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, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau or Tuvalu, and also in urban and gospel 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, 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, Pati Umaga 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 (RIANZ) New Zealand Music Awards. 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 Most Promising Artist Award, which honours an upcoming individual or group.
Ceremonies
2005 Pacific Music Awards The 2005 awards were held on Friday 11 March 2005 as part of the annual Pasifika Festival held in Western Springs, Auckland. 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
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Sponsor Sara-Jane Auva'a – Sara-Jane Anna Williams – "Searching" Kat Theo – "Waiting" Tha Feelstyle – Break It To Pieces Dei Hamo – "We Gon' Ride" Scribe – "Dreaming" Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Adeaze – Always and for Real Ardijah – Journey (Aere"anga) D1 Family – Koko Luv Tha Feelstyle – Break It To Pieces Dei Hamo – We Gon' Ride Scribe – Dreaming APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Kas Futialo and Ian Seumanu – "Su'amalie" Nainz Tupa'i & Viiz Tupa'i – "Getting Stronger" Ryan Monga – "Journey (Aere'anga)" Sponsor Ardijah – Journey Aniseto Falemoe – Afe O Maila Ole Alofa Ephraim – Moemoea o Avaiki Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana
2006 Pacific Music Awards
The 2006 awards were held on Friday 12 May 2006 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre 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 TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau. The Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award was added, in honour of the late music producer.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Sponsor Annie Puletiuatoa – Childhood Rosita Vai – Golden Sara-Jane Auva'a – Rejoice Dei Hamo – First Edition King Kapisi – Dominant Species Savage – Moonshine Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Mt Vaea – Mama Beatrootz – "No DJz" Cydel – "Luv Iz" Dei Hamo – First Edition King Kapisi – Dominant Species Savage – Moonshine APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Savage – "Swing" Beatrootz – "No DJz" Cydel – "Luv Iz" Sponsor Mt Vaea Band – Mama JXN & LavaBoyKila – First off the Blane Annie Puletiuatoa – Childhood Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award Bill Sevesi Richard Recalde
2007 Pacific Music Awards The 2007 awards were held on Thursday 31 May 2007 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland. Boy band Spacifix won three of the six contestable awards.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Aaradhna — I Love You Sara-Jane Auva"a – Merry Christmas Sara Halatutavaha – Tau Fuata Niue Chong Nee – "Just Getting By On Love" JXN – "Fuata Niue" PNC – Rookie Card Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Spacifix – Much Love Ill Semantics – Good Musik Nesian Mystik – Freshmen Chong Nee – Just Getting By On Love Ill Semantics – Good Musik PNC – Rookie Card APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Spacifix – "Gotta Get Like This" Aaradhna – "I Love You Too" Vaniah Toloa – "Tukua" Sponsor Spacifix – Much Love Amene – In Your Name We Pray Vaniah Toloa – Tukua Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award The Yandall Sisters Vela Manusaute
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 TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre 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.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Lole – The Movement Delani – "Butterflies" Zeisha Fremaux – "Secret Game" Scribe – Rhyme Book Kas Futialo – Lokokasi Vaniah Toloa – E Le Galo Oe Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Te Vaka – Olatia Three Houses Down – Dreadtown Cydel – Soul Finder Cydel – Soul Finder PNC – "P-N-Whoa!" Scribe – Rhyme Book APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Scribe – "Say It Again"(Luafutu/Hammond/Iusitini/Iusitini/Mushroom Music Publishing) Three Houses Down – "DandyMan" (Puriri/Pome'e) Ill Semantics feat. Adeaze – "Take It Slow"(Arona/Moore/Tupa"i/Tupa"i/Holmes) Te Vaka – Olatia Three Houses Down – Dreadtown Cydel – Soul Finder People's Choice Best Pacific Artist Award Lifetime Achievement Award
Three Houses Down
Sione Aleki Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award Matthew Salapu-Faiumu
2009 S3 Pacific Music Awards The 2009 S3 Pacific Music Awards were held on Saturday 23 May 2009 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland. Pop group Nesian Mystik won the most awards, with four wins. An award for Best Pacific Gospel Album was added to the honours.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Ladi6 – Time Is Not Much Angela Afeaki – Tongan Rendezvous Iva Lamkum – Iva Lamkum EP Devolo – Heaven & Hell Mareko – White Sunday 2: The Book of Mark Vince Harder – "Strobe Light" Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Nesian Mystik – Elevator Musiq Cydel – "There"s a Place" Horsemen Family – My Shout Nesian Mystik – Elevator Musiq Devolo – Heaven & Hell Ladi6 – Time Is Not Much APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Nesian Mystik – "Nesian 101"(Atai/Manukau/McNulty/Reeder/Rikiau/Strickson‐Pua) Angela Afeaki – "Happy Happy Tonga" (A. Afeaki/W. Afeaki/J. Afeaki) Ladi6 – "Walk Right Up" (K. Tamati/B. Park) Nesian Mystik – "Elevator Musiq" Angela Afeaki – "Tongan Rendezvous" Ladi6 – "Time is Not Much" Best Pacific Gospel Album People's Choice Best Pacific Artist Award Sponsor Oyster Music (Various Artists) – The Gospel According to... St Pauls Methodist Church Otara – 2008 Choir South Auckland Community Church Band – Set Us Free South Auckland Community Church Band Angela Afeaki Cydel Devolo Horsemen Family Iva Lamkum Ladi6 Mareko Nesian Mystik Oyster Entertainment St Paul's Methodist Church Otara Vince Harder Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award Tigilau Ness Sweet & Irie
2010 S3 Pacific Music Awards The 2010 S3 Pacific Music Awards were held on Saturday 29 May 2010 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre 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.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Erakah – "Wonderful" Bella Kalolo – "Walk To Change" MzJ -" That Gurl" J. Williams – Young Love Malcolm Lakatani – Quote Unquote Savage – Savage Island Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Te Vaka – Haoloto Smashproof – The Weekend Three Houses Down – Break Out Savage – Savage Island J. Williams – Young Love Smashproof – The Weekend APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Three Houses Down – "Kanikapila" (Tonga Vaea & Three Houses Down) Malcolm Lakatani – "Nukututaha" (Malcolm Lakatani/Napa Lakatani) Te Vaka – "Te Mavaega" (Opetaia Foa"i) Three Houses Down – Break Out Savage – Savage Island Te Vaka – Haoloto Best Pacific Gospel Album Radio Airplay Award Ivoga Green & Niu Ta"ala – Quiet Intensity Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust -Taofi Lologo Tolu, Tau Lologo Tapu Tokiofa Mutalau" Purpose Defined – Called To Battle
Smashproof – "Brother" Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award
Ardijah Luap
2011 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards In 2011 the awards were known as the Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards after airline Polynesian Blue became the naming rights sponsor. The awards were held on 28 May 2011 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. A new award for Best Pacific Language was introduced.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Ladi6 – The Liberation Of... Bella Kalolo – "What Love Can Do" Erakah – "In or Out" Vince Harder – "Say This With Me" J. Williams – "You Got Me" Young Sid – What Doesn"t Kill Me Best Pacific Group Best Pacific Urban Artist Nesian Mystik – 99AD The Hypnotics – The Hypnotics EP Pacific Underground – Island Summer Ladi6 – The Liberation Of... Nesian Mystik – 99AD Vince Harder – "Say This With Me" APRA Best Pacific Song Best Pacific Music Album — Tui Award Sponsor Nesian Mystik – "Sun Goes Down"(D Atai/V Rikiau/H Manukau/D McNulty/Te A Reeder, F Strickson-Pua) Adeaze – "Got My Girl For Life" (F Tupaa"i/L Tupaa"i) Tha Feelstyle – "Sometimes When It Rains"(K Futialo/J Ferguson/N Ngatae/F Tupaa"i/L Tupaa"i) Nesian Mystik – 99AD Ladi6 – The Liberation Of... Pacific Underground – Island Summer Best Pacific Gospel Album Radio Airplay Award Sponsor Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust Choir -Lologo Tapu Tokiofa Mutalau – Niue. Taofi Lologo 4 Harbourside & Various Artists – A Very Kiwi Christmas JMA Productions & Various Artists – Reflections of the Soul Sponsor
J. Williams feat Scribe for "You Got Me" Best Pacific Language Peoples Choice Best Pacific Artist Award Koile – "Te Hua" Pacific Underground – Island Summer Taura Mani – I Runga Taua Nesian Mystik Adeaze Bella Kalolo Erakah Harbourside & Various Artists The Hypnotics J. Williams JMA Productions & Various Artists Koile Ladi6 Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust Choir Pacific Underground Taura Mani Tha Feelstyle Vince Harder Young Sid Lifetime Achievement Award Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award
Annie Crummer Grace Ikenasio
2012 Pacific Music Awards The 2012 awards were held on 31 May 2012 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Auckland. Auckland R&B duo Adeaze won three awards. The 2012 awards did not have a naming-rights sponsor. The Radio Airplay Award category was dropped from the awards.
Best Pacific Female Artist Award Best Pacific Male Artist Bella Kalolo – Without the Paper