Up to 1000 people were expected to attend the Waiata Maori Music Awards in Hastings on Thursday night.
The event was being held at Hawke's Bay Opera House, in the fourth consecutive year of the awards.
There are nine categories, including Best Maori Traditional Album, Best Maori Song and Best Maori Male or Female Solo Artist.
Some of the finalists are Sheree Waitoa, Mina Ripia, Ngatapa Black and Dennis Marsh.
Awards executive director, Tama Huata, says the occasion is a time to acknowledge the great contributions made by Maori artists.
