The biggest night for Pasifika music the Pacific Music Awards – NZ took place at the Vodafone Events Centre last night with a live online ceremony.
The event delivered a visual and musical spectacle, opening the ceremony with a powerful tribute by Oceans Before Me. The group paid homage to the Polynesian Panthers who celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.
Oceans Before Me Perform at the Pacific Music Awards 2021 held at the Vector Events Centre. (Photo credit: James Ensing-Trussell/Stijl)
With Diggy Dupรฉ, Church & AP and MELODOWNZ as nominees, the ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ & ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ award was always going to be a tough one to award however MELODOWNZ emerged victorious. Dedicating his award to those battling mental struggles โAll of us have been going through something, obviously because of the pandemic. I know a lot of people out there are suffering silently; this is for them.โ He also took out the Best Pacific Male Artist Award also for his single โFineโ.

Best Pacific Album Award was awarded to Tree for the album โMrs Treeโ and Best Pacific Female Artist Award was Lou’ana for โMoonlight Madnessโ. Best Pacific Group was picked up by Team_dynamite for โDragon Fruitโ and the Best Pacific Song Award was non other than Jawsh685 and Jason Derulo for โSavage Love.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINALISTS AND WINNERS!!
Relive the magic โจย and WATCH the Pacific Music Awards 2021
2021 Pacific Music Awards Winners
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:
- WINNER: Louโana โ Moonlight Madness
- Jordan Gavet โ โDo Betterโย
- Tree โ Mrs Tree
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
- WINNER: Melodownz โ โFineโย
- Hawkins โ โCanโt Leave It Aloneโ/โStreetlightsโ/โFirefliesโ/โI Couldnโt Tell It Allโ
- Kings โ โHelp Me Outโ
Flava Best Pacific Group:
- WINNER: Team Dynamite โ โDragon Fruit ft. Louis Bakerโ
- Church & AP โ At Thy Feet
- Shepherds Reign โ โAigaโ
- STNDRD โ Keep it STNDRD
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
- WINNER: Tree โ โAfio Ane Loaโ
- Directed by Tree Manu & Quincy Filiga
- Kings โ โHelp Me Outโ
- Directed by Kings
- Vallรฉ – โTrip Advisorโย
- Directed by Jadon Calvert
APRA Best Pacific Song:
- WINNER: Jawsh 685 โ โSavage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)โ
- Written by Joshua Nani, Phil Greiss, Jason Derula, Jacob Kasher Hindlin
- Kings – โHelp Me Outโย
- Writen by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson, Matt Sadgrove, Sam Eriwata, Joel Latimer
- Team Dynamite – โDragon Fruit ft Louis Bakerโย
- Written by Tony Sihamau, Lance Fepuleai, Harry Huavi, Louis Baker
SunPix Best Pacific Language:
- WINNER: Shepherds Reign โ โAigaโย
- Loopy Tunes Preschool Music – โUmukisiaโ
- Samson Squad – โTaviri/Manea/Te Kuki Airaniโ
- Tree โ Mrs Tree
Base FM & Island Base Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
- WINNER: Melodownz โ โFineโ
- Church & AP โ At Thy Feet
- Diggy Dupรฉ – That’s Me, That’s Team
Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist:
- WINNER: Lepani โ In the Moment EP
- Emily Muli โ โSelf Careโ
- Louโana โ Moonlight Madness
One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
- WINNER: Victor J Sefo โ โMy Everythingโ/โIs It Badโ/โWant Toโ/โLikeโย
- Lomez Brown โ The Feels & Groove EP
- Raggadat Cris โ โNay Sayersโ
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
- WINNER: Marley Sola โ โLift Your Head Highโ
- Erakah โ โHow You Love Meโ
- TY โ โNever Too Farโ/โDriveโย
Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:
- WINNER: Tenelle โ โThis Is Xโ
- DJ Noiz โ โAmelia ft Kennyon Brown, Donnell Lewis, Victor J Sefoโ
- J Boog โ โSiva Mai feat Siaosiโ
- Mr Cowboy โ โDaddy Toe Sauโย
Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album:
- WINNER: Tree โ Mrs Tree
- Lepani โ In the Moment EP
- Louโana โ Moonlight Madness
Best Producer
- WINNER: Louโana โ Moonlight Madness
- Producer: Nathan Judd
- Jawsh 685 โ โSavage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)โย
- Producer:ย Jawsh 685
- Lepani โ In the Moment EPย
- Producers: Lepani, Rory Noble, Ambian & Sleo, Devin Abrams
Phillip Fuemana Award โ Most Promising Pacific Artistย
- WINNER: Emily Muli
NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
- WINNER: Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo โ โSavage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)ย
NZ On Air Streaming Award
- WINNER: Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo โ โSavage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat)ย
SunPix Peopleโs Choice Award โ Best Pacific Artist
- WINNER:ย Samson Squad
Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award
- Nick Afoa
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award
- George โFijiโ Veikoso
For more information: www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz