Pacific Music Awards: Sam V and the Signature Choir were big winners at the Pacific Music Awards in Manukau, Auckland, with Sam V taking Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Song plus Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist for a fifth straight year. Arts funding and culture politics: On stage, Sam V directly challenged Arts, Culture and Heritage and Pacific Peoples Minister Paul Goldsmith, saying arts investment can’t just be “lip service” if the awards are still struggling. Gospel and community recognition: Signature Choir won 531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist for their Reach the Sky EP, also landing the Sunpix People’s Choice Award and the Matai Special Recognition Award. Honouring Pacific talent: Fiji Veikoso received a posthumous NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist Award for “Daydream,” recorded with Aotearoa-based collective Fejoint.