Pacific Music Awards Buzz: Sam V and the Signature Choir were big winners at the annual Pacific Music Awards in Manukau, with Sam V taking Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Song plus Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist for a fifth straight year. Arts & Heritage Voices: In his acceptance remarks, Sam V directly challenged the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Pacific Peoples, Paul Goldsmith, saying government arts support feels like “lip service” and pointing to defence spending as proof that Pacific arts can be backed more strongly. Gospel & 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 Legacy: Fiji Veikoso received a posthumous NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist Award for “Daydream,” recorded with Aotearoa-based collective Fejoint and released soon after his passing.