Recording Arts Talent Awards

The Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA) were an annual award honouring excellence in New Zealand music. The RATAs were founded in 1973 when the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industry decided to institute its own system following the Loxene Golden Disc award. The final RATA was held in 1976. After a year off in 1978, the awards became known as the RIANZ Awards (later the New Zealand Music Awards) after the NZFPI changed its name to the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).

Winners

1973 winners

Award	Winner
Album of the Year	John Donoghue - Spirit of Pelorus Jack
Recording Artist/Group of the Year	Shona Laing
Best Single/Single of the Year	John Hanlon – "Damn the Dam"
Best New Artist	Shona Laing
Best New Zealand Recorded Composition	Anna Leah - "Love Bug"
Producer of the Year	Keith Southern - "Join Together"
Engineer of the Year	Peter Hitchcock - "Only Time Could Let Us Know"
Arranger of the Year	Mike Harvey – "Damn the Dam"

1974 winners

Award	Winner
Best New Artist	Bunny Walters
Recording Artist/Group of the Year	Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band
Best New Zealand Recorded Composition	John Hanlon - "Is It Natural"
Producer of the Year	Mike Harvey - "Is It Natural"
Arranger of the Year	Mike Harvey - "Is It Natural"

1975 winners

Award	Winner
Album of the Year	John Hanlon – Higher Trails
Best Single/Single of the Year	Rockinghorse – "Through the Moonlight"
Recording Artist/Group of the Year	Mark Williams
Best New Artist	Space Waltz
Producer of the Year	Alan Galbraith – "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of my Life"
Engineer of the Year	Phil Yule – "Higher Trails"
Arranger of the Year	Mike Harvey – "Higher Trails"
Composer of the Year	John Hanlon – "Higher Trails"

1976 winners

Award	Winner
Album of the Year	New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Symphony #2
Recording Artist/Group of the Year	Dr Tree
Best New Artist	Dr Tree
Producer of the Year	Alan Galbraith - "Taking it all in Stride"
Engineer of the Year	Peter Hitchcock - "Taking it all in Stride"
Arranger of the Year	David Frazer - "Taking it all in Stride"
Composer of the Year	John Hanlon - Night Life

1977 winners

No awards were held this year.