The finalists for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards were revealed last night at a ceremony held at the Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. This year marks the 21st anniversary that continues to celebrate excellence in Pacific music.
With the highest number of entries ever, the 2025 edition features a record 34 finalists across 13 categories, including 15 first-time nominees, a reflection of the growing talent and diversity in Pacific music.
Leading with four nominations each are SHANE WALKER and Aaradhna.
Cook Island and Māori artist SHANE WALKER, who began his journey with uncle Rahui “Brother Love” Vaka and Father Dion DHarp Paekau, is now forging his own sound. He’s up for Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Gospel Artist, Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist, and Best Pacific Song for Believe.
Multi award winning artist Aaradhna is nominated for Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, Best Pacific Album for Sweet Surrender, and Best Pacific Music Video for Mango Tree, directed by Prasenjit Das.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua noted the event’s alignment with Matariki mā Puanga, celebrating unity and cultural heritage. He praised the record number of entries and languages represented this year.
Event producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena reflected on a challenging year that transformed into a record-breaking celebration of talent, diversity, and community.
Voting for the SunPix People’s Choice Award opens Tuesday, 1 July 2025. All nominees for the Pacific Music Awards are eligible, with the winner decided entirely by public vote via the PMA website. Voting closes Friday, 1 August 2025.
A Cultural Milestone
Founded in 2005, the Pacific Music Awards were established to celebrate, elevate, and inspire Pacific artists and communities through music. The event is now a cornerstone of Aotearoa’s music calendar.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua noted the event’s alignment with Matariki mā Puanga, celebrating unity and cultural heritage. He praised the record number of entries and languages represented this year.
Event producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena reflected on a challenging year that transformed into a record-breaking celebration of talent, diversity, and community.
Voting for the SunPix People’s Choice Award opens 1 July and closes 1 August at pacificmusicawards.org.nz.
The 2025 Pacific Music Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 21 August at the Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau.
2025 Pacific Music Awards finalists:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist
- 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
- 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’
- SHANE WALKER – ‘Coasty Girl’,‘Maori in Me’, ‘Iesu’, ‘Let Me Be Your Man’, ‘The Lord is Watching You’, Believe’
Flava Best Pacific Group
- Adeaze – ‘Forever I Am Yours’
- A.R.T – ‘When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai)’, ‘Easy’
- SWIDT – Taking Care of Business
- Village 90 – ‘U & Me’
Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language
- 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’
- 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’
- 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
- 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
- David Dallas – Vita
- Kenzie from Welly – ‘Hold Ya Head’, ‘Queendom’
- MELODOWNZ – ‘Broke’, ‘Calm and Chill’, ‘When I’, ‘High Vibration’, ‘MeloDub (828)’, ‘Directions’
- SWIDT – Taking Care of Business
RNZ Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist
- Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
- Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice
- Sam V – ‘90’s Fine’, ‘Rolling Your Eyes’
Pacificast Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
- 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
- Aaradhna – ‘Mango Tree’
- Director: Prasenjit Das
- Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson – ‘Mavehe’
- Directors: Mario Faumui & Ben Mikha
- Shepherds Reign – ‘Ala Mai’
- Director: Bahador Borhani
- Tha Movement – ’The Lecture’
- Director: Samson Rambo
- TheWesternGuide – ‘Bottom of the Bed’
- Director: Esther Mauga
MPGNZ/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer
- Astro and EDY – ‘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, EDY – ‘Forever I Am Yours’, Adeaze
- Ikon Music – ‘When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai)’, ‘Easy’, A.R.T
APRA Best Pacific Song
- Fejoint, Lomez Brown, Switch.E – ‘Stay’
- Written by: Fejoint, Norman, Brown Sione Eliesa
- SHANE WALKER – ‘Believe’
- Written by Shane Walker
- 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
- 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
- The 046 – ‘Music is Everything’, ‘Lifetime’, ‘Young Free & Reckless’, ‘Hustle Hard’ ‘All In’
Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o e Tau | Best Pacific Music Album
- Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
- Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice
- Lomez Brown – UNDER-RATED
- SWIDT – Taking Care of Business
