The Pacific Music Awards Trust has announced pioneering Cook Islands musician Will Crummer as the recipient of the 2026 Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Rarotonga, Crummer is best known as the frontman of the Royal Rarotongans, one of the first Cook Islands bands to make its mark on Auckland’s Polynesian music scene in the 1960s.
Inspired by Cook Islands string bands, church music and artists such as Pat Boone and Nat King Cole, he developed a distinctive sound that helped preserve Cook Islands music for future generations.
After moving to New Zealand at 20, Crummer recorded classics including Rarotonga, Romantic Rarotonga, Cook Islands Magic and Love Songs of Polynesia. Although he stepped away from music to support his family, his passion never faded.
His career enjoyed a remarkable revival after rediscovering a shoebox of handwritten songs. The recordings became Shoebox Lovesongs – The Rarotongan Music of Will Crummer, produced by Nick Bollinger and Arthur Baysting with Creative New Zealand support, alongside the documentary Songs for a Bigger Island.
The project led to performances at WOMAD, the Penang World Music Festival and the New Zealand Ukulele Festival, with Crummer continuing to perform well into his later years.
Pacific Music Awards Trustee Petrina Togi-Sa’ena said Crummer’s influence extends far beyond music.
“Will Crummer epitomises what it means to have a lifelong career in music. His vibrant energy and love of performing have brought joy to generations, while preserving the language and sound of Rarotonga through songs that are now treasured cultural taonga.”
Crummer was humbled by the recognition, while daughter Annie Crummer said her father was more focused on his upcoming performance than the award itself.
“Performing is what Dad knows. His focus has always been giving his best, and through that he has inspired so many people,” Annie says.
The Pacific Music Awards will be held on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, where Crummer will perform alongside this year’s finalists.
The Trust is also encouraging the public to support the future of the awards through its fundraising partnership with Koha, helping ensure Pacific artists continue to be recognised and celebrated for generations to come.
