Celebrating its 21st year on August 21, the 2025 Pacific Music Awards lit up the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, with a vibrant celebration of Pacific musical excellence, described as a night of honour and harmony.

Shane Walker emerged as the 2024 year’s standout, winning the Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Song (for Believe), and the people’s choice-voted Best Pacific Artist Award.

Jordyn with a Why claimed the award for Best Pacific Music Album with ‘Hibiscus Moon,
Love & Justice’. Aaradhna extended her award-winning year, adding Best Pacific Female Artist for her album ‘Sweet Surrender’, as well as featuring on the Streaming Award-winning track, They Don’t Know, alongside Savage. 

Sam V continued his own remarkable winning streak, securing the Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist trophy for the fourth year running, plus sharing the Best Producer award with collaborators Astro and Edyonthebeat. 

Porirua’s A.R.T claimed the accolade for Best Pacific Group and the Radio Airplay Award with When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai). Kenzie from Welly was recognised with the award for Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist for her empowering tracks Hold Ya Head and Queendom.

The Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist went to Nelz, while Chris Ta’aloga Faiumu (DJ Mu) was posthumously recognised for his contributions to Pacific music production with an award accepted by his family.

Along with a share of the Best Pacific Language award for Moana 2, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Opetaia Foa’i, honouring his decades of dedication to Pacific music and storytelling. Two special awards were also presented this year with BLK Entertainment was awarded the Independent Music Award, and DJ K-Swizz was celebrated with a Special Recognition Award.

2025 Pacific Music Awards winners:

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist: Aaradhna – ‘Sweet Surrender’
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist: Shane Walker 
Flava Best Pacific Group: A.R.T 
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album: Jordyn with a Why – ‘Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice’
APRA Best Pacific Song: Shane Walker – Believe – written by Shane Walker
ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist: Kenzie from Welly
RNZ Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist: Sam V
Pacificast Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist: Lomez Brown – ‘Under-Rated’
Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language: Opetaia Foa’i & Moana 2 Artists
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist: Brotherhood Musiq 
SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist: Shane Walker
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video: Tha Movement – The Lecture – directed by Samson Rambo
MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer: Astro, Edyonthebeat, Sam V – (‘90s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes) by Sam V
NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist: The 046 
Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award: Opetaia Foa’i
Matai Special Recognition Award: DJ K-Swizz
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