The finalists for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards have been revealed.
Announced at a ceremony at Auckland’s Mangere Arts Centre last night, Aaradhna and SHANE WALKER lead the way with four nominations apiece.
They’re joined by the likes of Jordyn with a Why, MELODOWNZ, Lomez Brown, and Diggy Dupé, with 15 first-time nominees also featuring across the 13 categories.
Check out the full list of finalists below.
Voting for the SunPix People’s Choice Award opens on Tuesday, July 1st, and all artists nominated are eligible. The winner will be decided entirely by public vote, which can be cast through the voting poll on the official website. Voting closes on Friday, August 1st.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua shares: “Aotearoa is celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year, with the 2025 theme ‘Matariki mā Puanga’, highlighting inclusion and unity. The Pacific Music Awards honours Matariki as a treasured cultural celebration across Pacific languages and traditions.
“This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Pacific Music Awards. Inspired by the wisdom of Matariki, we celebrate a record-breaking year with the highest number of entries, finalists, and Pacific languages represented – especially in our International category.
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“To all 2025 finalists: thank you. As always, our Finalist Announcement event is a celebration for families, communities, and the wider music industry — where everyone is a winner. Guided by our ancestors, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future.”
This year’s Pacific Music Awards will take place on Thursday, August 21st, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.
More information about the 2025 Pacific Music Awards can be found here.
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” (ft. 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 Samo” (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
