Music and dance group Te Vaka and multi-talented Vince Harder have taken out the top accolades at the 12th annual Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.
Te Vaka secured both the Best Song and Best Album awards, while Vince Harder took home three awards – for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Auckland Council Best Pacific Urban Artist and MAINZ Best Producer – showcasing the diversity of his abilities.
Te Vaka won the APRA Best Pacific Song award for ‘Papua I Sisifo’, written by band member Opetaia Foa’i. The group also took out the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for ‘Amataga’, its 8th collection of songs released in late 2015.
Te Vaka has toured the world and performed at important global occasions including America’s Cup events in Auckland, the Commonwealth games in Melbourne, the Rugby World Cup in Paris and the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Vince Harder has won the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and the NIU FM Best Pacific Urban Artist awards for his album ‘Rare Vision’ and the MAINZ Best Producer category, for ‘Rare Vision’ and the song ‘Start Again’ which he co-wrote with Stan Walker.
Vince has enjoyed widespread mainstream success including topping the NZ Singles Chart with ‘Everything’, a collaboration with fellow artist P-Money.
Pacific Underground were also recognised with the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award for their continuous commitment to Pacific Music.
Vodafone Pacific Music Awards Trust chairperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says this year’s winners reflect the depth, breadth and enduring popularity of Pacific music.
2016 Vodafone Pacific Music Awards winners by category:
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST - Annie Grace The Journey
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST - Vince Harder Rare Vision
RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP - Sol3 Mio On Another Note
AUCKLAND COUNCIL BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ARTIST - TJ Taotua ‘Firstly’
NIU FM BEST PACIFIC URBAN ARTIST - Vince Harder Rare Vision
FLAVA BEST INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC ARTIST - Common Kings ‘Hits & Mrs’
MAINZ BEST PRODUCER - Vince Harder
NZ ON AIR BEST PACIFIC MUSIC VIDEO - Team Dynamite ‘Cosmos ReUp’. Directed by Eddy Fifield
APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG - Te Vaka ‘Papua I Sisifo’. Written by Opetaia Foa’i
SUNPIX BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE - Tha Feelstyle ‘Sasa’
NZ ON AIR RADIO AIRPLAY AWARD - Savage ‘Freaks’
VODAFONE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD - BEST PACIFIC ARTISTIll Semantics
PHILLIP FUEMANA AWARD – MOST PROMISING PACIFIC ARTIST - Mikey Mayz
RECORDED MUSIC NZ BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM - Te Vaka ‘Amataga’
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Outstanding Achievement - Savage
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Outstanding Achievement - Vika & Linda Bull
MANUKAU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Pacific Underground