Tauākī Whanonga

Please find our conduct expectations below, as outlined in Section 3 of the AMA 2025 Terms & Conditions of Entry.

View the AMA 2025 Terms & Conditions of Entry in full here

3.1 Statement of Expectations

The Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA) is a celebration of artists and those behind-the-scenes in the recorded music industry in Aotearoa. As host and kaitiaki of AMA, Recorded Music NZ is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all involved.

AMA is a team effort and everyone has a part to play in creating a positive environment. Recorded Music NZ expects and requires everyone involved with AMA to respect others, act lawfully and with integrity and to act safely and responsibly. These expectations apply to our partners and their contractors, sponsors, award nominees, persons nominating, judges, award winners and others involved in the lead-up to the event, at the event itself, and in any interactions after the event.

Specifically we expect and require everyone involved with AMA:

  • To treat everyone fairly and with respect
  • To behave in a professional and courteous manner at all times
  • Not to engage in, encourage, or condone any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying
  • Not to engage in, encourage or condone any form of sexual harassment
  • If in a position of power or influence, to be mindful of that and take extra care not to take advantage of an imbalance of power
  • To be especially mindful of language and behaviour when in the presence of minors
  • To operate within the law at all times
  • To act safely and responsibly including as to alcohol consumption
  • To act with integrity and be honest in all dealings

In particular, AMA award winners receive the honour of holding a Tūī and the title of AMA award winner, and as such will be expected to uphold and maintain high standards of conduct. In order to safeguard the integrity of AMA and the Tūī awards, and the reputation of AMA, our organisation and our wider music whānau, Recorded Music NZ reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to take reasonable and appropriate action to uphold these expectations.

In the spirit of open communication and constant improvement, we encourage people to speak up if they wish to raise any issue, concern or complaint in relation to this Statement of Expectations. You can do this by email to any of the following people:

3.2 Disqualification, Revocation or Refusal for Breach of Statement of Expectations

Nominees acknowledge (if applicable by their representative) that the conduct of award winners, whether in the workplace or privately and whether in connection with AMA or otherwise, can impact on the reputation of Recorded Music NZ, AMA and the wider music community, long after the time they receive the award. As a result, Nominees agree that, if they receive an award, the continuation of that award is conditional on their ongoing compliance with the conduct expectations in these Terms and Conditions of Entry.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, the Board of Recorded Music NZ reserves the right at any time, in its absolute discretion, to take action that in the Board’s opinion is appropriate to uphold the principles and values set out in the Statement of Expectations, and/or to protect the integrity of AMA or the Tūī awards and/or to protect the reputation of Recorded Music NZ and its members, the AMA and/or the wider recorded music community. The Board may act on its own initiative or in response to a complaint or information provided to Recorded Music NZ. Such action may include (but is not limited to) refusing or disqualifying an entry at any stage; revoking, cancelling or requiring the return of an award that has already been given; refusing entry to AMA or other related event; or reinstating an award that has previously been revoked. Any such decision of the Board of Recorded Music NZ is final and at its absolute discretion. If an award is revoked, the Board has absolute discretion to decide whether or not to give the award to another Nominee in its place.