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Scoop
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Finalists Announced For 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards
Press Release – Maiden New Zealand The Childrens Music Awards highlight the incredible children's musicians that show us what happens when creativity, imagination, fun and music collide in a uniquely Kiwi way. Welcome to the most entertaining, toe-tapping, imaginative Awards in Aotearoa, the 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka. Announced today, finalists will be celebrated at the annual Awards on Sunday 29 June at Tuning Fork, Tāmaki Makaurau. For the first time, public will also be able to purchase tickets to a very special CMAs Sounds Fun pre-event hosted by Suzy Cato. The Children's Music Awards highlight the incredible children's musicians that show us what happens when creativity, imagination, fun and music collide in a uniquely Kiwi way. Behind the music is education, and through this year's finalists we learn that – yes, you can be a fairy even if you have hairy toes, and that the best way to escape cardigan-wearing slugs is, of course, to get out and about. We have glowworms lighting up orchestras, lessons in Tongan and Māori, mindful pirates reminding us to breathe even when you can't find any clean underwear – and Kiri and Lou prove once again that you can never have too much Anika Moa. Through waiata, our finalists share with our smallest people with the biggest hearts, that being different is what makes us special. The buzz is building, and the spotlight is ready — come along as we celebrate the incredible finalists of the 2025 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka! Be sure to buckle up, it might get a little wiggly ahead. Drum roll please… APRA Best Children's Song – Preschool | He Manu Pīpī finalists: Can I Be A Fairy? written by Rosalind Manowitz and Levity Beet, performed by Rainbow Rosalind and Levity Beet Lele Means Run written by Siu Williams-Lemi, performed by Leah Williams-Partington and Siu Williams-Lemi of Loopy Tunes Preschool Music Shamalama written by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair (Kiri and Lou), performed by Anika Moa, Jemaine Clement and Olivia Tennet APRA Best Children's Song – Primary | He Pī Ka Rere finalists: Little Taniwha written by Siu Williams-Lemi and Thomas O'Connor, performed by Leah Williams-Partington and Siu Williams-Lemi of Loopy Tunes Preschool Music Out & About written by Steph Brown, performed by Spellodies Shapes and Colours written by Michal Bush, performed by Music with Michal NZ On Air Best Children's Music Video | He Manu Tūtei finalists: Breathe written by Rich Manic, performed by Captain Festus McBoyle, video written and directed by Larissa Lofley and produced by Pea-knuckle Productions 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 Turn Planet, Turn written by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair (Kiri and Lou), performed by Jemaine Clement and Olivia Tennet, video directed by Harry Sinclair Recorded Music NZ Te Manu Taki Kerekahu o te Tau | Best Children's Artist finalists: Chris Sanders and Auckland Philharmonia for 'Hana the Glowworm' Levity Beet 'Levity Beet and the Aotearoa All Stars' Loopy Tunes Preschool Music for 'Kahurangi – Little Treasures' Kōkako finalists for Best Children's Performer presented by Kiwi Kids Music, NZ Opera and Auckland Philharmonia: Aiden Gao performing 'Take Me to The End' – aged 8 years Emery Goodwin performing 'Enjoy The Ride' – aged 10 years Naledi Mhuka performing 'Catch Me On My Vibe' – aged 11 years Sophie Jack performing 'New Zealand Memories' – aged 8 years Yumi Chen performing 'Never Back Down' – aged 9 years Recently honoured in the King's Birthday Honours as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her contributions to children's programming, music, and education, Suzy Cato – curator of the Children's Music Awards, and a beloved NZ children's music writer, author, and broadcaster – is thrilled with the flourishing state of Aotearoa's children's music community. She is especially excited that, for the first time, a live event will be open to the public, allowing even more people to experience the magic of children's music firsthand. 'The New Zealand children's music industry continues to go from strength to strength, fuelled by the passion of our singer-songwriters to create quality children's content, and the generous support of NZ On Air's music and content funding,' says Cato. 'The number of collaborations this past year has given the industry such a boost, too, as more and more audiences are hearing songs created specifically for them. We're thrilled to open the performance side of the Awards event to the public this year, with performances from all finalists in one way or another. And as we dance, sing, and party our way towards the 10th Aotearoa Children's Music Awards in 2026, we look forward to creating an even bigger, 'funner' event for all involved.' Presented by Recorded Music NZ, APRA AMCOS NZ, 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. Finalists will perform in a Sounds Fun event, at 10am Sunday 29 June at the Tuning Fork, Spark Arena – tickets available from Moshtix. Winners will be announced at an invite only ceremony at Tuning Fork, that afternoon. The show will be hosted by Suzy Cato with awards presented by tamariki from across Aotearoa, with plenty of fun and games for those special guests before the Award ceremony begins!
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Famous Faces Feature In 2025 Children's Book Awards Shortlist Announced Today
Well-known media personalities, bestselling-authors and previous awards winners are among the extremely strong shortlist of 32 titles for the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults announced today. Musician and presenter Anika Moa, respected journalist and broadcaster Miriama Kamo and bestselling author and child psychiatrist Hinemoa Elder join previous winners, including Gavin Bishop, Ruth Paul and Bren MacDibble, as well as numerous other highly regarded and emerging writers and illustrators. The 2025 shortlist 'explores some of the many ways to be a New Zealander: our people, our place and our preoccupations,' says the convenor of judges Feana Tu'akoi. 'Among the finalist books, big ideas from our past, present and possible dystopian futures are considered in absorbing and thoughtful ways, providing springboards for deeper discussion. Themes include identity, connection, mental health, our histories, traditional wisdom, indigenous languages, and the importance of being exactly who we are.' This year's two expert judging panels – a bilingual English and Māori panel and a separate Te Kura Pounamu panel to judge titles written in te reo Māori – were impressed by the calibre of the 156 entries. Whether a deceptively simple board book aimed at our youngest tamariki, or a sophisticated novel for rangatahi, this year's shortlist deftly connects our best writers and illustrators with the most discerning of readers – children and teenagers, the judges say. These young readers were again involved in the judging process. Kura kaupapa Māori, primary, intermediate and secondary schools across the motu all put their hands up to receive entries in relevant categories, and were given judging guidelines and review templates to encourage considered feedback for the judging panel. In total 51 schools participated, and 450 reviews were supplied for consideration. The winners of each of the six main categories – Picture Book, Junior Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction, Illustration and Te Reo Māori – take home $8500 and are then in the running to be named recipient of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, an award with a further $8500 prize money. In addition, the judges will award a Best First Book prize of $2500 to a previously unpublished author or illustrator. The ceremony to announce the winners will take place at Pipitea Marae in Wellington on the evening of Wednesday 13 August. The 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalists are: The BookHub Picture Book Award This year's finalists feature stunning illustrations in a range of masterful styles that combine with perfectly pitched text to tell engrossing, multi-layered stories, which the judges feel are sure to become family favourites. • Beddy Bye Time in the Kōwhai Tree, Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Lily Uivel (Scholastic New Zealand) • Mataali'i, Dahlia Malaeulu (Vaivase Tai, Sinamoga), illustrated by Darcy Solia (Mila's Books) • Ten Nosey Weka, Kate Preece, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) (Bateman Books) • Titiro Look,Gavin Bishop (Tainui, Ngāti Awa), translated by Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu) (Gecko Press, Lerner Publishing Group) • You Can't Pat a Fish, Ruth Paul (Walker Books Australia) Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award Junior Fiction continues to be a hotly contested category and the judges found this year's submissions possessed a real depth of exploration in both subject matter and age range. • Brown Bird, Jane Arthur (Penguin Random House New Zealand) • Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat, Li Chen (Penguin Random House New Zealand) • The Apprentice Witnesser, Bren MacDibble (Allen & Unwin) • The Raven's Eye Runaways, Claire Mabey (Allen & Unwin) • Violet and the Velvets: The Case of the Missing Stuff, Rachael King, illustrated by Phoebe Morris (Allen & Unwin) Young Adult Fiction Award For an age group that can smell insincerity from a mile away, the judges found it heartening to see writing that triumphed for the YA reader and managed to be deeply emotional but never cloying or sentimental. • Bear, Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Pippa Keel Situ (Allen & Unwin) • Gracehopper, Mandy Hager (One Tree House) • Migration, Steph Matuku (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga) (Huia Publishers) • The Mess of Our Lives, Mary-anne Scott (One Tree House) • The Paradise Generation, Sanna Thompson (umop apisdn press) Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction These pukapuka were chosen for their engaging writing, captivating illustration and range of perspectives. The judges felt they exemplify the different ways we can connect with non-fiction information and narratives. • Black Magic, David Riley, illustrated by Munro Te Whata (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Makefu) (Reading Warrior) • Dear Moko: Māori Wisdom for our Young Ones, Hinemoa Elder (Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāpuhi nui tonu) (Penguin Random House New Zealand) • Ruru: Night Hunter, Katie Furze, illustrated by Ned Barraud (Scholastic New Zealand) • The Treaty of Waitangi, Ross Calman (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Kāi Tahu) (Oratia Books) • Tui Pea Luva, by Mele Tonga Grant, illustrated by Luca Walton (Mila's Books) Russell Clark Award for Illustration These books feature collage, dreamy, Japanese woodblock-like composition, a waiata-evocative weaving of the abstract, watercolour and cartoon-like illustration. The judges believe these finalists showcase the sheer depth of the illustrator's craft to be found in New Zealand publishing right now. • Alice and the Strange Bird, Isaac du Toit (Isaac du Toit) • Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro, illustrated by Rehua Wilson (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa), written by Elizabeth Gray (Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko ki te awa tipua, Ngāti Tūwharetoa anō hoki) (Huia Publishers) • Poem for Ataahua, illustrated by Sarah Wilkins, written by Alistair Teariki Campbell (Reading Warrior) • Sad Sushi, Anna Aldridge (Anna Aldridge) • You Can't Pat a Fish, Ruth Paul (Walker Books Australia) Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Awards From retellings of pūrākau to contemporary kaupapa, the judges found that this year's Kura Pounamu entries, both written originally in te reo or translated from English, showed great understanding and engagement with te ao Māori as well as fluid, sophisticated use of the language supported by skilful, sensitive illustration. • A Ariā me te Atua o te Kūmara, Witi Ihimaera (Te Whānau a Kai, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngāti Porou), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu), translated by Hēni Jacob (Ngāti Raukawa) (Penguin Random House New Zealand) • *Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro, Elizabeth Gray (Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko ki te awa tipua, Ngāti Tūwharetoa anō hoki), illustrated by Rehua Wilson (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa) (Huia Publishers) • Ka mātoro a Whetū rāua ko Kohu i Rotorua, Hayley Elliott-Kernot, translated by Te Ingo Ngaia (Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa, Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Whānau-a-Karuai ) (Round Door Design) • Ko ngā Whetū Kai o Matariki, ko Tupuānuku rāua ko Tupuārangi, Miriama Kamo (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga), illustrated by Zak Waipara (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongowhakaata), translated by Ariana Stevens (Poutini Ngāi Tahu) (Scholastic New Zealand) • * Ngā Kupenga a Nanny Rina, Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao, Cook Islands), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu) (Penguin Random House New Zealand) * Indicates a finalist book originally written in te reo Māori NZSA Best First Book Award These shortlisted titles cover all age groups and genres. The judges praised their richly textured, wrap-around storytelling, captivating world-building, evocative illustration and powerful messages of authenticity, inclusion, aroha and fun. • Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie, Shelley Burne-Field (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Sāmoa) (Allen & Unwin) • Play Wild, Rachel Clare (Bateman Books) • The Raven's Eye Runaways, Claire Mabey (Allen & Unwin) • The Witch of Maketu and the Bleating Lambs, Anika Moa (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri), illustrated by Rebecca ter Borg (Penguin Random House New Zealand) • The Writing Desk, Di Morris (Bateman Books) As well as acknowledging the best and brightest in books for children and teens, a core mission of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults is fostering literacy and a love of reading among New Zealand's tamariki and rangatahi. This includes a programme of large-scale Books Alive events, in which finalist authors and illustrators bring the magic of books to life at sessions for school children. This year, thanks to the generous support of the Mātātuhi Foundation, for the first time a day of joyous Books Alive fun will be held for Palmerston North and Manawatū school children on Tuesday 22 July, alongside events in Invercargill (30 July), Christchurch (8August) and Wellington (13 August). The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults also administers the ever-popular HELL Reading Challenge, which has now been running for over a decade. Last year over 800 schools and libraries around the motu took part in the programme and more than 340,000 pizza wheels were distributed, leading to an estimated 2.3 million books read. The formidable task of narrowing the field to a shortlist of finalists was met by this year's experienced English and bilingual judging panel: Convenor of judges Feana Tu'akoi, a Kirikiriroa-based writer; Don Long, a children's and educational publishing expert; Linda Jane Keegan, a Singaporean-Pākehā writer and reviewer; Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Maru Hauraki), recipient of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the 2024 NZCYA awards; and Mero Rokx (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai), an education specialist who is on the English-language and bilingual panel, as well as Te Kura Pounamu panel. They were joined by a separate panel especially appointed to judge te reo Māori entries: Convenor Mat Tait (Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Kuia), a freelance artist, illustrator, writer and te reo Māori tutor based in the Motueka area; Justice-Manawanui Arahanga-Pryor (Ngāti Awa ki Rangitaiki, Ngāti Uenuku, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki), a kaitakawaenga / library programming specialist; and Maxine Hemi (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne), a kaiako with over 30 years' experience teaching. The New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and their associated programmes are made possible through the generosity, commitment and vision of funders and partners: Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, the Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, Wellington City Council, BookHub presented by Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa, the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, the Mātātuhi Foundation, and NielsenIQ BookData. The Awards are administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa. Notes: Key Date: The winners will be announced in Wellington on Wednesday 13 August. The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a unique celebration of the contribution New Zealand's children's authors and illustrators make to building national identity and cultural heritage. Awards are made in seven categories: Picture Book (the BookHub Award), Junior Fiction (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award), Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction (the Elsie Locke Award), Illustration (the Russell Clark Award), Te Reo Māori (the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Awards) and Best First Book (the NZSA Award). The main category awards carry prize money of $8,500 and the Best First Book winner receives $2,500. The overall prize, the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award, carries a further prize of $8,500. The awards are governed by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa (a registered charity). Current members of the Trust are Nicola Legat (chair), Richard Pamatatau, Garth Biggs, Elena de Roo, Renée Rowland, Laura Caygill, and Suzy Maddox. The Trust also governs the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day. Creative New Zealand has been a sustaining partner of New Zealand's book awards for decades. The national arts development agency of the New Zealand government encourages, promotes and supports the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders through funding, capability building, an international programme, and advocacy. Creative New Zealand provides a wide range of support to New Zealand literature, including funding for writers and publishers, residencies, literary festivals and awards, and supports organisations which work to increase the readership and sales of New Zealand literature at home and internationally. HELL Pizza was established in 1996 and now has 78 outlets throughout New Zealand. HELL has been proud to sponsor the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for over a decade. Known for doing things a little differently, in 2014 the company initiated the awards-associated HELL Reading Challenge, which encourages kiwi kids to swap screen time for stories by rewarding a love of reading with pizza. The programme rewards students with a free 333 kids' pizza once they have read seven books, because, HELL says, getting kids into reading 'is worth going to Hell for'. In 2024, 814 schools and public libraries around New Zealand took part and over 340,000 pizza wheels were distributed, which means that more than 2.3 million books were potentially read by Kiwi kids as a result. The Wright Family Foundation 's goal of 'growing the good' in New Zealand Aotearoa means literacy features prominently in its aspirations for the country's youth. Founder, the late Chloe Wright, was delighted to have the Foundation support the mahi of the New Zealand Books Awards for Children and Young Adults, believing that reading creates imagination, ultimately leading to the emergence of writers. 'Books, whether read or written, bring centuries of people together. Through the written word we gain tolerance and understanding, enabling us to share in the cultures, histories, myths, and magical spaces in time,' she said. The Foundation also supports Kids' Lit Quiz and the New Zealand Spelling Bee. LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, the association for library and information professionals in New Zealand, introduced the country's first award for children's fiction, establishing the Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award in 1945. LIANZA added other awards over the years including the Russell Clark Award for Illustration in 1975 and the Elsie Locke Non-fiction Award in 1986. Te Kura Pounamu Award for books written in te reo Māori was established in 1996, in partnership with Te Rōpū Whakahau. In 2016 the LIANZA Children and Young Adult Book Awards were merged with the Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, strengthening the long legacy of the LIANZA Awards. Wellington City Council 's Arts Strategy Te Aho Tini is about artists and writers being central to Wellington City, working on some of the city's biggest challenges and generating connected, inclusive communities. Te Aho Tini seeks to support and celebrate writing and illustration within future careers. Founded in 1921, Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand is the national association for bookshops. It helps booksellers grow and succeed through education, information, advocacy, marketing campaigns – such as Bookshop Day – and services – such as BookHub. Launched in 2023, BookHub is an e-commerce platform that enables people to browse books, buy books and find local bookshops, directly connecting readers with independent bookstores across the motu. Local bookshops are essential community hubs, and champions of Aotearoa New Zealand books and of the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) was established in 1934 as the New Zealand PEN Centre and remains the principal organisation for writers in Aotearoa today. Now representing over 1,800 writers, NZSA advocates for authors' rights and incomes, acts as a communications hub, administers prizes and awards, and runs a raft of digital and in-person professional development programmes and assessment and mentoring opportunities that support writers at all stages of their writing journeys. The Society works closely with industry partners and collaborates widely across the sector to advance the visibility and readership of NZ writers and NZ writing. NZSA is a non-profit Incorporated Society and registered charity, governed by a Board, with 8 regional branches, Ngā Kaituhi Māori, a growing Youth Writers Network, and a national office. The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa helps all New Zealanders access and use the collective knowledge of the nation. It's their job to collect, connect, and co-create knowledge to power Aotearoa. The National Library has long supported literacy and learning, and recent reading initiatives related to its 'Growing a Nation of Readers' strategy include Communities of Readers and Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador. Award-winning author Kate De Goldi has been appointed as the third Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador from June 2025. Kate will advocate for and champion the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau and communities. In 2025 The National Library is supporting the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults by hosting its Books Alive events in the multipurpose spaces of the Tiakiwai Conference Centre facility on the Wellington premises. The Mātātuhi Foundation was established by the Auckland Writers Festival in 2018 to support the growth and development of New Zealand's literary landscape. To achieve this outcome, the Foundation funds literary projects that have the potential to develop sustainable literary platforms that help grow awareness and readership of New Zealand books and writers, increase engagement with New Zealand children's literature, or build access to, and awareness of, New Zealand's literary legacy. In 2025, the Mātātuhi Foundation has provided a second year of funding to enable the expansion of the Books Alive programme – which engages finalist authors in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults with tamariki and rangatahi in a series of large-scale immersive events – to four centres around the country. NielsenIQ BookData provides a range of services to the book industry internationally, aiding the discovery and purchase, distribution and sales measurement of books. The company employs more than 100 staff and has offices in 17 countries, including New Zealand and Australia. NielsenIQ BookData is wholly owned by NIQ.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Broadcasting Standards Authority rules on three complaints against RNZ
Three broadcasting complaints that were not upheld by RNZ have also failed on referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Neville Watkin complained about a headline that estimated the cost of two Interisland ferries at around $900m. The BSA did not uphold the complaint because the estimate was a matter of opinion or comment to which the Accuracy standard does not apply, and such an estimate was not materially misleading. The full decision can be found here . Grahame Hall complained about an episode of It's Personal with Anika Moa which contained the F-word and other swear words. The Authority did not uphold the complaint because the broadcast was preceded by a warning about 'strong language' and, in the context, it was unlikely to cause widespread disproportionate offence or distress. Full decision here . The Authority also declined to determine a complaint from Vaughan Samuelson about what details were included/omitted in a story that appeared in a very brief news update on RNZ Concert. The BSA said the complaint amounted to personal preference regarding matters of editorial discretion. Full decision here .
