On Wednesday the 12th August, the Pacific music community gathered together at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau for the 22nd annual Pacific Music Awards, a night that once again proved just how deep and diverse Pacific music talent in Aotearoa and across the globe is. SAE Auckland was proud to once again co-sponsor the MPG Aotearoa / SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer award, ultimately celebrating and supporting Pacific music across Aotearoa.
This year’s Best Producer honour went to Brent Park-Tamati and Brandon Haru for their work on Ladi6’s Le Vā, recognising the production skill and studio artistry that turns a strong song into a genre-defining one.
“It means a great deal to see Parks and B.Haru recognised for their work on Le Vā,” says Swap Gomez, Community Liaison & Senior Lecturer at SAE Auckland.
The 2026 Pacific Music Awards showcased a huge musical range, with 33 finalists competing across 13 categories. RnB star Sam V and Wellington’s Signature Choir were the night’s standout performers, each walking away with three awards. Sam V took home NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, while his single ‘Small Taste’ claimed the APRA Best Pacific Song award. Signature Choir picked up the 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist award, the SunPix People’s Choice Award, and the Matai Special Recognition Award.
Other standout wins on the night went to Iva Lamkum for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, A.R.T for FLAVA Best Pacific Group, and Kenzie from Welly for ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist. Three Houses Down took Big Village Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist, Fiji claimed NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist, Shepherds Reign won NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video, and Scribe secured Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album. Shane Walker had a strong night too, claiming both the NZ On Air Radio Airplay and Streaming Awards for ‘Coasty Girl’, while Talia Perese received the Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Pacific Artist and Anne Filimoehala was presented with the Creative New Zealand Award.
One of the evening’s most moving moments of the night came with the presentation of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award to pioneering Cook Islands performer Will Crummer, honouring a career spanning more than six decades of music, memory, and devotion to his culture. Born in Rarotonga and raised in the village of Turangi, Crummer grew up immersed in Cook Islands music and language long before it became his life’s work, and that lifelong connection was felt by everyone in the room as he took to the stage for a special performance as part of the tribute. It was a powerful reminder that behind every award on the night sits a deeper story, of culture carried forward, generation to generation, through Pacific song and music.
The night’s live performances were a genuine celebration of Pacific music talent, with sets from Sam V, A.R.T, Island Vibes, Kenzie From Welly, Jaro Local, and Wameblood, with the evening closing on a surprise set from Scribe!
SAE Auckland’s ongoing sponsorship of the MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer award reflects our commitment to the Pacific music community, and a belief that Pacific music deserves the support and recognition to help it thrive. As part of the global SAE network, SAE Auckland exists to train the audio engineers, music producers, and creative practitioners who will go on to shape the sound of Aotearoa and the Pacific for years to come.
Congratulations to every finalist, presenter, performer, and award recipient who made the 2026 Pacific Music Awards a success!
Read more at: www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz
