Aaradhna and Kings win big at Vodafone Pacific Music Awards

All eyes were on Aaradhna and Kings at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards tonight with the both artists winning multiple awards at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.

Aaradhna picked up four awards including the coveted Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album Tui as well as the Virgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist, the NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video and the APRA Best Pacific Song.

Kings took home the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist, MAINZ Best Producer, and the NZ On Air Radio Airplay award.

The highlight of the night was an outstanding performance from Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Brother Love playing his timeless classic ‘Ruketekete Te Mamae’ aka ‘The Roimata Song’.

Opetaia Foa’i became world famous for his hit ‘We Know The Way’ which featured on the Disney smash-hit Moana. He was recognised at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards with the Special Recognition Award for outstanding achievement. His daughter Olivia Foa’i won Sunpix Best Pacific Language Song for ‘Tulou Tagaloa’, which was also featured on Moana.

The Vodafone People’s Choice Award always has special meaning to the artists. This year voters selected Three Houses Down (featuring General Fiyah) who also won the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group.

Other winners included Annie Grace for the Auckland Council Best Pacific Gospel Artist, J Boog for the Flava Best International Pacific Artist and Tommy Nee for the Phillip Fuemana Award as the most promising Pacific artist.

Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Trust chairman and spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says it was a remarkable night to celebrate Pacific music.

“Musika is the Pacific word for music and it expresses who we are. The 2017 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards continues a tradition of Pacific Music excellence. We honour Tokelau/Tuvalu singer, composer and leader of Te Vaka, Opetaia Foai with the Special Recognition Award - Outstanding Achievement, for his work on the very successful international Disney film Moana."

“The Pasifika Lifetime Achievement goes to Cook Island legend Brother Love whose famous party and club songs have been at the heart of many fond memories and celebrations throughout the Pacific. Pacific music is growing at an extraordinary rate and I can’t wait to see what our talented artists come up with next.”
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2017 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Winners:​
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About the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards:
In 2004 the Pacific Music Awards Committee (PMAC) was formed to realise a vision and the inaugural Pacific Music Awards debuted at Pasifika Festival in March 2005. Encouraged by the success of the awards the PMAC set about developing an annual event as a significant highlight of the New Zealand music industry calendar. The awards committee formed a Charitable Trust to organise and host the awards, and are driven by a simple core objective: to create and manage an event that acknowledges the success of Pacific artists, celebrates and promotes excellence in Pacific music and encourages young Pacific musicians to aspire to a higher level of achievement.

​Contact:
Adam Warin, Pead PR | P. 09 551 2375 | M. 021 029 01388 | E. adam@peadpr.co.nz
Sian Church, Pead PR | P. 09 918 5545 | M. 021 133 4657 | E. sian@peadpr.co.nz