Headless Chickens scatter ashes of former member Grant Fell onstage at Taite Prize. / RNZ
A Taite Prize nominee has hit out at the ceremony, saying he "wouldn't have gotten on stage" after cremated ashes were scattered by a rock band.
The band who scattered the ashes of a former member, Headless Chickens, have defended the moment, saying it was "wonderful and magical".
But organisers of the ceremony, Independent Music New Zealand and Auckland Live, say they were unaware of the band's plans and say the stage will be blessed "in the coming days".
Aldous Harding received the night's $10,000 prize for Party, her album which was named the best release from the past year over fellow nominees including Nadia Reid, Fazerdaze, Grayson Gilmour, Kane Strang and The Bads.
But one fellow nominee in attendance at the glitzy Auckland event, Maori artist Teeks, took to Twitter to hit out at the ceremony.
Teeks told his followers he was "glad I didn't win" after the ashes of Headless Chickens member Grant Fell were scattered on stage.
He wrote: "First time I'm glad I didn't win an award. Wouldn't have gotten on stage with those ashes under my feet. Huge congrats to Aldous, still extremely humbled to have been nominated don't get me wrong, but I was raised in a culture where that shit isn't ok."
First time I’m glad I didn’t win an award. Wouldn’t have gotten on stage with those ashes under my feet. Huge congrats to Aldous, still extremely humbled to have been nominated don’t get me wrong, but I was raised in a culture where that shit isn’t ok.
Ps not to diminish or take away from the Taite Music Prize in any way. Big up’s to @IndiesNZ and everyone else for giving us the chance to celebrate NZ music in this way. Don’t think anyone saw that coming
Just to carry on from what I said last night, I’m sure no offence was intended, totally understand the sentiment behind it and why they thought it might have been a good idea. I guess the thing we need to realise is that we live in two different worlds
The government website Te Ara says "Maori and Pacific Island peoples often object to cremation because of their beliefs about the sanctity of the body".
Fell's ashes were scattered by Headless Chickens front man Chris Matthews in the middle of the ceremony as the band accepted the Classic Record award for their 1988 debut Stunt Clown.
Fell died in January at the age of 56 after battling cancer.
As the ashes were scattered, another band member pretended to snort them, then started coughing. As they erupted with laughter, Matthews asked him: "Did you inhale Grant?"
Speaking to Radio NZ, band member Rupert Taylor said scattering Fell's ashes on stage was organised by his wife Rachael Churchward.
Taylor called the moment a "surprise" and a "beautiful thing".
"I was thrilled. I felt like he was there with us and it was a total magic moment for me. I waved his ashes into my face and all over my workshop suit and it was a surprise and it should happened. He should have been there with us," Taylor said.
"His wife supplied the ashes. It was a total surprise to me and it was absolutely wonderful and magical."
When asked if he understood how some could take offence, he said he respected those views but called it a "family" issue.
"We are family and for Rachael, who is part Maori, to do that was an amazing thing. It was a beautiful thing ... Don't be upset by it. It was pure and a gorgeous moment.
"We loved Grant Fell so much, so it was lovely to have his wife do that for us on this important night."
In a statement, Independent Music New Zealand and Auckland Live said they were "unaware of plans to scatter the ashes of the late Grant Fell from the Headless Chickens during the Taite Music Prize.
They continued: "This was not scripted into the ceremony. Tangata whenua have been consulted and will be performing a blessing at The Wintergarden in the coming days."
