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The Aotearoa Alternative Awards are Returning for 2026!

The Student Radio Network in association with Irirangi Te Motu | NZ On Air is over the moon to announce that the Aotearoa Alternative Awards are returning for 2026!The live ceremony will take place on Saturday 14 November at The Hollywood Avondale in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

The Student Radio Network (SRN) has long been the backbone of contemporary, independent music communities in Aotearoa through their passionate work uplifting, discovering and platforming local artists. It is made up of all five student radio stations across the motu, including 95bFM (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland), Radio Control 99.4FM (Te Papaioea, Palmerston North), RadioActive 88.6FM (Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington), RDU 98.5FM (Ōtautahi, Christchurch), and Radio One 91FM (Ōtepoti, Dunedin).

The Aotearoa Alternative Awards are the SRN’s chance to celebrate the incredible artistry of local musicians as well as the amazing work by their dedicated volunteers. All whose accomplishments keep independent music and culture alive in this long white cloud we all call home.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by 95bFM. General Manager Tom Tremewan says, “It’s an immense privilege for 95bFM to be hosting this year’s Aotearoa Alternative Awards (AAA) in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, and to play host in one of the city’s most iconic and historic venues; The Hollywood Avondale.

We are looking forward to welcoming our friends, colleagues, and industry partners from around the motu to our beautiful city, and for us all to join together and celebrate Aotearoa’s incredible musicians and the amazing music they make, which the SRN proudly platforms and broadcasts each and every day.

The AAA’s are for the artists, musicians, broadcasters and volunteers who are the lifeblood of the SRN, so I am excited to be able to recognise and honour the amazing mahi of all of our legendary volunteers, because without their endless passion, dedication, and hard work, none of this would be possible.”

The ceremony kicks off at 7pm on Saturday 14 November and will be streamed LIVE at srn.nz, as well as simulcast across all five SRN station FM frequencies throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand.

During the evening, the Student Radio Network will announce the winners of the following TEN National Awards:

Te Kohinga Waiata Mariu i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Speight’s
Favourite Compilation brought to you by Speight’s

Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā SAE Creative Media Institute
Favourite Solo Act brought to you by SAE Creative Media Institute

Te Rōpū Mariu i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Tuning Fork & San Fran
Favourite Group brought to you by The Tuning Fork & San Fran

Te Tōtahi Toa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Sublime Studio
Favourite Single brought to you by Sublime Studio

Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu Poto i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Recorded Music NZ
Favourite EP brought to you by Recorded Music NZ

Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu Roa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā APRA AMCOS Aotearoa
Favourite Album brought to you by APRA AMCOS Aotearoa

Te Whiringa Toa 2026 ki a Te Pou Hononga i kawea mai ki a koutou nā AudioCulture, Iwi Waiata
The 2026 SRN Top 10 brought to you by AudioCulture, Iwi Waiata

Te Tohu Puoro o te Reo Māori i kawea mai ki a koutou nā MĀORI+
Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori brought to you by MĀORI+

He Tohu Kahurangi i kawea mai ki a koutou nā New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa
Outstanding Achievement Award brought to you by the New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa

Te Tohu Kōwhiringa Tangata i kawea mai ki a koutou nā
People’s Choice Award brought to you by Bigpop

AOTEAROA ALTERNATIVE AWARDS 2026
7PM, Saturday 14 November
Hosted by 95bFM in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland

Live streaming on srn.nz – Simulcast across all SRN stations

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A New Look at UBar Pint Night

Monday 23rd March 2026 | Leah Romero | Contributor | r1@r1.co.nz

A typical Ōtepoti student knows the ins and outs of each club and venue in town. They know the sticky floors, vape clouds hanging above the dance floor, and the sickly sweet smell of alcohol in the air. The overpriced drinks and pint specials lure us into coming out night after night, just for the notion that we might stop at that banging Kebab joint on our way back down George St. But UBar is different. Situated right here on campus, you may not first think that the nightlife is particularly rampant in this underground bar. But on Wednesday nights after 8pm, it becomes a hub for student activity and locally grown music. As an American international student, I’m not quite used to the bar atmosphere yet. But let me tell you about my experience at UBar’s Pint Night this last Wednesday, the perfect way to find local music and good pints. 

Pint Night is a draw for many tired students trying to make it to the end of the week, a sustaining night out that has you back in your flat or at your hall at a reasonable (enough) time to make it to your 9 am the next morning. Let's face it though, you were going to skip that class anyway. 

With its central location, UBar is a perfect starting point for many of Dunedin’s very own bands, musicians, and songwriters. The atmosphere is one that you can't help but want to create in, and the inspiration taken from students wanting to have fun is infectious. Many bands and singers start out their following at UBar, surrounded by peers who help to grow their following before they branch out into the wider Dunedin music scene. 

With a hazy atmosphere and brightly painted walls, UBar has the kind of energetic vibe that can only occur when young people gather. The mural-adorned, wooden paneled walls might be mistaken for a nice restaurant, but the high tables and sticky floors are undeniably those of a bar. The hipster mixed with dive-bar feel is unique to UBar, a more diverse vibe compared to Vault 21 or Catacombs. The music is loud, and the seating is spread out enough to accommodate the students who want to mingle with other groups. 

When you travel to the dance floor, the people there are piled up against the barricade, screaming for Purple Dog, Ammonita, or Monkey Do to ‘PLAY ONE MORE SONG!’. The air is electric, and you can just make out the silhouettes of people dancing in the neon blue lights rimming the walls. This is an honest-to-God bar dancefloor, where the ceiling is less than a meter above your head and occasionally drips on you. The determination of this many Otago students to fit into such a space is admirable. 

Whether you want a sober evening of fun or a more buzzed night that makes up for the clubs being closed, Pint Night at UBar has the vibes, and more importantly, the pints. Dunedin’s favourite bands and performers are booked and ready to entertain you and your friends, and the friendly staff and security are ready to make sure you have fun, all on campus property. After my first Pint Night at UBar, it's safe to say that I sure did. 

Follow UBar on Instagram - @ubarotago