 Media release 3 August 2026 (Photo Credit: WOMAD 2011, Trevor Villers) The Pacific Music Awards Trust is proud to announce the 2026 Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to pioneering Cook Islands musician Will Crummer. Will is best known to many music fans as frontman of the Royal Rarotongans, alongside Pepe and the Rarotongans, a trailblazing Cook Islands group that became a fixture of Auckland's Polynesian music scene in the 1960s. Decades later, his passion for performing remained undiminished. In January 2015, he took to the stage aboard HMNZS Otago, performing to an audience of around 10,000 with his daughter, Annie Crummer, by his side. Born in Rarotonga, Will grew up in the village of Turangi speaking Cook Islands Maori, Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani, as his first language. His mother led the church choir, and it was her influence, alongside the Rarotongan string bands he heard locally, and the American pop stars like Pat Boone and Nat King Cole on the radio, that shaped the singing style he would make his own. In his teens he formed a vocal group and would sing wherever he could, with a favourite spot being the top of a coconut tree – and was soon a regular winner at local talent quests. At 20, Will left Rarotonga for New Zealand for a concreting job his brother had arranged, a shoebox of hand-written Rarotongan songs among his belongings so they would never be forgotten. He settled into Auckland life fronting his own band, performing at The Orange Ballroom and The Reefcomber, signing to the Viking label and releasing Rarotonga as Will Crummer and the Seastars in 1962, followed by Romantic Rarotonga, Cook Islands Magic and Love Songs of Polynesia as Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans. As his family grew, Will stepped away from professional music to provide for his children, David and Annie. Luckily, music ran in the family. Annie went on to become one of Aotearoa's most recognised singers, while David built a career as a bassist and vocalist in Australia, opening his own recording studio. And it was a trip to this very studio that reignited Will's musical singing career, old shoebox of hand-written songs in tow, where these songs were first recorded. What came out of those sessions led to a collaboration with, musician and writer Nick Bollinger and songwriter Arthur Baysting. With funding from Creative New Zealand, the pair produced Shoebox Lovesongs – The Rarotongan Music of Will Crummer along with an accompanying documentary 'Songs for a Bigger Island'. Its release reignited Will's career, leading to performances at WOMAD, the World Music Festival in Penang 2011 and the Ukulele Festival in 2014. And Will has continued performing to this day. Pacific Music Awards Trustee Petrina Togi-Sa’ena says the Trust is thrilled to honour Will's career and legacy with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award. “Will Crummer epitomises what it means to have a life long career in music. He has a charismatic personality and vibrant energy that shines through every performance, bringing so much joy to everyone," says Togi-Sa'ena. “It's important for all of us, especially our next generation and the Cook Islands community, to have Will Crummer celebrated and recognised. "Will has made a significant contribution by creating and recording music in the language and sound of his beloved Rarotonga – treasures from a past era that are now rare for us all to enjoy. Thank you, Will, for your love of performing, for sharing your culture and your love of family with us all. When the Trust spoke with Will Crummer about the award, he was lost for words and was very happy and thankful for the recognition. And in true Will style, he had more questions about the performance, than about the award itself. His family are very humbled and proud for their Dad to recognised with this award. Annie Crummer shared that her Dad hasn’t been honoured like this before so he doesn’t quite realise the magnitude of this award. “He is so rare. There are so many stories and layers to Dad’s story. I can’t put it into words but performing is what Dad knows and his focus is on the performance. All he can do is his best – with what he does best. And if he does a good performance, then he is serving, that is what he has taught me.” The Pacific Music Awards will take place on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at the Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau. Will Crummer will perform on the night alongside 2026 finalists Sam V, A.R.T, Island Vibes, Kenzie from Welly, JAHBOY, Jaro Local, Wameblood and more. Tickets are on sale via Eventfinda, with the official PMA26 Finalist Playlist and finalist profiles here. The awards will be live streamed by Tagata Pasifika on TP+ and shared across the Pacific by Pasifika TV. The Pacific Music Awards are a powerful celebration of the artists, storytellers and cultural leaders who enrich Aotearoa's music landscape. This year, the Pacific Music Awards Trust is inviting the wider community to play a part in keeping that legacy strong, partnering with Koha for a fundraising campaign to support the awards. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure Pacific artists continue to be recognised, celebrated and inspired. For those who value the impact Pacific music has had on generations of listeners, it's an opportunity to give back and help safeguard an important platform that shines a spotlight on Pacific talent, culture and creativity for years to come. Support the campaign here. ENDS Issued for the Pacific Music Awards by Pead Contact Lotte Corrigan | 027 500 2800 | [email protected]
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 Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Mālō e Lelei, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Kia Orana, Talofa Lava, Aloha ka kou, Ia orana, Halo oketa, Ekamowir omo, Mauri, Noa‘ia, warm Pacific greetings. For 21 years, the Pacific Music Awards have been celebrating our artists, songwriters, producers and music. We have been able to do this through the support of funders and sponsors on behalf of our community. Unfortunately, that ground has shifted, with a number of factors impacting the financial sustainability of the awards, not to mention the fact that public arts funding has been significantly cut, so many of agencies that have long backed Pacific music now have less to give. This year, in amongst continuing to look for sponsorship, we're doing what our Pacific people have always done, turning to each other. We need your support to raise funds so that we can hold, in our opinion, the best music awards in Aotearoa. The Pacific Music Awards are built on a significant history of Pacific music in Aotearoa. It was this legacy that allowed us to establish the awards in 2005. We are grateful for the shared journey and give thanks to the community of music creators and the collective village who have been part of the awards over the last 21 years. We have partnered with Koha, a fundraising platform, co founded by Te Awanui Reeder, aka Awa from Nesian Mystik. The platform is built in Aotearoa and 100% of the koha/donation that you provide will go directly to the Pacific Music Awards, so we can continue to celebrate our music. It’s always humbling having to ask our community for support, when we know it’s already challenging times for our people. We would be sincerely grateful for any contribution you can provide which will allow us to continue to recognise and celebrate our amazing Pacific music community. Here is the link to our event on Koha: https://app.koha.kiwi/events/2026-pacific-music-awards-pacific-music-awards-trust The 2026 Pacific Music Awards will be held on Wednesday 12 August, at the Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland. The awards ceremony celebrates current artists, honours history and looks to the future of Pacific music. This is our collective celebration, dedicated to the incredible Pacific music community. Issued by the Pacific Music Awards Trust  Media release 23 June 2026 Pacific Music Awards celebrates 22 years as finalists announced for 2026 A.R.T and Sam V lead the way with five PMA nominations The finalists for the 2026 Pacific Music Awards were announced last night at the Mangere Arts Centre. This year, 33 artists have been recognised as finalists across 13 categories, highlighting the depth and diversity of Pacific music talent in Aotearoa and across the Moana. Leading the pack with five nominations are A.R.T and Sam V. A.R.T, the Porirua trio, is nominated for FLAVA Best Pacific Group, Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Over Now’, directed by Michael Hunt, and Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Blank Canvas. The group released their Nana’s Garage EP, followed by Blank Canvas EP, marking a new chapter in their sound and building on the momentum of their 2024 breakout singles ‘When He Was Mine’ and ‘Easy’. RnB singer Sam V is nominated for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Small Taste’, Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, and MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer along with EDY and Astro. The Auckland artist's nostalgic take on contemporary RnB has earned him a growing following, with Take A Chance On V: Deluxe following a busy year of touring across New Zealand and Australia. Hip hop heavyweight Scribe has four nominations for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Glowstick’, and Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Scribe is Dead. Ladi6 also returns to the Pacific Music Awards with four nominations for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, and Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album for Le Vā. The producers of her album are also nominated this year. Le Vā explores themes of legacy, loss and renewal, with Ladi6 describing it as exploring “the space between – between life and death, between who I was and who I’m becoming.” Receiving three nominations this year are Iva Lamkum, Junior Soqeta, Tree, and Three Houses Down. Iva Lamkum is nominated for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Don't Mind If I Do’, and NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Don't Mind If I Do’, directed by David Truasheim. Junior Soqeta receives three nods for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language, and Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist. Tree is nominated in the Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language and 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist categories for The Rose Era. Three Houses Down receives three nominations for FLAVA Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist for their Lovers Roots EP and NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Turn Around’. Other finalists this year include Kenzie From Welly (Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist), MELODOWNZ (NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist), Brotherhood Musiq (FLAVA Best Pacific Group, 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist), Signature Choir (FLAVA Best Pacific Group, 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist), Island Vibes (Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song), Lepani (NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song), Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan (ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist), Myshaan (Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist), Shane Walker (Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist), Brandn Shiraz (NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video), Shepherds Reign (NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video), Vallé (NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video), GLEN JXN JACKSON (Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language), Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani & Pacific Kids Learning (Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language), Punialava'a (531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist), and Village 90 (FLAVA Best Pacific Group). There are also four nominees for MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer, including Brent Park-Tamati and Brandon Haru for ‘Le Vā’ by Ladi6, EDY, Astro, and Sam V for ‘Take A Chance On V: Deluxe’ by Sam V, Josh Fountain for ‘Don't Mind If I Do’ by Iva Lamkum, and Nathan Judd for ‘Disco Witch’ by LOU'ANA. This year’s Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist finalists represent music from around the globe, with finalists Jaro Local, etu, JAHBOY, Wameblood and the late Fiji. Finally, the finalists for NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video are Brandn Shiraz (‘Youngin from Kuki II’, directed by Esther Mauga), Shepherds Reign (‘Samoa Mo Samoa’, directed by Twayne Laumua), Vallé (‘Hold Me’, directed by John Ross), A.R.T (‘Over Now’, directed by Michael Hunt), Iva Lamkum (‘Don't Mind If I Do’, directed by David Truasheim), and Three Houses Down (‘Turn Around’, directed by Three Houses Down). Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev Mua Strickson-Pua said: “The Pacific Music Awards Trust are committed to celebrating and bringing together our Pacific music community. We recognise this significant moment in time, where we can announce and celebrate the 2026 finalists. “We also acknowledge the village that comes with each artist and thank everyone who has contributed to their music journey. It’s a challenging time for our communities and for our awards event. “With each step of the process, it is our artists and their music that inspires and motivate us to keep going. We encourage everyone to get behind the finalists and their music, and to journey with us as we build towards the 2026 Pacific Music Awards celebration on 12 August.” The SunPix People’s Choice Award voting is open now, and all artists nominated for the 2026 Pacific Music Awards are eligible. The winner will be decided entirely by public vote, which can be cast through the voting poll on the PMA website. Voting will close on Wednesday 22 July. To listen to all the nominees, here’s the official PMA 2026 Finalist Playlist.[LC2] [KT3] This year’s Pacific Music Award winners will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 12, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. 2026 Pacific Music Awards finalists: Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist
For more information: https://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/ ENDS Issued for the Pacific Music Awards by Pead About the 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 | 021 029 01388 | [email protected]  2026 Pacific Music Awards Announced and Nominations Open
Media release: 11 March 2026 On the anniversary of the inaugural awards, the Pacific Music Awards Trust proudly opens entries and announces the date for the 2026 Pacific Music Awards. The awards ceremony celebrates current artists, honours history and looks to the future of Pacific music. This is our collective celebration, dedicated to the incredible Pacific music community. The 2026 Pacific Music Awards will be held on Wednesday 12 August, at the Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau, Auckland. Nominations for the 2026 Pacific Music Awards are now open to all Pacific artists across Aotearoa and the world, who released music in 2025. Local Pacific artists, i.e. New Zealand citizens/residents, can be nominated for all the entered award categories except for the Best International Pacific Artist Award, which is open to Pacific artists from overseas. Singles, EPs or albums that have been released between 1 January – 31 December 2025, are eligible for entry. All nominations need to be submitted online through the official entry system, with the deadline being 5pm, Friday 17 April 2026 For more details, including the 2026 PMA Terms & Conditions of Entry, please go to the Entries page on the website (https://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/entries-2026.html) The entered categories for the 2026 Pacific Music Awards are confirmed as follows: Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Gospel Artist. Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist, Best Pacific Roots/ Reggae Artist, Best Pacific Language, Best Pacific Song, Best Pacific Music Video, Best Producer, Best International Pacific Artist and Best Pacific Music Album (Aotearoa Music Award). The Trust will also continue to work on the Tautua Programme, providing advocacy and support for the Pacific music community – and will share more music and content from the Hiva Folau Vaka project, which aims to contribute to language revitalisation through music. We look forward to receiving all the nominations and to working on the plans for the Pacific Music Awards and the year ahead. Issued by the Pacific Music Awards Trust For any questions about the Pacific Music Awards or the nomination process for entries, please contact the Trust on: [email protected] |
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