An evening of celebration at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards

Last night the Pacific music community was celebrated at the 2022 Pacific Music Awards at the Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau, Tāmaki Makaurau.

Onehunga-based hip hop crew SWIDT took out three awards including APRA Best Pacific Song Award for ‘Kelz Garage’, written by Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram, Isaiah Libeau, Lomez Brown, and Samuel Verlinden.

It was a closely contested competition this year with a line-up of 26 nominees vying for awards across 13 categories.

Alongside the celebration of Pacific musicians, there were several live performances from finalists and winners alike, including House of Misfits, Kings, Mo. Etc, Sam V, SWIDT and Tomorrow People.

Full List of 2022 Pacific Music Awards winners and nominees:

APRA Best Pacific Song:

• WINNER: SWIDT ‘Kelz Garage’
  Written by Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram, Isaiah Libeau, Lomez Brown, Samuel Verlinden
• Kings - ‘Young 4Eva’
  Written by Kingdon Chapple-Wilson
• Samson Squad - ‘Amene’
  Written by Jacob Samson, Tautape Samson & Jayjay Samson

Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:

• WINNER: Emily Muli - ‘Break’
• Mo Etc. - 'Oceanbed'
• Tree - ‘No Fear ft Junior Soqeta’

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:

• WINNER: Kings - Raplist, ‘Young 4Eva’
• Diggy Dupé - ‘WEON’
• Poetik - Poetik Justice

Flava Best Pacific Group:

• WINNER: SWIDT - ‘Seize the Day ft Savage’, ‘Kelz Garage’, ‘312 Day’
• Team Dynamite - Respect The Process
• Tomorrow People - 21

NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:

• WINNER: Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith - ‘Ain't The Same ft. Melodownz & Summer Vaha'akolo’
  Directed by Tom Hernv and Timēna Apa
• House of Misfits - ‘Tā Te Manawa’
  Directed by Abigail Dougherty
• Vallé - ‘Swing Low’
  Directed by Connor Pritchard

SunPix Best Pacific Language:

• WINNER: Kas Futialo - 'Grandmasta Kas'
• Lani Alo - ‘Tua i manu’
• Samson Squad - ‘Kainga’, ‘Amene’
• Shepherds Reign - ‘Nga Ao E Rua feat. Swizl Jager’’

Base FM & Island Base FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:

• WINNER: SWIDT - ‘Seize the Day ft Savage’, ‘Kelz Garage’, ‘312 Day’
• Poetik - Poetik Justice
• Team Dynamite - Respect The Process

Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:

• WINNER: Sam V - ‘Wired’, ‘Biker Boy’
• Emily Muli - ‘Break’
• TJ Taotua - 'Overdue'

One Love Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:

• WINNER: Tomorrow People - 21
• Foundation - ‘Closer’
• Sammielz - ‘Okay’
• Victor J Sefo - ‘Pele Ea’, ‘Ride’, ‘Shots’

531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:

• WINNER: Anthem - 'Anthem'
• Tree - ‘No Fear ft Junior Soqeta’
• House of Misfits - ‘Tā Te Manawa’

Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:

• WINNER: Lisi - ‘Good Life’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Til the Death’, ‘Baby We On’
• Bina Butta & Kennyon Brown - ‘Lady Love’
• Jaro Local - ‘Kamanda Amanda’, ‘First Time’, ‘Single Papa’, ‘25 Minutes’

MPG/SAE Best Producer

• WINNER: Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith - The Panthers OST
  Producers: Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan, P Smith
• Team Dynamite - Respect The Process
  Producer: Harry (Haz Beats) Huavi
• Tomorrow People - 21
  Producers: IKON MUSIC - Avina Kelekolio, Hennie Tui, Tana Tupai

Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album

• WINNER: Tomorrow People - 21
• Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan & P. Smith - The Panthers OST
• Kings – Raplist

SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist

• Samson Squad

Phillip Fuemana Award – Most Promising Pacific Artist

• Jarna

Creative New Zealand Award

• Shepherds Reign

Ministry for Pacific People’s Special Recognition Awards

• Ngaire Fuata
• Tagata Pasifika
• Niu FM - Pacific Media Network

Arch Angel Independent Music Award

• lilbubblegum

Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award

• Fa’anana Jerome Grey

For more information: www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz