Legends and rising stars win at Pacific Music Awards

Ladi6 and Noah Slee are among the winners at the 2018 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.

The awards, held last night at the Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau, honoured both past winners and up-and-coming stars, with Punialava’a taking out the 2018 Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.

The group, who were acknowledged for their influence and contribution to Samoan music and culture, also performed a medley of their biggest hits at the ceremony.

Ladi6 received three awards, including Best Pacific Female Artist and Best Pacific Music Album. Her producers Parks, Brandan Haru and Julien Dyne won the SIT/Mainz Best Producer award for their work on her Royal Blue 3000 EP.

Twelve-year-old prodigy General Fiyah’s 2017 hit Here To Stay earned him the Apra Best Pacific Song and the Vodafone People’s Choice Award.

Here To Stay was also honoured with the NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video for filmmaker Samson Rambo.

Berlin-based neo-soul singer Noah Slee won Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Urban Artist, while reggae group Tomorrow People won Best Pacific Group.

The inaugural NZ On Air Streaming Award was given to Kings for his song We’ll Never

Know, while Brooke Fraser was recognised with the NZ On Air Radio Airplay award for Therapy.

The full list of winners can be found at pacificmusicawards.org.nz.