logo
2025 Aotearoa Music Awards: SIX60 named Aotearoa Charts Icon, Lorde scoops Single of the Year and makes surprise appearance

2025 Aotearoa Music Awards: SIX60 named Aotearoa Charts Icon, Lorde scoops Single of the Year and makes surprise appearance

NZ Herald6 days ago

The 60th edition of the legendary Aotearoa Music Awards was held at Auckland's Viaduct on Thursday night and saw surprise guests, stunning performances, and heartfelt speeches.
Two of the biggest names in Kiwi music - Lorde and SIX60 - took out some of the top awards during a night full

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Halfway down ‘Dickhead' Road
Halfway down ‘Dickhead' Road

Otago Daily Times

time7 hours ago

  • Otago Daily Times

Halfway down ‘Dickhead' Road

When was the last time you really, truly respected one of our politicians? Looked up to one, even? Don't spend too long mulling over your answer. If it hasn't come to mind within a few seconds, then that probably tells you all you need to know. The times have changed, of course, since such prominent leaders as National's Keith Holyoake and John Marshall ("Gentleman Jack") and Labour's Bill Rowling strode the New Zealand political stage, emanating careful concern, politeness and a genuine desire to treat others graciously and with dignity. Today we might be tempted to call them stuffy or pompous, prim and proper. But one thing they weren't, at least in public, was nasty or loud-mouthed. The rise in nastiness and adoption of rabble-rousing techniques came in with the arrival of the doughty, confrontational Robert Muldoon as prime minister in the mid-1970s. It would be far from truthful to say every politician since has exhibited such truculence, as plenty during the decades since have continued to be trustworthy and garner public respect. However, Mr Muldoon certainly opened the door to a new spiteful and pugnacious style of politicking. Leader of the House is one of the most senior and important roles in Parliament. The minister bestowed with that title at the behest of the prime minister has to manage the passage of government business through the House and takes primary responsibility for the programme of making new laws. The holder of these tasks is expected, one might think, to display maturity and gravitas. That person should lead by example, and be worthy of being ranked in the government's top three or four ministers. Hutt South MP Chris Bishop has been Leader of the House since November 2023 and also holds several large portfolios, including transport and housing. He has been a colourful and somewhat controversial minister since first being elected as a list MP in 2014. As affable as Mr Bishop is, he has also shown he is unafraid of speaking out bluntly on issues he views as too left-wing or woke. Leader of the House Chris Bishop. Photo: ODT files Fast forward to last Thursday evening's Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland and an episode which was caught on video. Seemingly irritated by a performance by singer Stan Walker which featured Toitū Te Tiriti banners and others waving tino rangatiratanga flags, Mr Bishop uttered "what a load of crap". Kiwi musician Don McGlashan decided to take Mr Bishop to task for his outburst, although he said after he did not realise at first who he was. "I could hear an enormous amount of ranting, kind of against the whole thing. I didn't get the full gist of it, but it was basically — 'the hīkoi is ages ago, sit down everybody'," Mr McGlashan told RNZ. "Shut up, you dickhead," Mr McGlashan said and then repeated when Mr Bishop replied, "What did you say to me?". By then, he recognised who Mr Bishop was. In the subsequent reporting imbroglio, Mr Bishop admitted his comments were poorly judged and "on reflection, I should have kept my thoughts to myself". But he denied claims he had remarked specifically on the hikoi and presented the red herring that the response was a "political smear job". He subsequently declined to apologise to Walker. Unsurprisingly, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon does not want a bar of it. Also unsurprisingly, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has backed Mr Bishop, saying a senior minister should not stop having opinions and that "it may be that people will agree with him". Yes indeed, Mr Bishop, you should have kept your thoughts to yourself. This occasion was neither the time nor the place for such conduct, especially not for someone of such seniority. Even in this more casual world, we expect our ministers to behave less like larrikins and more like role models. If Mr Bishop is struggling to think of some recent examples of humility, civility and quiet determination in the House, how about Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Sir Don "McKinnon, Sir Pita Sharples, Nikki Kaye, Dame Jacinda Ardern, Doug Woolerton, Jeanette Fitzsimons? Is it too much to ask for politicians we can respect again?

AMA comments were frustration at performance's politicisation
AMA comments were frustration at performance's politicisation

RNZ News

time18 hours ago

  • RNZ News

AMA comments were frustration at performance's politicisation

music politics 5:15 pm today Senior government minister Chris Bishop said his comments directed at a performance at the Aotearoa Music Awards were due to his frustration at its politicisation. The minister was heard saying "what a load of crap' during Stan Walker's performance on Thursday, and while he says he should've kept his thoughts to himself, he's not going to apologise the musician. One of his Cabinet colleagues said he disagrees with the comments, while the opposition are pointing to the history of politics in music. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store