Who are this year's Arts Foundation Laureates?

A Sol3 Mio opera singer, a legend of the underground and an action movie aficionado are among the list of eight New Zealand artists crowned with Laureate Awards this year.

The Laureates, chosen by a panel in August and announced by the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi at an event in Auckland on Friday night, are practicing New Zealand artists recognised for exceptional achievement in their fields.

Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi general manager Jessica Palalagi said the 2025 Laureates "embody the innovation, dedication and spirit that define New Zealand’s arts community".

Opera singer Pene Pati received an award for opera, with judges saying the tenor "bridges opera and popular performance, inspiring new audiences and embodying cultural pride on the world stage".

This year Pati notched up one of the biggest milestones in the opera world - making his debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera playing the lead role in Verdi's libretto Rigoletto.

Bill Direen, one of Aotearoa's longest serving and distinctive poets and musicians, received an award for his work in music and literature. Direen formed the group The Bilders and became an influential figure in the early days of Flying Nun.

“An underground legend and artistic polymath, Bill has shaped our most literate musical voice across five decades – esoteric yet accessible, always poetic," judges said.

Director Roseanne Liang was acknowledged for her work in film. Liang gained cult status for dystopian web series Creamerie and WWII creature-feature Shadow in the Cloud.

Liang first made her name with the very personal tale of her own love story with her Pākeha husband. My Wedding and Other Secrets became something of a cultural touchstone for the experience of many Asian New Zealanders.

“Roseanne’s fearless storytelling has placed kick-ass women at the centre of cinema, while championing equity and Asian voices on screen," judges said.

Three awards were given for work in visual arts: judges said work by celebrated Māori artist Reuben Paterson "dazzles with glitter and light, reimagining kōwhaiwhai, floral motif, and queer identity in bold new conversations for contemporary art". Painter Séraphine Pick was recognised for her imaginative paintings that explore female experience and inner worlds, and sculptor Shona Rapira-Davies acknowledged for her vision that "confronts colonisation and uplifts Māori womanhood, creating powerful works that are both political and poetic".

Installation artist Kate Newby was named for "creating art that is radical and gentle, ephemeral and enduring".

An award was also given to Lyttelton-based master ceramicist and visual artist, Cheryl Lucas, who judges said "pushed ceramics beyond category – transforming the vessel into sculpture, social commentary, and even earthquake recovery".

Each Laureate receives $50,000, funded through supporters of arts from across Aotearoa.