Dancing, cooking, diving - How Kiwis beat Aussies at TikTok Awards
A New Zealand cook, a dancer, a dad and a comedian have taken out top prizes at the Trans-Tasman awards in Sydney.
Kiwi content creators have edged out top Australian contenders to claim some of the biggest prizes at this year’s trans-Tasman TikTok Awards.
Māori father-of-three Louis Davis, whose warm, funny snapshots of whānau life have earned him a devoted 2 million–strong following, was "super stoked" to be crowned NZ Creator of the Year.
He beat The Morning Shift podcast crew, Auckland-based Samoan cook Daniel Rankin (aka Man Can Cook), Tauranga mum and home cook Paris Nuku, and Auckland DIY renovator and The Traitors NZ star Brit Cunningham.
One of Louis Davis' most popular TikTok posts is of him devouring kina with Hollywood actor Jason Momoa.
Louise Davis/TikTok
Known for his love of the moana, Davis' seafood-gathering and diving videos are among his most-watched, including a clip of him devouring kina alongside Hollywood actor Jason Momoa.
He told Morning Report that much of the appeal comes from sharing a lifestyle many have never experienced.
"[It was] something that was really normal for me growing up, but for many people around the world, this idea of food sovereignty — being able to get your own food or grow it with your hands — [isn’t normal]. People are fascinated by this."
Although Davis' posts are filled with humour, his drive is deeply felt. He wants to challenge stereotypes about Māori men.
"If people around the world, if they knew [anything] about Māori men, I didn’t want it to be Once Were Warriors, I wanted it to be a story of goodness… I'm really proud of the stories me, my whānau, my friends tell to the world."
One recent clip, titled 'My Dad never had a dad', shows childhood photos with his father. “He never saw his dad love his mum but I watched him love mine my whole life… He had every excuse to not know how to be a dad, but he was the best Dad ever to me.”
Māori father-of-three and content creator Louis Davis.
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Louis Davis named NZ Tik Tok creator of the year
Davis traces his storytelling ambitions back to age 8, when he figured out how to animate Jackie Chan fighting dragons on Microsoft PowerPoint. His parents were thrilled.
“I remember my mum saying to me so clearly, as a kid, you could be a storyteller one day… that always stuck with me. If your parents love and believe in you then the world can’t touch you.”
Also on the winners’ list, Kiwi-Samoan dancer and DJ Lance Savali, based in Auckland, took home the Music Artist of the Year Award, beating out Max Jackson – who won the Australian Country Music Award’s Female Artist of the Year – Peking Duck’s Adam Hyde’s alter ego Keli Holiday, and singer Larissa Lambert (who collaborated with Stan Walker on ‘Cold Nights’).
Dancer, musician and DJ Lance Savali
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The 34-year-old choreographer has toured with Rihanna, performed at the Superbowl with Jennifer Lopez and danced alongside Beyoncé at Coachella. He’s also appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under and Celebrity Treasure Island.
Another Kiwi making waves was Australian-based chef Andy Hearnden, better known as Andy Cooks, who won Food Creator of the Year ahead of chef Vincent Lim, recipe developer Catherine Zhang, food artist Laleh Mohmedi and cookbook author Tom Smallwood.
Andy Hearnden (aka Andy Cooks)
andycooks/facebook
Hearnden, who has amassed 6 million TikTok followers with his cooking videos, recently cooked for the All Blacks ahead of their test match against Ireland.
The Entertainment Creator of the Year Award went to NZ-based actor and director Theo Shakes, who earlier this year debuted his own play, The Play that Gets Louder. The 23-year-old has built a 2 million–strong audience on TikTok for his comedic skits.
Theo Shakes) suspended above the stage for the Peter Pan play.
Andi Crown
His fellow nominees included Jeremy Franco, known for dressing as a Desi aunty; fashion-focused storyteller Aicha Robertson; Love Island Australia contestant Rachael Evren; and reaction creator Maddy Turner.
The 14 awards are voted for by the public. Last year's New Zealand Creator of the Year was Māori-Samoan content creator Lisa Perese-Cullen.
Full winners list
Creator of the Year: @havea_676
Video of the Year: @looooooooch
Comedy Creator of the Year: @nansfavourites
TikTok For Good: @josh_neille
Sport & Fitness Creator of the Year: @hannahhpearson
Music Artist of the Year: @lancesavali
NZ Creator of the Year: @louisdavis_
LIVE Creator of the Year: @ulaulaula
TikTok Business of the Year: @allformimi
High Quality Content Creator of the Year: @thedonutdaddy
Fashion & Beauty Creator of the Year: @askellenbeauty
Food Creator of the Year: @andy_cooks
Learn On TikTok: @womenshealthwithheidi
Entertainment Creator of the Year: @theoshakes
