The 2026 Official NZ Music Month Summit - Programme Announced

The storm clouds have parted and suddenly NZ Music Month / Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa is less than one month away. Brought to you by Music Managers Forum Aotearoa and the New Zealand Music Commission | Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa, The Official NZ Music Month Summit is our community's annual all-day get-together, helping to demystify the ever-changing and sometimes opaque world of local music showbiz, for artists and industry participants at every level.

This year's theme is Our Sounds, Our Spaces, bringing together a diverse gang of special guest panel speakers sharing their personal experiences and expert insights, at The Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on Saturday 2nd May.

Presented with support from industry organisation partners APRA AMCOS, NZ On Air and Recorded Music NZ, The 2026 Official NZ Music Month Summit is free and accessible to attendees of all ages — but you must RSVP HERE in advance to secure your spot.

"This May we celebrate our music and all the places it's made and enjoyed across Aotearoa - at our incredible local live music venues, community halls, schools, libraries, marae, public parks and squares, and all ages spaces. Attendees will witness a range of speakers from all corners of the music industry discussing topics including: all ages music scenes across the motu; ways to develop an audience for your music in Aotearoa; the spaces where waiata reo Māori thrive; practical tips and advice for putting on a live show; as well as council and community spaces around the country that offer great accessible resources for musicians and industry professionals."

The 2026 Official New Zealand Music Month Summit
Saturday 2nd May - The Tuning Fork, Auckland, 10.45am to 4.30pm
RSVP via moshtix.co.nz (free, all-ages)

10.45am - Welcome to the NZ Music Month Summit / Karakia

11.00am - All Ages Spaces (45 mins)
Speakers: Jesse Samu (ONEONESIX Whangārei), Abi Symes (The Stomach, Palmerston North), Natasha Griffiths (Amped Music Project, Dunedin)
Moderator: Rosetta Stone (95bFM Breakfast)

All ages music venues are vital for developing healthy and thriving music communities in Aotearoa. They are often the first places young people interact with live music performance, develop their sounds, or learn the tools of the trade about organising and putting on shows. In this panel we’ll take a look at some of the all ages music scenes across Aotearoa, plus we’ll discuss ways we can empower and develop the next generation of artists through all ages platforms.

11.45am - Growing Your Audience at Home (45 mins)
Speakers: Ladi6 (Artist), Deva Mahal (Artist), Duncan Greive (Lume Music Platform)
Moderator: Rachel Ashby (NZ Music Commission)

As an artist working in Aotearoa there are plenty of tools to help you grow an audience for your music. In this panel we will discuss how touring and playing live can help grow your music community, what a great release strategy can look like in New Zealand, and we’ll take a look at some of the music platforms that can connect you with fans. You’ll have a chance to hear from three experienced musicians about their journeys and we will learn about the new music platform Lume.

12.30pm - Ko Tō Tātou Reo, Ko Tō Tātou Oro - Our Language, Our Sound (45 mins)
Speakers: MOHI (Artist), Rukuwai Tipene-Allen (Kaitito), Noema Te Hau III (Music Producer/Songwriter) Moderator: Sarah Owen (Māori Music Industry Collective)

Waiata reo Māori and waiata reo rua are the most distinctly Aotearoa sounds being made today. At the heart of this music is collaboration built on trust, relationships, and deep cultural grounding. Join our panellists who have worked closely together across multiple projects as they share what that creative space looks like from the inside. From the first conversation to the final recording, they'll talk honestly about navigating te ao Māori values in the studio, honouring the integrity of te reo, and why the relationship they've built with each other matters just as much as the music that comes from it.

1.15pm to 1.55pm - Lunch
Lunch will be provided for attendees

1.55pm - The Practical Side of Live (45 mins)
Speakers: James Goldsmith (Sound Engineer), Jaz Kapow (Site Services, All Things Live), Lucy Macrae (Dick Move, Whammy Bar, Chicks That Scream, The Label), Audrey Siataga (Music Manager)
Moderator: Charlotte Ryan (Broadcaster/Music Journalist)

For many people, performing live is one of the greatest joys about making music. Wherever you are at in your career, there are always new skills you can learn which will help develop your stage craft and professionalism when approaching a live show. From soundcheck to stage dressing, taking care of yourself on tour, to managing the admin of a live performance- our panel of experts have a broad range of experiences and advice to share about putting on a great gig.

2.40pm - In the Neighbourhood (45 mins)
Speakers to be announced

As an independent artist, you often take on a wide range of creative and practical tasks; from recording and content creation to merch production and promotion. Across the motu, there are council and community spaces stocked with affordable and accessible resources designed to support that mahi. From local libraries, to makerspaces and creative hubs - our panel will talk about some of the excellent resources in your neighbourhood that can help you develop your skills, create new work, and bring your musical projects to life.

3.25pm - Closing Karakia

3.30pm to 4.30pm - NZMM Summit Mixer (60 mins)
A casual in-person opportunity to meet with other attendees and some speakers from the day's panels.

Revisit 2025's illuminating Pulling Together The Show panel, featuring Fazerdaze (Amelia Murray), Laughton Kora (Kora, Black Comet), HalfQueen (Shaquille Wasasala), Rowan Pierce and moderator Sarah Thomson (APRA AMCOS NZ, 95bFM)...