Tauranga Whetū Star Awards are Aotearoa’s prestigious North Island Country Music awards.
The Country Music genre has seen an increase in popularity and has once again entered the “mainstream charts.” Proudly, some of these artists will feature during the weekend of 25th-27th October at Baycourt, Tauranga.
Entrants vie for Titles of Junior, Intermediate, Senior, Veteran and Songwriter Whetū Award titles and the right to represent these awards at the Nationwide New Zealand Country Music Entertainer of the Year event 2025.Contestants from Tiny Tot age group through to over 75 years of age compete in various sections all sharing their love of Country Music.
On Saturday entrants will perform to a live audience.
On Sunday, a Highly Commended Matinee Concert is being held from11.00am – 2.30pm featuring those Contestants and Special Guest Artists backed by our hot country band “Ngā Whetū”.
Later that evening New Zealand internet superstars and popular whānau group, The Harmonic Resonators, are headlining the Grand Finale along with recent “The Voice Australia” phenomenon and Trans Tasman Award Winning Entertainer, Jaydin Shingleton. They are backed by Nationwide Award Winning Professional Musician’s, “Bacchus”.
Celebrity Emcee, Monique Bradley will host the evening’s event and will award five representatives of the Tauranga Whetū Star Awards, including an invitation to the MLT Gold Guitar Awards 50th Anniversary in Gore 2025 plus New Zealand Country Music Entertainer of the Year Award 2025.
Under New Direction by International Event Convenor, Tracey-Maree Houia and Local Event Identities, Noel and Lyn Wylie, the Whetū awards replace the NZCMA Star Awards that were created in 1976 and vow to pay homage to those that have paved the way and made the awards what they are today.
As part of that a Waiata Section is being introduced where contestants perform 50% Te Reo and 50% English in country origin.
So, come along and enjoy a weekend of Country Music at Baycourt where the Tauranga Whetū Star Awards mantra is “Today’s hopefuls are Tomorrow’s Stars.”
Pricing
Highly Commended Matinee
Adult: $10.50
Child: $5.50
Senior: $8.50
Family - 2 adults and 2 kids: $27.00
Friends of Baycourt: $8.50
Finale
Adult: $26.50
Child: $10.50
Senior: $21.00
Family Pass - 2 adults and 2 kids: $64.00
Friends of Baycourt: $26.50