Radio One 91FM Announces Dunedin Regional Winners For The 2025 Aotearoa Alternative Awards
Dunedin’s local student station, Radio One 91FM, has announced its regional winners for the 2025 Aotearoa Alternative Awards, proudly presented by NZ On Air and the Student Radio Network (SRN).
The annual awards celebrate the best in independent and alternative Aotearoa-made music, recognising emerging and established talent nationwide. The national event will be livestreamed from Radio Control in Palmerston North via SRN.nz, with Radio One hosting a local watch party on the University of Otago campus, featuring live performances from Ōtepoti favourites Bunchy’s Big Score and U-No Juno.
“Radio One is happy to be able to champion and support our local music scene, which this year has felt so strong. It’s amazing to see so many Ōtepoti artists nominated across the awards, and exciting to watch many of the younger artists coming up and gaining recognition across the country. ” says Lily Knowles, Radio One Promotions Manager.
The Radio One 91FM Regional Winners, 2025 Aotearoa Alternative Awards include:
Te Waiata Mariu 2025 ki a Radio One (Radio One’s Favourite Song of 2025)
Brought to you by Te Korokoro O Te Tūī
Winner: Keira Wallace – Lambs Aren’t Waking Yet
He Tohu Kahurangi o te Pāhotanga ki a Radio One (Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting)
Brought to you by Auahi Ora
Winner: Hamish Marchant (Assorted Hamish), Native Birds Aotearoa Hip-Hop Show
Te Tohu Kairangi ki a Radio One (Outstanding Contribution to Radio One)
Brought to you by The Bowling Club: Community Eatery
Winner: Maddy Barnes – Student Volunteer & Drive Show Host
This year, Radio One is also introducing a new honour, The Lutha Award for Commitment to Original Live Music in Ōtepoti, created in memory of Gordon Spittle. The inaugural recipients are Ōtepoti three-piece U-No Juno.
The award, supported by the estate of the late Gordon Spittle and presented in partnership with the Dunedin Musicians Club, recognises dedication to original live performance and the enduring spirit of local music.
The Lutha Award includes:
– Dunedin Musicians Club memberships for each band member (and a friend)
– A $100 MusicWorks voucher per member
– A headline Radio One gig at the Muso’s Club in 2026
– A promotion package with Radio One
The evening was a celebration of Ōtepoti’s music scene and the creative spirit that fuels local music across Aotearoa. Having so many people from the Radio One whānau come together to support one another and celebrate with the five stations that make up the Student Radio Network perfectly captured what makes the SRN so unique.
‘I’m so proud of the talent showcased by the artists, the incredible commitment of our volunteers, our unbelievably dedicated staff, and the loyalty of our listeners. Events like this really illustrate how important Radio One is to the community and how much we tautoko and care about our local musicians’, commented Elizabeth Leach-Young, Student Media Manager at OUSA.
