Much-loved hip hop and R&B group Nesian Mystik is the big winner at the 2011 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards announced in Auckland tonight (May 28).

​The Auckland-based six-piece band has taken out three of the four categories for which they were nominated – and just for good measure have also been voted the Auckland Council People’s Choice Award winner for Best Pacific Artist.

The only other artist to take home more than one award was soul diva Ladi 6 who won the Best Pacific Female Artist award and the Best Pacific Urban Artist category for her album "The Liberation of..."

In addition to their People’s Choice Award win, the Nesians also won Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group and Polynesian Blue Best Pacific Music Album for "99AD" and took out the APRA Best Pacific Song award for "Sun Goes Down". They missed out to Ladi 6 in the Best Pacific Urban Artist category.

Other winners on Pacific music’s biggest night were:

NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist – Vince Harder for "Say This With Me"
Tagata Pasifika Best Pacific Language Award – Koile for "Te Hua"
Best Gospel Music Album – Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust Choir for "Lologo Tapu Tokiofa Mutalau - Niue Taofi Lologo 4"
Radio Airplay Award – J Williams feat Scribe for "You Got Me"
Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award – Annie Crummer
Phillip Fuemana Award, Most Promising Artist – Grace Ikenasio
The Nesians’ four awards follow a stellar 2009 when the group took home the same number of gongs from the Pacific Music Awards. In total they now have eight PMA trophies and two New Zealand Music Awards Tuis stashed on their collective mantelpiece.

Pacific Music Awards Trust chairperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua says that The Pacific Music Awards are a celebration.

"The depth of Pacific talent was shown through the 2011 finalists. It was great to have artists from throughout New Zealand represented, along with artists from all our Pacific nations. 2011 also saw a high number of works in Pacific languages featured amongst this year’s finalists."
"We celebrate and honour the achievements and excellence of our Pacific music artists. Alongside our artists‟ achievements are the successes achieved for our Pacific nations, communities and the New Zealand music industry. 2010 has been another successful year – with the airwaves packed with Pacific music and this also saw our artists leading the way amongst the charts."

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand managing director Chris Caddick says the Pacific Music Awards continue to go from strength to strength.

"I’m absolutely delighted for Nesian Mystik. They have worked hard for more than a decade to raise the profile of the music of the indigenous peoples of the South Pacific and with numerous awards under their belts they obviously appeal to many, many people.

"I also pay tribute to all the winners as well as to those who this year might not have gone home with a trophy but who contribute in such an amazing way to the rich fabric that is Pacific music in New Zealand.

"Thank you all for being such fantastic ambassadors for New Zealand and Pacific music."

Tonight the audience has been treated to dynamic live performances by both established and rising Pacific music stars including Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust Choir, Young Sid, Bella Kalolo, K.One with Tyson Tyler & DJCXL, Pacific Underground, Koile, and Three Houses Down. There was also a special tribute performance created for the night, to honour Annie Crummer as the 2011 recipient for the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.

The seventh annual Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards were announced at Manukau City‟s TelstraClear Pacific Centre to celebrate Pacific music and artists. Promoting excellence in Pacific music and encourage young Pacific musicians to aim high.

Issued for the Pacific Music Awards Trust by Pead PR

Contacts:
PMAT Spokesperson, Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua, Tel: 0-9-377 7782,
Mob: 021 141 8798 stricksonpua@xtra.co.nz

PMAT Contact Person, Petrina George, Tel: 0-9-623 4717,
Mob: 0272 451 898, info@pacificmusicawards.org.nz

Sonia Singh, Pead PR, Tel: 0-9-918 5584
Mob: 021 025 22520, sonia@peadpr.co.nz

Esmee Dunlop, Pead PR, Tel: 0-9-918 5553;
Mob: 021 025 04518, esmee@peadpr.co.nz

​Thanks to everyone who took part in voting for the 2011 People's Choice Best Pacific Artist Poll.

The results are being collated and we will announce the winner on the night of the Awards and will be published shortly after on the website.