Finalists in the Pacific Music Awards announced
This year the awards present a record 34 finalists across 13 categories.
Shane Walker and Aaradhna are leading the finalist nominations at the 21st Pacific Music Awards this year.
Cook Island and Māori songwriter Walker has four nominations for best Pacific male artist, best Gospel artist, best Pacific roots/reggae artist, and best Pacific song for ‘Believe’.
Soul/R&B singer Aaradhna, of Indian and Samoan heritage, is also nominated for four awards, including best Pacific female artist, best Pacific soul/R&B artist, best Pacific music album for Sweet Surrender, and best Pacific music video for ‘Mango Tree’, directed by Prasenjit Das.
Related stories:
Aaradhna took home the best soul/RnB artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards in May and dominated at last year's Pacific Music Awards.
Following close behind are Onehunga hip hop group SWIDT and Jordyn Rapana - aka Jordyn with a Why – with three nominations each.
SWIDT – consisting of members SmokeyGotBeatz, SPYCC, INF, JAMAL and Boomer Tha God - are up for best Pacific group, best Pacific hip hop artist, and best Pacific music album for Taking Care of Business.
Rapana, of Māori and Samoan heritage, is nominated for best Pacific female artist, best Pacific soul/R&B artist, and best Pacific music album for Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice.
This year the awards present a record 34 finalists across the 13 categories.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua said the awards honoured Matariki and this year’s theme of highlighting inclusion and unity.
“Guided by our ancestors, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future.”
Voting for the people’s choice award, which can be cast through the poll on the PMA website, opens 1 July. The poll will close on 1 August, 2025.
The winners will be announced on 21 August at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.
Pacific Music Awards 2025 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
