Announcing the winners of the 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards
This afternoon, at a family friendly event at Auckland's Tuning Fork, children's music creators from across the motu joined forces to celebrate and spotlight tunes especially made for the tamariki of Aotearoa and beyond.
Christchurch-based Loopy Tunes were announced as winners in an exceptional three categories including the coveted Tūī for Recorded Music NZ Te Manu Taki Kerekahu o te Tau | Best Children's Music Artist. This is the first Aotearoa Children's Music Awards win for the sibling music duo of Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington, who released their first recordings for children in 2019. Bringing a super-fun vibe to the children's music world, they create waiata reo rua / bilingual Māori and Pasifika children's music, sung in their own harmonious style. With Māori and Tongan ancestry, Loopy Tunes' kaupapa is to normalise the use of Māori and Pacific languages in everyday life, through music. Currently playing shows at festivals and libraries, touring their most recent album Matariki, they regularly perform their Outreach Music Classes, visit preschools, and run workshops for educators - all while continuing to create episodes for their YouTube series Music Time with Loopy Tunes.
Also from Christchurch, Michal Bush, who performs under the name Music with Michal won the APRA Best Children's Song - Primary | He Pī Ka Rere for her fun guitar-based pop song 'Shapes and Colours', bringing vibrancy and fun to fundamental learning. Having won a Tūī for Best Children's Artist in 2022, Michal continues to create joyful, imaginative songs and videos for young children and their families.
Recorded Music NZ Te Manu Taki Kerekahu o te Tau | Best Children's Music Artist:
Loopy Tunes Preschool Music for Kahurangi - Little Treasures
APRA Best Children's Song - Primary | He Pī Ka Rere:
'Shapes and Colours' written by Michal Bush, performed by Music with Michal
NZ On Air Best Children's Music Video | He Manu Tūtei:
'The Maui Dolphin' written by Siu Williams-Lemi, performed by Leah Williams-Partington and Siu Williams-Lemi of Loopy Tunes Preschool Music, animation by Ross Payne
APRA Best Children's Song - Preschool | He Manu Pīpī:
'Lele Means Run' written by Siu Williams-Lemi, performed by Leah Williams-Partington and Siu Williams-Lemi of Loopy Tunes Preschool Music
SISTEMA AOTEAROA RECEIVES BAYSTING PRIZE
KŌKAKO AWARD WON BY 11-YEAR-OLD EMERY GOODWIN
Sistema Aotearoa were honoured as 2025 recipients of the Baysting Prize for Children's Champion. Since 2011, Sistema Aotearoa have been providing free, high-quality music education to tamariki in South Auckland, with a focus on building strong communities through collective music-making. The award, established in 2019 by APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, is presented in honour of the late Arthur Baysting.
Also presented was the Kōkako Award, nurturing our young performers in their endeavours and was won by 11-year-old Emery Goodwin of Dunedin [pictured right, above]. Emery will have their performance of their mother's original song, 'Enjoy the Ride', arranged by the Auckland Philharmonia - performing it live on stage with the orchestra later this year.
The Kōkako judging panel offered: "What an incredible group of finalists we had for this year's Kōkako Award – five outstanding young performers (Aiden Gao, Emery Goodwin, Naledi Mhuka, Sophie Jack, Yumi Chen), each of whom performed an original song. The talent on display was truly inspiring, making for a very tough decision. Our 2025 winner, Emery Goodwin, stood out with a performance full of maturity, vocal range, and expressive depth. On behalf of Kiwi Kids Music, NZ Opera, and Auckland Philharmonia, we warmly congratulate Emery and all of the finalists – we're excited to watch all your musical journeys unfold."
The Kōkako Award for Best Children's Performer is presented by Kiwi Kids Music, NZ Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia.
The Awards were held this afternoon, Sunday 29 June, at a special family friendly event atThe Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau.Hosted by Suzy Cato alongside a gaggle of talented tamariki and rangatahi, the celebration was preceded by a public Sounds Fun event that included performances from several Aotearoa Children's Music Awards finalists.
Presented by Recorded Music NZ, APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, and NZ On Air, the awards have the support of Kiwi Kids Music - the national association of children's songwriters, creators and producers. Formed by some of the most passionate creators of music for kiwi kids, the association supports NZ children's music creators and seeks to advance the potential of all our children to live healthy fulfilling lives.
Thanks to all the performers and presenters, APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, Recorded Music NZ, Spark Arena, NZ On Air, NZ Music Commission, Kiwi Kids Music, NZ Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia.
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