As it happened: 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards

The biggest night of the year for New Zealand music, the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards, has taken place at Auckland's Spark Arena.

It's the first year for the newly rebranded awards, formerly the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards (VNZMAs). Its new name aims to recognise Te Reo Māori as the first language of New Zealand and to reflect the importance of the country's tangata whenua and Te Ao Māori in the music scene. 

Click here for the full list of winners.

The live updates have now finished.

10:25pm - The Beths have won again! The indie pop darlings have claimed Te Pukaemi o te Tau (Album of the Year) for Jump Rope Gazers.

The band's Elizabeth Stokes got emotional as she accepted the award.

"I can't express how much it means to me," said Stokes. "We're surrounded right here in this room by so many incredible, incredible artists and I feel really proud."

That's the third Tui of the night for The Beths, after previously winning Te Roopu Toa | Best Group and Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa | Best Alternative Artist.  

Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths got emotional accepting Album of the Year at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths got emotional accepting the biggest award of the night. Photo credit: MediaWorks

10:15pm - She's done it! Benee has won again, picking up Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year) for 'Supalonely'.

That's the pop star's fourth Tui of the night, which means for two years running she's the biggest overall winner of the Aotearoa Music Awards.

"I just want to say to all of the other artists nominated, you guys are insane," said Benee as she accepted the award.

"And every other musician in New Zealand making music right now. I feel like there are so many talented musicians doing really cool shit that's really different, unique and really frickin' cool."

In 2019, Benee also won four awards in total, including Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year) for 'Soaked'.

10:11pm - Six60 are winners! The 'White Lines' hitmakers have missed out in a few other categories tonight, but won't go home empty handed after claiming Te Toa Hoko Teitei (Highest Selling Artist).

"We started in a flat in Dunedin, years ago. We can't believe that we're here, every year! Big love, big thank you to everyone who cares, who buys our music and comes to see our shows," said guitarist Matiu Walters while accepting the award.

The Beths perform 'I'm Not Getting Excited' at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
The Beths perform 'I'm Not Getting Excited'. Photo credit: MediaWorks

10:06pm - The Beths, double winners at tonight's awards and nominated in categories yet to be announced, have shown the crowd why they're so beloved with a rousing performance of 'I'm Not Getting Excited'.

9:57pm - Tiki Taane delivered a soulful performance of his hit 'Kei Tōku Ngākau Nei Koe / Always On My Mind' for the In Memoriam tribute section of the show.

9:45pm - Benee is having a massive night - she's just picked up her third award of the evening with Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa (Best Solo Artist).

"Oh man, this is crazy," Benee said as she accepted the trophy.

"Thank you everyone for listening and coming to my shows. Thank you again to my band, I would be the biggest loser on stage if it wasn't for them."

Benee is nominated for one more award - Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year). If she wins that, she'll have tied herself with her 2019 haul of four Tuis.

9:37pm - Jawsh 685 has won again, adding the trophy for Tohu Tutuki o te Ao (Recorded Music NZ International Achievement) to his collection, along with Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau (Breakthrough Artist of the Year).

Jawsh 685 is the second artist of the evening to win the international award, along with Benee.

L.A.B performed a medley at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
L.A.B performed a medley. Photo credit: Three

9:34pm - Double winners L.A.B have powered through a medley of their hits, showing exactly why they're enjoying so much success.

9:26pm - The Levites performed a cover of 'Slipping Away' to honour Max Merritt, one of the six iconic Kiwi acts being inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame this year.

9:22pm - Mōhau have won Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award, receiving a spontaneous haka as they made their way to accept the trophy.

9:15pm - The Beths have won again! The indie pop band has picked up Te Roopu Toa (Best Group) to go with Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa (Best Alternative Artist), which they won earlier.

Stan Walker performs 'Bigger' at the Aotearoa Music Awards.
Stan Walker performs 'Bigger'. Photo credit: Three

9:13pm - Stan Walker performed his 2020 hit 'Bigger' with a large backing band, including seven back-up vocalists.

9pm - Drax Project have won Te Rikoata Marakerake o te Tau (NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year).

Benee performs 'Supalonely' at the Aotearoa Music Awards 2020.
Benee performs 'Supalonely'. Photo credit: Getty

8:56pm - Benee has shown the crowd why she cleaned up at the awards last year and is already a double winner tonight with a delightful performance of 'Supalonely'.

8:44pm - L.A.B have won again! They're now the night's second act to win multiple awards along with Benee as they picked up Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa (Best Roots Artist).

8:40pm - Jawsh 685 is back on the stage after his live performance as a winner - he's been honoured with Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau (Breakthrough Artist of the Year).

In his speech, he thanks God firstly, before acknowledging his record label, friends and family.

"Everyone, God bless!" he ended his speech.

Six60 performing live at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Six60 with a kapa haka group. Photo credit: Three

8:32pm - The broadcast has switched from Edge TV to Three and moved into high gear with a performance from Six60.

Benee wins at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Benee wins Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa (Best Pop Artist). Photo credit: Three

8:16pm - Benee wins again! She's scooped Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa (Best Pop Artist). She's also nominated for Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau (Single of the Year) and Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa (Best Solo Artist) which are still to come.

8:11pm - Best Rock Artist winners City of Souls gave an upbeat performance of their hit 'Lifeblood'.

8:06pm - L.A.B has won Te Kōwhiri o te Nuinga (People's Choice Award) and Mōhau picked up Te Kaipuoro Kairangi Toa (Best Worship Artist), providing the crowd with a beautiful little waiata mid-speech.

8pm - The Beths have won Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa (Best Alternative Artist) for the second year running, just after a stirring live performance from Tami Neilson.

Jawsh685 performing at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Jawsh685 performing at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards. Photo credit: MediaWorks

7:50pm - Jawsh 685 just performed a very special live version of his smash hit 'Savage Love (Siren Beat)', together with Villette.

7:45pm - Maimoa gave a passionate speech after winning Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa (Best Māori Artist), after which they received a haka.

7:40pm - Benee, last year's big overall winner of the awards, has picked up her first of the night - Tohu Tutuki o te Ao (Recorded Music NZ International Achievement).

Paige performing at the 2020 AMA.
Paige performing at the 2020 AMA. Photo credit: MediaWorks

7:30pm - More awards have been given out on the Edge TV broadcast - Lee Mvtthews picked up Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa (Best Electronic Artist), while City of Souls won Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa (Best Rock Artist).

7:20pm - Haz & Miloux have been awarded Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa (Best Soul/RnB Artist), while Andrew Beer & Sarah Watkins won Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa (Best Classical Artist).

Church & AP win Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa (Best Hip Hop Artist) at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Church & AP win Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa (Best Hip Hop Artist). Photo credit: MediaWorks

7pm - The broadcast kicked off on Edge TV with a performance from CHAII, before the first award went to Church & AP for Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa (Best Hip Hop Artist).

Benee and Kate Rodger at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.
Benee and Kate Rodger. Photo credit: Newshub.

6:30pm - During Newshub Live at 6pm, Kate Rodger chatted live with Benee at Spark Arena around an hour before the ceremony starts at 7:30pm.

"I'm excited! I'm also a bit nervous, I'm a bit husky at the moment but no, I'm excited," said Benee.

She said 2020 has been "a bit weird, a bit horrible" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but said she's grateful she can still work.

6pm - Paige, who is nominated for two awards and is performing during the ceremony, took to Instagram to share her excitement over the weekend.

"I know you're supposed to be super chill about these things but I'm really grateful to be recognised by the industry this year," she posted.

"It means a lot and it feels like I must be doing SOMETHING right so thank you for the nominations and having me perform."