(Picture caption: The Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award winners for 2022.)
Finally, after several pandemic-interrupted years, the Pacific music community of Aotearoa was celebrated at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards at Auckland’s Vodafone Event Centre.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says this year’s awards bares testimony to the Pacific music community’s resilience, and a return to live music honouring and celebrating our Pacific artists and industry.
Meanwhile, Event Producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena says returning to the live event provided an opportunity to gather together as an extended family and as a community, to collectively celebrate Pacific music together.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a long-time supporter of these awards, and the 2022 MPP Special Recognition Award was presented to Ngaire Fuata, Tagata Pasifika and Niu FM – Pacific Media Network.
All three deserve to be celebrated for the impact they’ve made on the local Pacific community in Aotearoa.
Onehunga-based hip hop crew SWIDT took out three awards for Flava Best Pacific Group, Base FM and Island Base Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist and APRA Best Pacific Song for Kelz Garage, written by Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram, Isaiah Libeau, Lomez Brown, and Samuel Verlinden.
Fellow artist Kings was named for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and received both the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award and NZ On Air Streaming Award for his track Help Me Out featuring Sons of Zion.
Barbecue favourites Tomorrow People were honoured with One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist as well as the Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album for their album 21.
For their work on The Panthers OST, Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan and P. Smith were recognised with the MPG/SAE Best Producer award.
Furthermore, the song Ain't The Same featuring Melodownz and Summer Vaha'akolo won NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video and was directed by Tom Hern and Timēna Apa.
Several first-time finalists won their respective categories as well.
Anthem were recognised with 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist, while Sam V and Lisi were awarded Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist and Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist respectively.
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist was awarded to Emily Muli, while Kas Futialo received the award for SunPix Best Pacific Language for the album Grandmasta Kas.
Sibling outfit Samson Squad were the crowd favourites, taking out SunPix People’s Choice Award for Best Pacific Artist, while newcomer Jarna was awarded the Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist.
Receiving the first Creative New Zealand Awards are Shepherds Reign, recognising their contributions to the Pacific music scene and to help further the impact of their art.
The inaugural Arch Angel Independent Artist Award was presented to lilbubblegum to support his burgeoning career, after his breakout hit af1s went viral last year - reaching over 20 million Spotify streams.
Finally, Fa’anana Jerome Grey was selected as the 2022 recipient of the Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award.
Grey’s iconic song We Are Samoa became the unofficial anthem of the country, and his legacy was celebrated through a tribute performance by Brotherhood Musiq and Resonate.
Alongside the celebration of Pacific musicians, there were several live performances from finalists and winners alike including House of Misfits, Kings, Mo. Etc, Sam V, SWIDT and Tomorrow People.
2022 Pacific Music Awards winners:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
Flava Best Pacific Group:
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
APRA Best Pacific Song:
SunPix Best Pacific Language:
Base FM and Island Base FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:
One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:
MPG/SAE Best Producer
Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album
SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist
Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist
Creative New Zealand Award
Ministry for Pacific People’s Special Recognition Awards
Arch Angel Independent Music Award
Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award