A night of honour and harmony at the 2025 Pacific Music Awards

22 August 2025

The 2025 Pacific Music Awards have lit up the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland, with a vibrant celebration of Pacific musical excellence.

Marking its 21st year, the event brought together artists, families, and communities to honour the rich tapestry of Pacific music and its impact across Aotearoa and beyond.

Shane Walker emerged as a standout artist, winning NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song for Believe, and the SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist, showcasing his versatility and heartfelt storytelling.

Aaradhna was awarded Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist for her album Sweet Surrender, continuing her legacy as one of the most soulful voices in Pacific music. She also featured on the winning track for the NZ On Air Streaming Award, They Don’t Know, alongside Savage.

The group A.R.T claimed two accolades: FLAVA Best Pacific Group and the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award for their hit When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai).

Brotherhood Musiq took home the 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist award for their uplifting track Open The Eyes of My Heart, while Kenzie from Welly was recognised as ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist for her empowering songs Hold Ya Head and Queendom.

Sam V continued his winning streak, securing the RNZ Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist award for 90’s Fine and Rolling Your Eyes, as well as MPG Aotearoa / SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer alongside Astro and EDYONTHEBEAT.

Lomez Brown was celebrated as Pacificast Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist for his album Under-Rated, while The 046 received the Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist award for Music is Everything, Lifetime, Young Free & Reckless, Hustle Hard and All In from their dynamic catalogue

The NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video award went to Tha Movement for The Lecture, directed by Samson Rambo.

Opetaia Foa’i & Moana 2 Artists were recognised with the Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language award for their culturally rich compositions, and Jordyn with a Why won Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui A Kiwa O Te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice.

The Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist was awarded to Nelz, while the Creative New Zealand Award went posthumously to Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu (Mu) for his contributions to Pacific music production, which was accepted by his family on the night

The prestigious Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Opetaia Foa’i, honouring his decades of dedication to Pacific music and storytelling.

Two special awards were also announced. BLK Entertainment was awarded the Arch Angel Independent Music Award, and DJ K-Swizz was celebrated with the Matai Special Recognition Award.

Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua, spokesperson for the Pacific Music Awards Trust, says: “The 2025 Pacific Music Awards celebrates our 21st birthday anniversary, taking on responsibilities and new beginnings. We were heartened by the highest number of entries and first-time finalists. We celebrated all of Pacific music. We honoured Opetaia Foa’i, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Samoan global Pasifika music pioneer for over thirty years with Te Vaka and more recently the successful and popular Disney Movie franchise Moana 1 and Moana 2. Opetaia will be presented with the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. We acknowledged our history and legacy again fa’afetai lava Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu, DJ Mu and George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso. The 2025 Pacific Music Awards humbly shares our Pacific music families, communities and nations’ latest expression of Pacific excellence, navigating Malaga Ola life journeys.”

The live performances provided an incredible affirmation of the depth of Pacific music. Before the show the audience enjoyed a set by DJ Al’Goodie and the opening was a surprise tribute to honour the Tuvaluan and Tokelauan heritage of Opetaiai Foa’i, with a performance by Maneanea Dance and Talikilagi Nukunonu.

The finalist performers were: Aaradhna, Melodownz, Sam V, Lomez Brown, A.R.T and Myshaan; and as part of the Lifetime Achivement Award presentation we were treated to a special performance by Opetaia & Te Vaka Singers, sharing songs from the Te Vaka catalogue and the Moana and Moana 2 soundtracks.

The event also paid tribute to two iconic Pacific artists, George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso and Chris Faiumu, DJ Mu – who recently passed away. The Trust acknowledging it has been an significant time of loss for the Pacific music community.

The Pacific Music Awards Trust also confirmed that the songs created through their Hiva Folau Vaka project will be released on a compilation album later this year. This is the legacy project for the Trust and is their contribution to the revitalisation of Pacific languages. The first phase of the project focuses on the languages of Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau and Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani; with an incredible group of artists and producers collaborating to create new original songs.

The 2025 Pacific Music Awards was a powerful reminder of the strength and beauty of Pacific voices. As the Trust looks ahead, the legacy of these awards continues to inspire the next generation of artists.

A full list of winners can be seen below. Photos from the evening will be available here and the password to download is PMA

2025 Pacific Music Awards Winners:

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist

WINNER: Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender

Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice

Kenzie from Welly – Hold Ya Head, Queendom

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist

WINNER: Shane Walker – Coasty Girl, Māori in Me, Iesu, Let Me Be Your Man, The Lord is Watching You, Believe

Diggy Dupé – Request Line

Melodownz – Broke, Calm and Chill, When I, High Vibration, MeloDub (828), Directions

Myshaan – Power of Love (Reggae), Carry My Heart, Wrapped, I Do

Sam V – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes

Flava Best Pacific Group

WINNER: A.R.T – When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy

Adeaze – Forever I Am Yours

SWIDT – Taking Care of Business

Village 90 – U & Me

Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language

WINNER: Opetaia Foa’i & Moana 2 Artists – Tulou Tagaloa (Sei e Va’ai Mai), My Wish For You (Innocent Warrior), Finding the Way, Mana Vavau, We’re Back (Te Vaka version), Nuku O Kaiga

A.R.T – When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy

Junior Soqeta – Moni Meke, Senituli ‘Oe Tau’ataina, Buna Na Isa Lei Buna

Tree – Tupulaga Samoa Feat. Wayno

Wayno – Siva Samoa 2K24 (Reggae Version), Siva Samoa 2K24, Fafine Faitala, Tama O Le Faifaiaso

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist

WINNER: Brotherhood Musiq – Open The Eyes of My Heart

Saia Frank Sola – E Le Galo Le Mativa Feat. DJ Twitch, Fai Oe Ma Leleiga, Sili Ai Lou Alu Eke Moe, E Le’o Se Mea Ta’alo Lo’u Alofa, Aisea, Oute Le Ma i Le Mativa, Tofa La’u Feagaiga

Shane Walker – Iesu

Sire – Temporary

ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist

WINNER: Kenzie from Welly – Hold Ya Head, Queendom

David Dallas – Vita

Melodownz – Broke, Calm and Chill, When I, High Vibration, MeloDub (828), Directions

SWIDT – Taking Care of Business

RNZ Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist

WINNER: Sam V – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes

Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender

Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice

Pacificast Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist

WINNER: Lomez Brown – Under-Rated

Rubi Du – Calling, Day Dreaming

Shane Walker – Let Me Be Your Man, The Lord is Watching You

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video

WINNER: Tha Movement – The Lecture
Director: Samson Rambo

Aaradhna – Mango Tree
Director: Prasenjit Das

Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson – Mavehe
Director: Mario Faumui

Shepherds Reign – Ala Mai
Director: Bahador Borhani

TheWesternGuide – Bottom of the Bed
Director: Esther Mauga

MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer

WINNER: Astro, EDYONTHEBEAT, Sam V – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes, Sam V

Canaan Ene – The Way It Is, Handyman, You’ve Got A Friend, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You, Selfish, Lately, Canaan Ene and various artists

Feagaigafou Tupa’i, Logovi’i Tupa’i, Astro, EDYONTHEBEAT – Forever I Am Yours, Adeaze

Ikon Music – When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy, A.R.T

APRA Best Pacific Song

WINNER: Shane Walker – Believe
Written by Shane Walker

Fejoint, Lomez Brown, Switch.E – Stay
Written by: Fejoint, LomezBrown Sione Eliesa

T’NAY – Penina O Le Vasa Feat. Wayno
Written by: Sililo Tapuitima

Tree – Tupulaga Samoa Feat. Wayno
Written by: Juliana Sopoaga Lologa and Joyce Lonise Toleafoa

Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist

WINNER: The 046 – Music is Everything, Lifetime, Young Free & Reckless, Hustle Hard, All In

Jaro Local – Aghe Kula

Kuki – What’s Up, Fijian Lewa, Au Na Vuka Yani, Noqu Vanua (EP)

Paradise Rootz – Galili, Liwa Donu Tu, AJI Feat. The Gang