The 2026 Taite Music Prize Winner is Marlon Williams

Published: Thursday 30 April 2026

 

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) is proud to announce the winner of the prestigious 2026 Taite Music Prize held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Tāmaki Makaurau. The event celebrated outstanding Aotearoa albums released over the past calendar year, recognising the highest artistic merit over commercial success and highlighting independent excellence across genres. The Taite Music Prize continues to reflect the creative landscape of Aotearoa music, recognising albums that shape and define the year’s output. This marks the second consecutive year Māori-led projects have been recognised across the Taite Music Prize’s contemporary categories, celebrating the continued ascendancy of te reo Māori and artistic excellence within Aotearoa music.

Geneva AM  accepts the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award for her album Pikipiki
(Photo Credit: Dave Simpson)

Tonight’s Taite Music Prize was awarded to Marlon Williams for Te Whare Tīwekaweka, released via Marlon Williams Music Ltd. Williams receives a $12,500 cash prize, courtesy of founding partner Recorded Music NZ.

Te Whare Tīwekaweka is recognised as a deeply personal and expansive body of work, with Williams drawing on te reo Māori as a creative framework for themes of connection, identity, and whakapapa. Developed in collaboration with KOMMI, who contributed to its lyrical and linguistic shaping, the album is framed by the concept of “a messy house” — a metaphor for the warmth, complexity, and the continual evolution of Māori identity and home. The record brings together a wide range of influences into a cohesive and unified whole.

Joining via a recorded acceptance speech from Norway, where he is on tour, Marlon Williams said:
“E mihi ana ki a koe mō māhāra (thank you for your memory), Dylan Taite, and to the Taite family for your legacy — not only for this award, but for the incredible standard you brought to journalism in New Zealand. Thank you very much to my fellow musicians — incredible music you all put out this year — very honoured to be amongst your number. Kommi, without your help, I wouldn’t have made this record at all. Thanks for representing this record in the room.”

Additional Honours of the Evening:

• The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award goes to Geneva AM for her debut album Pikipiki. Sonically varied and emotionally rich, Pikipiki spans classical, dance, drum ’n’ bass, hiko, and emo rock influences, alongside bilingual originals and reimagined versions of Aotearoa favourites. At the centre is Geneva AM’s voice, guiding the listener with clarity and purpose, uplifting wairua and encouraging resilience through life’s challenges. Upon accepting her award, she shared: “We need to stay united, keep creating, and continue enjoying the art of tinkering—free all occupied territories.”
• The Independent Spirit Award was presented to Carmel Bennett, whose “say yes, figure it out later” ethos has shaped a career spanning almost every corner of the music industry — from lighting and production through to artist management. Across decades of work, she has played a pivotal role in landmark events, including Big Day Out and Soundsplash, as well as formative years at The Powerstation. More recently, her focus and pride have centred on her work with MusicHelps, continuing her long-standing commitment to supporting the wider music community. "I spent many years having a cup of tea with Dylan Taite in the back bar of the Powerstation. So this is really special to me," said Bennett in her acceptance speech. 
• Rosa Nevison, Flynn Robson, and Sam Elliott took home the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award for their in-print Newzician Magazine. Bringing Aotearoa’s DIY ethos, Newzician is an independent magazine founded by three friends from the Ōtepoti Dunedin gig circuit. Now four issues in, it is being recognised for sustaining long-form music journalism in print at a time when it is increasingly rare, and for documenting music culture as an interconnected ecosystem rather than a collection of individual artists. Produced entirely without institutional backing, the magazine prioritises in-depth storytelling and context-led coverage, creating space for artists and communities to speak in full. Each issue spans artists alongside the wider infrastructure that supports them – including venues, labels, photographers, writers, and designers – capturing the networks that sustain Aotearoa’s music communities.
• The Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award was presented to The Mint Chicks for their album Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!, recognised for its lasting impact on Aotearoa’s alternative music landscape and its ongoing influence on successive generations of artists. Released in the early 2000s, the album pushed New Zealand pop, psychedelia and punk into more volatile, experimental territories, defined by abrasive textures, fractured structures, and a deliberate rejection of conventional polish. Its legacy endures as a touchstone for boundary-pushing music, locally and internationally, reshaping expectations of what Aotearoa music could sound like. Eligible 20 years after release, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! is recognised at the earliest opportunity for the Classic Record Award. Speaking on the win, Ruban Nielson described the album as “a collision of four people,” while Michael Logie added, “Kodi made this in a garage so that’s independent music — stay together, help each other.” Chris Nielson reflected on the making of Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! as an intention to create “a punk album dressed as candy.”

Event Highlights:

For the first time ever, the Taite Music Prize was open to the public, with audiences experiencing the ceremony live alongside standout performances and the return of Penelope Noir’s Black Carpet. The expanded format saw 500 tickets issued, with funds raised for MusicHelps, further strengthening the organisation’s vital work supporting music therapy and community initiatives across Aotearoa, alongside essential assistance for music workers in need.

This year’s ceremony also premiered a sneak preview of the annual FromThePit visual showcase — a curated collection of over 100 images capturing Aotearoa’s live music scene. Presented at the Taite Music Prize for the first time, it offered a powerful visual exhibition of the nation’s music culture, spanning both emerging and established talent.

The ceremony was guided by MC extraordinaire Sarah Thomson, who steered the night with warmth, precision, and humour. Previous Taite winners Byllie-Jean and MOKOTRON also took to the stage, continuing the Taite Music Prize tradition of honouring past recipients through live performance.

The Taite Music Prize winner was announced by Chris Van De Geer (Recorded Music NZ representative) and Tiopira McDowell (MOKOTRON), with McDowell reflecting on the milestone of returning to the stage one year on from his own win of the Taite Music Prize.

Judging Panel:

The 2026 Taite Music Prize and Auckland Live Best Independent Debut panel comprised esteemed members of the music media and wider industry, selected for their expertise and commitment to a transparent, independent process based solely on artistic merit. The judging panel included:

• Damon Newton (Auckland Live)
• Pennie Black (Concord Publishing, IMNZ Board Member)
• Dianne Swann (Musician, IMNZ Board Member)
• Tom Tremewan (95bFM)
• Chris Schulz (Boiler Room)
• Lydia Jenkin (APRA)
• Hunter Keane (Flying Out)
• Rachel Ashby (NZ Music Commission)
• Casey Yeoh (NZ on Air) 
• Chris Cudby (Under The Radar)
• Effie Jaxx (Radio One)

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award was selected by a dedicated panel of judges drawn from across the music media and industry, recognising excellence in music journalism based on editorial integrity, impact, and craft.

• Taylor MacGregor (95bFM, IMVA Advocacy Manager, IMNZ Board Member) 
• Pippa Ryan-Kidd (Artist Manager, IMNZ Chairperson) 
• Harrison Pali (Warner Music Group)
• Russell Baillie    (The Listener)
• George Fenwick (Stuff)

With Thanks to Our Partners:

The Taite Music Prize is presented by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), with special thanks to our Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ. 

We also acknowledge the generous support of our Official Partners: NZ On Air, The Taite Whānau; and Award Partners: Auckland Live.

A heartfelt thank you to our Supporting Partners, whose contributions help make this event possible: Parachute Studios, Garage Project, NZ Music Commission, APRA AMCOS, Media Arts Lawyers, Merlin, The Label PR, Boxcutter and Loop.

We also acknowledge our Media Partners RNZ Music, 95bFM and the Student Radio Network (SRN), whose platforms play a vital role in extending the reach of the Taite Music Prize and championing Aotearoa music and its artists year-round.