The Pacific Music Awards are an annual New Zealand music award ceremony since 2005 that honours excellence in Pacific music in New Zealand. The awards honour musicians who primarily work in the Pacific Island style of music from the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

Tokelau Tokelau (; ; known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands) is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, a ...

Tuvalu Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. They lie east-northeast ...

, and also in

urban Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

genre categories.

Organisation

The Pacific Music Awards are run by the Pacific Music Awards Committee, which was founded in 2004 with the goal of establishing and running an annual awards for the Pacific music community in New Zealand. The inaugural event was part of the

Pasifika Festival The Pasifika Festival is a Pacific Islands-themed festival held annually in Western Springs Reserve, Auckland, New Zealand. Celebrated since 1993, it is the largest festival of its type in the world and attracts over 200,000 visitors every year ...

, and after that has been separate. In 2008 a charitable trust was registered called the Pacific Music Awards Trust. In 2022 the Trust's Officers were: Sina Wendt, Petrina Togi-Sa'ena,

Ngaire Fuata Ngaire Fuata is a New Zealand Television producer for TVNZ and a former Pop singer. She is of Rotuman and Dutch descent. Personal life Born in England, Fuata later migrated to New Zealand with her parents at a young age. She grew up in Whakat ...

Pati Umaga Fonotī Pati Peni Umaga is a New Zealand musician known for his compositions and musicianship as a bass guitar player, and significant contributions to the music industry, as well as his advocacy for the Pacific and Disabled communities. He work ...

and the Reverend Muamua Strickson - Pua. The purpose is stated as: "To create and manage an event that acknowledges the success of Pacific artists, celebrates and promotes excellence in Pacific Music and encourages young Pacific musicians to aspire to a high level of achievement."

Awards

As of the 2014, 12 awards are given. The Best Pacific Music Album award is part of the annual

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Recorded Music NZ (formerly the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ)) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell recorded music in New Zealand. Membership of Recorded Mus ...

(RIANZ)

New Zealand Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

. Previously called the Polynesian Music Tui award, the award was renamed and the presentation was moved to the Pacific Music Awards in 2005. The Tui trophy is one of three genre awards that are presented at specialist award ceremonies, separate from the main New Zealand Music Awards ceremony, however the winner is also recognised at the main NZMA ceremony later in the year. The Pacific Music Awards also include the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to Pacific music, and the

Phillip Fuemana Philip Fuemana (6 January 1964 – 28 February 2005) was a New Zealand musician. Affectionately known as "the Godfather of South Auckland", he was highly regarded for his work in South Auckland in establishing the Urban Pasifika sound. Fuemana ...

Most Promising Artist Award, which honours an upcoming individual or group.

2005 Pacific Music Awards

The 2005 awards were held on Friday 11 March 2005 as part of the annual

held in Western Springs,

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. Hip hop artist Tha Feelstyle won three of the six contestable awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to producer and community figure Phil Fuemana, who died two weeks before the ceremony. Winners and nominees

2006 Pacific Music Awards

The 2006 awards were held on Friday 12 May 2006 at the

TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre Due Drop Events Centre (previously known as the Vodafone Events Centre and TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre) is a multi-purpose event centre located in Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand (suburb of the former Manukau City), with an indoor arena, ...

in Manukau, Auckland. The awards were moved from March to May to coincide with New Zealand Music Month. No longer held as part of the Pasifika festival, the awards venue moved to the

in Manukau. The Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award was added, in honour of the late music producer.

2007 Pacific Music Awards

The 2007 awards were held on Thursday 31 May 2007 at the

in Manukau, Auckland. Boy band

Spacifix Spacifix is a New Zealand funk/soul/ R&B and reggae boy group from West Auckland, New Zealand. They formed in April 2003 with the view of entering the Smokefree Pacifica Beats national competition. Aged between 13 and 18 years they won the co ...

won three of the six contestable awards.

2008 S³ Pacific Music Awards

From 2008 to 2010, the awards were known as the S³ Pacific Music Awards, with the Pacific road safety organisation S³ the naming-rights sponsor for three years. The 2008 awards were held on Thursday 29 May 2008 at the

in Manukau. A new People's Choice category was added to the awards, with the public voting on the shortlist of all finalists on the PMA website.

2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards

The 2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards were held on Saturday 23 May 2009 at the

in Manukau, Auckland. Pop group

Nesian Mystik Nesian Mystik was a New Zealand Hip hop music, hip-hop/Contemporary R&B, R&B group which formed in 1999. The cultural backgrounds of its members united a remarkable diversity of Polynesia by bringing together Cook Islands, Cook Island, Tongans, ...

won the most awards, with four wins. An award for Best Pacific Gospel Album was added to the honours.

2010 S³ Pacific Music Awards

The 2010 S³ Pacific Music Awards were held on Saturday 29 May 2010 at the

in Auckland. South Auckland group Three Houses Down took out two prizes. The People's Choice Award was not given in 2010 due to "an irregularity in the voting which compromised the results." A new prize was introduced for the most Radio Airplay.

2011 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards

In 2011 the awards were known as the Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards after airline

Polynesian Blue Virgin Samoa, formerly Polynesian Blue, was the flag carrier of Samoa. It was owned by Virgin Australia Holdings (49%), the Government of Samoa (49%) and Grey Investment Group (2%). Polynesian Blue took over the long haul flights (those involvi ...

became the naming rights sponsor. The awards were held on 28 May 2011 at the

. A new award for Best Pacific Language was introduced.

2012 Pacific Music Awards

The 2012 awards were held on 31 May 2012 at the

in Auckland. Auckland R&B duo

Adeaze Adeaze are a New Zealand R&B/soul duo comprising brothers Nainz and Viiz Tupai. The group's debut album, ''Always and for Real'', was released in 2004 and topped the album chart in New Zealand. History Brought up playing music in the church, t ...

won three awards. The 2012 awards did not have a naming-rights sponsor. The Radio Airplay Award category was dropped from the awards.

2013 Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards

The 2013 awards were held on 30 May 2013 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Auckland. From 2013 the awards are known as the Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards, with the government-run Family & Community Services community support programme Pasefika Proud the new naming-rights sponsor. The Best Pacific Gospel Album was dropped from the 2013 awards, the Radio Airplay Award category was added back, and new category Best Pacific Music Video was added. The theme for the year's awards is "honouring Pacific women". The awards were dominated by

Aaradhna Aaradhna Jayantilal Patel (born 20 December 1983), better known by her stage name Aaradhna, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musical recording artist. She made her musical debut in 2004 featuring on the single "Getting Stronger" with the g ...

, who won six awards. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

2014 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

The 2014 awards were held on Thursday 8 May 2014 at the Vodafone Events Centre (the new name of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre) in Auckland. The awards were known as the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards, with

Vodafone New Zealand Vodafone New Zealand Limited is a New Zealand telecommunications company. It was a subsidiary of the London-listed company Vodafone Plc until 31 July 2019, when its sale to a consortium comprising Infratil Limited and Brookfield Asset Manageme ...

as the new naming-rights sponsor. The Radio Airplay award was again dropped from the 2014 awards, and the new category Best International Pacific Artist was added. The event celebrated the 10th anniversary of the awards. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

2015 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

The 2015 awards were held on Saturday 13 June at the Vodafone Events Centre. Auckland duo Cydel won three awards and rap trio Smashproof won two awards. The Radio Airplay Award was brought back and a Special Recognition Award was presented to

popera Operatic pop or popera is a subgenre of pop music that is performed in an operatic singing style or a song, theme or motif from classical music stylized as pop. The subgenre is often performed by classical crossover singers and acts, although that ...

trio

Sole Mio SOL3 MIO (stylised as SOLΞ MIO) is a New Zealand musical trio consisting of Moses Mackay, Pene Pati and Amitai Pati. Of Samoan descent and classically trained, Moses is a baritone, and the Pati brothers are operatic tenors. Albums and tour ...

. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

2016 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

The 2016 awards were held on Thursday 9 June at the Vodafone Events Centre. The theme for 2016 was "Don't forget your history, nor your destiny". R&B singer Vince Harder won three awards, and Pacific performance group Te Vaka won two. The Best Pacific Gospel Artist category was awarded for the first time since 2012, and new category Best Producer was added to the awards. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

2017 awards

Best Pacific Group - Three Houses Down Best Pacific Male Artist - KINGS Best Pacific Female Artist - Aaradhna Best Pacific Urban Artist - KINGS Best Pacific Song - 'Brown Girl' by Aaradhna Best Pacific Language Song - 'Tulou Tagaloa' by Olivia Foa'i Best Pacific Gospel Artist - Annie Grace Best Pacific Music Video - 'Welcome to the Jungle' - Aaradhna. Directed by Sophie Findlay Best International Pacifc Artist - J Boog Best Producer - KINGS NZ on Air Radio Airplay Award - KINGS Lifetime Achievement Award - Brother Love Phil Fuemana Award for Most Promising Artist - Tommy Nee People's Choice Best Pacific Artist Award - Three Houses Down ft General Fiyah Special Recognition Award - Outstanding Achievement - Opetaia Foa'i

2018 awards

Best Pacific Female Artist Award: Ladi6 ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’ NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award: Noah Slee ‘Otherland’ Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Urban Artist Award: Noah Slee ‘Otherland’ Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Group Award: Tomorrow People ‘Lock Me Up’ NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video Award: Samson Rambo ‘Here To Stay’ APRA Best Pacific Song Award: General Fiyah ‘Here To Stay’ SunPix Best Pacific Language: Tomorrow People ‘Sa’ili Le Alofa’ Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award: EFKS Te Atatu Junior Youth - ‘Fa’afetai Le Atua’ Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award: Tenelle ‘For The Lovers’ Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award: Ladi6 ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’ SIT/MAINZ Best Producer Award: Parks, Brandan Haru & Julien Dyne ‘Royal Blue 3000 EP’ Vodafone People’s Choice Award: General Fiyah NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award: Brooke Fraser ‘Therapy’ NZ On Air Streaming Award: Kings ‘We’ll Never Know’ Philip Fuemana Most Promising Pacific Artist: Poetik Special Recognition Award For Outstanding Achievement: Otara Music & Arts Centre (OMAC) Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award: Punialava’a

2019 awards

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist Award: Razé - ‘Not About You’ NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist Award: Kings - Lov3 & 3go PMN Best Pacific Group Award: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae PMN Best Pacific Gospel Artist Award: Adeaze - A Mother's Love Base FM NZ & Island Base FM Samoa Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist Award: SWIDT - The Most Electrifying Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist Award: Razé - ‘Not About You’ Pato Entertainment Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae Flava Best International Pacific Artist Award: Jaro Local - Dakini Tangarareh SIT/MAINZ Best Producer Award: Kings & 10A - Lov3 & 3go NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video: Villette ‘Money’ - Directed by Parker Howell, Baron VR APRA Best Pacific Song: Kings - ‘6 Figures’ Written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson SunPix Best Pacific Language: Punialava’a Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow O ananafi, O nei ma Taeao Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Award: Tomorrow People - BBQ Reggae Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist: Melodownz NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award: WINNER: General Fiyah feat Three Houses Down – ‘Here To Stay’ NZ On Air Streaming Award: Kings – ‘Don’t Worry About It’ SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist: Tomorrow People Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award: Her Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou lll

2020 awards

Best Pacific Female Artist: Olivia Foa’i – ‘Candid’ Best Pacific Male Artist: Poetik – ‘Hamofied 2’ EP Best Pacific Group: Church & AP – ‘Teeth’ Best Pacific Music Video: Disciple Pati – ''The Boy Who Cried Woman'' Best Pacific Song: Lani Alo – ''Alo I Ou Faiva (w''ritten by Metitilani Alo & Livingstone Efu) Best Pacific Language: Olivia Foa’i – ‘Candid’ Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist: Church & AP – ‘Teeth’ Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist: Jordan Gavet – ‘Hesitation’ Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist: Tomorrow People ''– Fever feat. Fiji'' Best Pacific Gospel Artist: Lani Alo ''– Alo I Ou Faiva'' Best International Pacific Artist: Josh Tatofi Best Pacific Music Album: Olivia Foa’I – ‘Candid’ Best Producer: Dera Meelan (Church & AP – ‘Teeth’) Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist: Victor J Sefo Radio Airplay Award: Church & AP – ''Ready or Not'' Streaming Award: Kings – ''6 Figures'' People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist: HP Boyz Special Recognition Award: Jawsh685 Lifetime Achievement Award:

Daniel Rae Costello Daniel Rae Costello (17 June 1961 – 22 July 2019) was a Fijian-born musician based in Samoa. He died on 22 July 2019 of cancer. Personal life Born in Suva, Fiji, Costello, along with his brother, attended high school in Whangārei, New Zealan ...

2021 awards

2021 Pacific Music Awards finalists and winners in bold.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST

* Jordan Gavet – ''Do Better'' * Lou’ana – ‘Moonlight Madness’ * Tree – ‘Mrs Tree’

NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST

* Hawkins – ''Can’t Leave It Alone/Streetlights/Fireflies/I Couldn’t Tell It All'' * Kings – ''Help Me Out'' * Melodownz – ''Fine''

FLAVA BEST PACIFIC GROUP

* Church & AP – ‘At Thy Feet’ * Shepherds Reign – ''Aiga'' * STNDRD – ‘Keep it STNDRD’ * Team Dynamite – ''Dragon Fruit'' ft. Louis Baker

NZ ON AIR BEST PACIFIC MUSIC VIDEO

* Kings – ''Help Me Out'' – directed by Kings * Tree – ''Afio Ane Loa'' – directed by Tree Manu & Quincy Filiga * Vallé – ''Trip Advisor'' – directed by Jadon Calvert

APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG

* Jawsh 685 – ''Savage Love (Laxed -Siren Beat)'' – written by Joshua Nanai, Phil Greiss, Jason Derulo, Jacob Kasher Hindlin * Kings – ''Help Me Out'' – written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson, Matt Sadgrove, Sam Eriwata, Joel Latimer * Team Dynamite – ''Dragon Fruit'' ft Louis Baker – written by Tony Sihamau, Lance Fepuleai, Harry Huavi, Louis Baker

SUNPIX BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE

* Loopy Tunes Preschool Music – ''Umukisia'' * Samson Squad – ''Taviri/Manea/Te Kuki Airani'' * Shepherds Reign – ''Aiga'' * Tree – ‘Mrs Tree’

BASE FM NZ & ISLAND BASE FM SAMOA BEST PACIFIC HIP HOP ARTIST

* Church & AP – ‘At Thy Feet’ * Diggy Dupé – ‘That’s Me, That’s Team’ * Melodownz – ''Fine''

BEST PACIFIC SOUL/R&B ARTIST

* Emily Muli – ''Self Care'' * Lepani – ‘In the Moment’ * Lou’ana – ‘Moonlight Madness’

BEST PACIFIC ROOTS/REGGAE ARTIST

* Lomez Brown ''–'' ‘The Feels & Groove’ * Raggadat Cris – ''Nay Sayers'' * Victor J Sefo – ''My Everything/Is It Bad/Want To/Like''

531PI BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ARTIST

* Erakah – ''How You Love Me'' * Marley Sola – ''Lift Your Head High'' * TY – ''Never Too Far/Drive''

NIU FM BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST

* DJ Noiz – ''Amelia'' ft Kennyon Brown, Donell Lewis, Victor J Sefo * J Boog – ''Siva Mai feat Siaosi'' * Mr Cowboy – ''Daddy Toe Sau'' * Tenelle – ‘This Is X’

RECORDED MUSIC NZ BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM

* Lepani – ‘In the Moment’ * Lou’ana – ‘Moonlight Madness’ * Tree – ‘Mrs Tree’

BEST PRODUCER

* Jawsh 685 – ''Savage Love (Laxed -Siren Beat)'' – producer: Jawsh 685 * Lepani – ‘In the Moment’ – producers: Lepani, Rory Noble, Ambian & Sleo, Devin Abrams * Lou’ana – ‘Moonlight Madness’ – producer Nathan Judd

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

Pacific Music awards websiteVodafone New Zealand sponsorship
Music Awards, New Zealand New Zealand music awards