2025 Pacific Music Awards honours creative cultural excellence and talent

Manukau came alive on Thursday night as the 2025 Pacific Music Awards (PMA) transformed the Due Drops Events Centre into a showcase of Pacific artistry.

The event brought together industry heavyweights, emerging stars, families, and the community to celebrate the influence of Pacific music across Aotearoa and beyond.

“The 2025 Pacific Music Awards celebrates our 21st birthday anniversary, taking on responsibilities and new beginnings,” Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua, spokesperson for the Pacific Music Awards Trust, says.

Opetaia Foa’i was honoured with The Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award. Together with Moana 2 artists, they were recognised with the Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language Award for their culturally-rich compositions. They treated the crowd to a special medley of their classic hits and Disney anthems.

Brotherhood Musiq, a first-time nominee this year, took home the 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist award for the group's uplifting worship song, Open The Eyes of My Heart.

South West Sydney’s The 046 received the NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist award for their dynamic catalogue, which includes tracks like Music is Everything, Lifetime, Young Free & Reckless, Hustle Hard, and All In.

Shane Walker showcased his iconic raspy voice and his versatile storytelling abilities, emerging as a standout artist for the night. He won the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist award, APRA Best Pacific Song for BELIEVE, and the SunPix People’s Choice Award for Best Pacific Artist.

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

Sam V does it again for a fourth time, securing the RNZ Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist award for his smooth sounds, 90’s Fine and Rolling Your Eyes. He also took home the MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer award for his collaboration with Astro and EDYONTHEBEAT.

Kenzie from Welly was recognised as the ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist for her empowering songs, Hold Ya Head and Queendom. Jordyn with a Why won the Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui A Kiwa O Te Tau/Best Pacific Music Album award for Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice.

The tranquil trio from Porirua, A.R.T, claimed two accolades: the FLAVA Best Pacific Group and the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award for their bilingual Gagana Sāmoa hit, When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai). The Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist went to Nelz.

Lomez Brown was celebrated as Pacificast Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist for his album, UNDER-RATED. The NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video award went to Tha Movement for The Lecture, directed by Samson Rambo.

Opetaia Foa’i was honoured with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo/Facebook/531pi

The Creative New Zealand Award went posthumously to Fat Freddy’s Drop founder Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu (DJ MU) for his lasting contributions to Pacific music production, which was accepted by his family.

Two special awards were also announced: BLK Entertainment received the Arch Angel Independent Music Award, and DJ K-SWIZZ was honoured with the Matai Special Recognition Award.

With the Pacific music industry still mourning the loss of two iconic pioneers, heartfelt tributes were paid to the late George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso and DJ Mu.

Strickson-Pua says the PMA was “heartened” by the record number of entries with 34 finalists across 11 categories.

“The Awards humbly shares our Pacific music families, communities and nations’ latest expression of Pacific excellence, navigating Malaga Ola life journeys.”

The audience enjoyed live performances highlighting the depth of Pacific music, with DJ Al’Goodie setting the pre-event hype. The show opened with a surprise tribute honouring the Tuvaluan and Tokelauan heritage of Opetaiai Foa’i, performed by Maneanea Dance and Talikilagi Nukunonu.

Alongside the awards, the night featured a mini-concert with performances by Aaradhna, MELODOWNZ, Sam V, Lomez Brown, A.R.T, and Myshaan.

Hiva Folau Vaka, the PMA Trust’s legacy project, is set to drop a compilation album later this year as part of a movement to revitalise Pacific languages. Phase one will highlight Vagahau Niue, Te Gagana Tokelau, and Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, featuring talented artists and producers creating new original songs for the release.

The PMAs serve as a reminder of the strength, beauty, and power of Pacific voices, continuing to uplift Pacific music talent.

Full list of 2025 PMA winners and finalists

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 and 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 ft 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

The Western Guide - Bottom of the Bed

• Director: Esther Mauga

MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer

WINNER: Astro, EDYONTHEBEAT, and 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, and Sione Eliesa

T’NAY - Penina O Le Vasa ft Wayno

• Written by Sililo Tapuitima

Tree - Tupulaga Samoa ft 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 ft The Gang

Seven Suns - Many Feathers

Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o e Tau | Best Pacific Music Album

WINNER: Jordyn with a Why - Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice

Aaradhna - Sweet Surrender

Lomez Brown - UNDER-RATED

SWIDT - Taking Care of Business

Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award

Opetaia Foa’i

Matai Special Recognition Award

DJ K-SWIZZ

SunPix People’s Choice Award - Best Pacific Artist

Shane Walker

NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award

A.R.T - When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai)

NZ On Air Streaming Award

Savage ft Aaradhna - They Don’t Know

Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist

Nelz

Creative New Zealand Award

Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu (MU)

Arch Angel Independent Music Award

BLK Entertainment