The MMF Aotearoa and the NZ Music Commission are thrilled to announce the return of the NZ Music Month Summit, a packed one-day programme featuring panel discussions and industry insights, held during NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2026.

Presented with support from our industry organisation partners APRA AMCOS, NZ On Air and Recorded Music NZ, the NZ Music Month Summit this year centres on the theme of NZ Music Month 2026 ‘Our Sounds, Our Spaces’. 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. 

This year’s NZ Music Month Summit will be held for a limited live audience at the Tuning Fork in Auckland. To secure a free ticket for the in-person event, you can register at Moshtix. Join us for a great day of conversation and networking.

Panel details & speakers for this year’s NZ Music Month Summit is below:

10.45 am

Welcome to the NZ Music Month Summit / Karakia

11.00 am

All Ages Spaces (50 mins)

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. 

Jesse Samu (ONEONESIX Whangārei)

Abi Symes (The Stomach, Palmerston North)

Natasha Griffiths (Amped Music Project, Dunedin)

Moderator: Rosetta Stone (95bFM Breakfast)

11.50 am

Growing Your Audience at Home (50 mins)

As an artist working in Aotearoa there are plenty of tools to help you grow an audience for your music. In this panel we’ll 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’ll learn about the new music platform Lume. 

Ladi6 (Artist)

Deva Mahal (Artist)

Bella Bavin (Artist, Coast Arcade)

Duncan Greive (Lume Music Platform)

Moderator: Rachel Ashby (NZ Music Commission)

12.40pm

Ko Tō Tātou Reo, Ko Tō Tātou Oro - Our Language, Our Sound (30 mins)

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.

MOHI (Artist)

Rukuwai (Artist)

Moderator: Sarah Owen (MMF, MMIC)

1.10pm - 1.45pm

Lunch

Lunch will be provided for attendees

1.45pm

The Practical Side of Live (50 mins)

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.

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)

2.35pm

In the Neighbourhood (50 mins)

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.

Speakers to be announced

3.25pm

Closing Karakia

3.30pm - 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.