Lorde

Te Manu Mātārae

Balu Brigada

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo

Stan Walker – ‘ Mō Āke Tonu’ (feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke)

Best Māori Artist

TAWAZ

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Te Wehi

Best Alternative Artist

MĀ– Blame It On The Weather

Best Classical Artist

Michael Norris– Rerenga

Best Country Music Artist

Tami Neilson– Neon Cowgirl

Best Electronic Artist

Caru, Brandn Shiraz– Back 2 Back

Best Folk Artist

Ny Oh– Wildwood

Best Hip Hop Artist

MOKOMOKAI– PONO

Best Jazz Artist

Louisa Williamson– Groundwork

Best Pop Artist

Lorde– Virgin

Best Rock / Metal Artist

Alien Weaponry– Te Rā

Best Roots Artist

Te Wehi– various

Best Soul/RnB Artist

Tom Scott– ANITYA

Best Album Artwork

Nick Keller – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)

Best Engineer

Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)

Best Music Video Content

Stella Reid – ‘Scared Old Men’ (Dick Move)

Best Producer

Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott)

Highest Selling Artist

Six60

Radio Airplay Record of the Year

RIIKI REID –‘Over Romantic’

People's Choice

Borderline

Aotearoa Charts Icon

Fat Freddy’s Drop

New Zealand Music Hall of Fame recipient

Che Fu