Announcing the winners of the 2026 Aotearoa Children's Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka

APRA AMCOS, Recorded Music NZ, and NZ On Air are excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Aotearoa Children’s Music Awards | Ngā Manu Tīrairaka Awards.

The Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau was buzzing this afternoon, as children’s music creators from across Aotearoa came together for a fun celebration of the songs created for our tamariki, and the young at heart.

Spellodies led the wins, taking home the title in two categories. Featuring Steph Brown and Fen Ikner of ‘grown-up’, APRA Silver Scroll-winning band LIPS, and their son Freddy on drums, Spellodies collected the Tūī for Recorded Music NZ Te Manu Taki Kerekahu o te Tau | Best Children's Music Artist for their album If You Can Yell It, Then You Can Spell It. Ikner was also awarded NZ On Air Best Children’s Music Video | He Manu Tūtei for Night Light. Brown and Ikner started out writing Spellodies material to help Freddy, and his little brother Charlie, work out how to spell tricky words. What’s more obvious than writing a Ramones-inspired tune to help them remember? An approach that would unexpectedly become so popular it would grow into a full collection of unlikely learning material. Freddy stepped up, wielding the sticks – and Charlie has been known to add to the rhythm on the kitchen pot. Educational, fun and catchy, Spellodies’ songs and accompanying DIY videos bring together a wide range of influences, from showtunes and reggae to Americana – and even death metal. They also have an activity and ukulele chord book to offer young learners.

Songwriters Maude Morris and Ava Walker were presented with the APRA Best Children’s Song - Preschool | He Manu Pīpī for their song Kaitiakitanga. The waiata is part of the Toi Time series, a joyful, music-filled show for tamariki that celebrates fun, friendship, learning and the unique world of Aotearoa. Maude has a great reputation in the Aotearoa music space, having worked across recording, writing, production, and mixing on a wide range of projects and artists alongside her own synth-pop duo LEXXA. Maude is now based in Naarm (Melbourne) focusing fully on engineering and production. Co-writer Ava Walker, who also records under the artist name ĀRAI, is an emerging Māori writer, singer, songwriter and artist. With work bringing together music, screen storytelling, te reo Māori and contemporary Indigenous expression, she is celebrated as a promising new creative voice in Aotearoa’s music and screen sector.

APRA Best Children’s Song - Primary | He Pī Ka Rere was won by Siu Williams-Lemi and Thomas O’Connor for their educational waiata Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song) performed by Loopy Tunes Preschool Music. Ōtautahi-based sister music duo, Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington won three categories at the 2025 awards. They continue to bring a vibrant cultural flavour to the children’s music world with their award-winning song, educating tamariki around Matariki tikanga, and specifically for this waiata, what kai is offered during a hautapu to feed the stars. Loopy Tunes are widely recognised for their joyful bilingual Māori and Pasifika waiata, delivered in a beautifully harmonious style.

Also presented was the Kōkako Award, nurturing our young performers in their endeavours and was won by 9-year-old Sophia Mkoian. Sophia’s song is about the quiet power of being kind, especially during hard times, that anyone has the strength to be the light for someone. Sophia’s original song’s will be arranged by the Auckland Philharmonia and she will get to perform it live on stage with the orchestra later this year.

Play It Strange Charitable Trust were honoured as 2026 recipients of the Baysting Prize for Children’s Champion. Since 2003, Play It Strange have been supporting young New Zealanders on their music journey through songwriting, performance and self-expression. The award, established in 2019 by APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, is presented in honour of the late Arthur Baysting. Audioculture recently published an article, initially started in 2016 by Arthur, on the children’s music scene in Aotearoa, now completed with additions by Chris Lam Sam, with permission of Arthur’s family.

The Awards were held this afternoon, Sunday 28 June, at a special family friendly event at The Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau. Hosted by Suzy Cato alongside talented tamariki and rangatahi, the celebration was part of a public Sounds Funevent that included performances by Levity Beet, Sam Smith, Kath Bee, Play It Strange alumni Lily Stiven, and Judi Cranston who was honoured for her contribution to children’s music.

Thanks to all the performers and presenters, APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, Recorded Music NZ, Spark Arena, NZ On Air, NZ Music Commission,Kiwi Kids Music, Auckland Philharmonia and tonies.