Sam V wins the 2026 APRA Best Pacific Song Award

Story Published Friday 14 August 2026

Sam V accepts the 2026 APRA Best Pacific Song Award at the 22nd annual Pacific Music Awards. (Photo credit Stijl/Emma Beavis)

Last night, the Pacific music community came together at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland, for the 22nd Pacific Music Awards, celebrating the talent, creativity and contribution of Pacific artists from Aotearoa and across the world.

Sam V and Signature Choir were the standout recipients of the evening, each receiving three awards.

Sam V won the 2026 APRA Best Pacific Song for 'Small Taste' written by Sam Verlinden, Edward Liu, Jaedyn Randall and Sam Nakamura. He was also named NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist for Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’ and ‘Pay No Mind’.

Signature Choir received the 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist award for Reach the Sky EP, as well as the SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist and the Matai Special Recognition Award.

Shane Walker also had a successful evening, receiving both the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award and NZ On Air Streaming Award for ‘Coasty Girl’.

Iva Lamkum was named Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist for ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’, while A.R.T received the FLAVA Best Pacific Group award for Nana’s Garage (EP) and Blank Canvas (EP).

Kenzie from Welly received the ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist award for Greenstone Door, and Three Houses Down were named Big Village Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist for Lovers Roots EP.

Fiji was recognised with the NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist award for ‘Daydream’, while Brent Park-Tamati and Brandon Haru received the MPG Aotearoa / SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer award for their work on Ladi6’s Le Vā.

The NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video award went to Shepherds Reign for ‘Samoa Mo Samoa’, directed by Twayne Laumua.

Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani and Pacific Kids Learning received the Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language award for ‘Ulihega’ and ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’, while Scribe received Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui A Kiwa O Te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Scribe is Dead.

The Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist was presented to Talia Perese, and Anne Filimoehala received the Creative New Zealand Award. Letoa was recognised with the Arch Angel Independent Music Award.

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to pioneering Cook Islands performer Will Crummer, honouring a career spanning more than six decades and his enduring contribution to Pacific music. Born in Rarotonga and raised in the village of Turangi, Crummer grew up surrounded by Cook Islands music and language. From his early recordings with Viking Records to the later revival of his Rarotongan repertoire, his work has helped preserve and share the music of the Cook Islands with audiences across generations.

Event Producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena says:

"We are so proud of all the finalists and award recipients celebrated at the awards tonight. We were committed to presenting the awards and to maintain the quality of the event we have built over the last 21 years, to provide the occasion fitting of the artists we are celebrating. We also wanted to provide the best showcase of our Pacific music to Aotearoa, the Pacific and the world. As we have shared it has been a challenging journey financially this year and we are so grateful to everyone who has supported us – especially our sponsors, funders, production partners and our team. We were also so heartened by the community donations that were received. A huge thank you to everyone for their contribution and support. There are so many costs that are not visible on stage, especially the work of our team and everything behind the scenes, and it is these costs that are pressured in these economic times. However, our Trust and team remain dedicated and do the work that is needed, for our Pacific artists and community. The music tonight clearly captured our Pacific music community, with the range of genres, cultures and languages were represented. We are so proud of everyone and grateful for this time to celebrate together.”

The evening’s live performances reflected the breadth of talent celebrated across this year’s awards, with performances from Sam V, A.R.T, Island Vibes, Kenzie From Welly, Jaro Local and Wameblood. As part of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award presentation, Will Crummer also took to the stage for a special performance honouring his enduring contribution to Pacific music. The awards closed with a very well kept secret – a surprise set by Scribe.

A full list of winners can be seen below. Photos from the evening will be available here.

2026 Pacific Music Awards Winners:

APRA Best Pacific Song

WINNER: Sam V – ‘Small Taste’
Written by Sam Verlinden, Edward Liu, Jaedyn Randall, Sam Nakamura
Island Vibes – ‘Tonga Tū Ketau Tue’
Written by Island Vibes
Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’
Written by Iva Lamkum, Diaz Grimm, Josh Fountain, James Newman
Lepani – ‘Young Gun’
Written by Lepani Tuifagalele
Scribe – ‘Glowstick’
Written by Malo Luafutu, Zac Harding

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist

WINNER: Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’
Kenzie from Welly – Greenstone Door
Ladi6 – Le Vā
LOU'ANA – Disco Witch
Talia Perese – Talia Perese
Tree – The Rose Era

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist

WINNER: Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’
Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Lepani – ‘Young Gun’, ‘Feel It’, ‘Y’, ‘Never Meet Your Dreams’, ‘Young Gun (Acoustic)’
MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied Ft Revus’
RNZŌ – RNZŌ SZN
Scribe – Scribe is Dead

FLAVA Best Pacific Group

WINNER: A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
Brotherhood Musiq – ‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP
Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP
Village 90 – ‘On My Way’, ‘All I Want’

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist

WINNER: Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP
Brotherhood Musiq – ‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
Punialava'a – ‘Sauaga i Aiga’, ‘Samoa Ua Potopoto’, ‘Aiga Sa Petaia’, ‘Lo’u Alofa Afulumemea’, ‘Manatua le Mananoa’, ‘Le Lalolagi Fa’atalitali’
Tree – The Rose Era

ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist

WINNER: Kenzie from Welly – Greenstone Door
Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet (EP)
MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied Ft Revus’
Scribe – Scribe is Dead

Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist

WINNER: Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’
A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
Ladi6 – Le Vā
Myshaan – ‘Missed Your Chance’, ‘Inside My Head’, ‘Pacific Beauty ft Kennyon Brown’, ‘Angel’, ‘Paint Them With You’

Big Village Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist

WINNER: Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP
Fejoint, Switch. E & Folau – ‘Oiaue’
Island Vibes – ‘Remember Who You Are’, ‘Umu’, ‘Samoa O Oe Le Penina’, ‘Tonga Tū Ketau Tue’, ‘Hiki Nima’, ‘Sunshine’
Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Shane Walker – ‘Mama’, ‘Waima Girl’, ‘Whakapara Girl’

NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist

WINNER: Fiji – ‘Daydream’
Etu – SUNFLOWER
JAHBOY – Rockstar EP
Jaro Local – ‘Aburongo’, ‘Olbaut Olbaut (remix)’
Wameblood – ‘Puki’, ‘Kumul Fly’, ‘Batchiba’

MPG Aotearoa / SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer

WINNER: Brent Park-Tamati & Brandon Haru – Le Vā, Ladi 6
EDY, Astro, Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, Sam V
Josh Fountain – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’, Iva Lamkum
Nathan Judd – Disco Witch, LOU'ANA

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video

WINNER: Shepherds Reign – ‘Samoa Mo Samoa’
Director: Twayne Laumua
A.R.T – ‘Over Now’
Director: Michael Hunt
Brandn Shiraz – ‘Youngin from Kuki II’
Director: Esther Mauga
Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’
Director: David Truasheim
Three Houses Down – ‘Turn Around’
Director: Three Houses Down
Vallé – ‘Hold Me’
Director: John Ross

Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language

WINNER: Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani & Pacific Kids Learning – ‘Ulihega’, ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’
A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
Glen JXN Jackson – Niue 1976
Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Tree – The Rose Era

Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui A Kiwa O Te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album