Arts Pasifika Awards

On this page:

• Who can be nominated
• How award recipients are selected
• Recipients for 2024
• Who to contact

Who can be nominated

Nominees need to:

• be a Pasifika artist working across one or more artforms (either contemporary or heritage)
• be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have a track-record of excellence and achievement and show potential for contributing to the further development of Pacific arts in New Zealand
• not be a previous recipient of the award in the same award category. See all previous award recipients

In addition, each award has specific criteria outlined below.

• Senior Pacific Artist Award ($25,000): recognises the contribution of a senior established Pacific artist in maintaining or developing their artform in New Zealand and recognises commitment to their practice and mana within the community.

• Pacific Toa Award ($10,000): this award recognises the contribution of a Pasifika artist with the lived experience of disability to Pacific arts nationally or globally.

• Pacific Heritage Arts Award ($10,000): recognises a major contribution by a Pasifika artist or community group to maintaining, reviving or promoting a Pacific heritage artform in New Zealand.

• Pacific Contemporary Artist Award ($10,000): recognises an artist who has demonstrated innovation within their artform. Artists must have a track record of achievement in their chosen field. Recognition will be given to those who work in a unique artform, or those who continually push the boundaries of their practice.

• Special Recognition Award ($10,000): recognises a Pacific arts practitioner for special contribution to Pacific arts, nationally or internationally. This award recognises an individual whose work, influence and commitment have raised the standards, expectations and reputation of Pacific art and artists. It may be awarded for artistry across any art form or for arts management and could be for a one-off or ongoing contribution to a local or international success story.

• Emerging Pacific Artist Award ($7,500): recognises an emerging artist showing promise and potential in their chosen art form. The purpose of this award is to recognise achievement at this developmental stage, ensuring that the artist will develop their career in their chosen field.

• Iosefa Enari Memorial Award ($7,500): recognises the contribution of the late Iosefa Enari to the arts, in particular his pioneering role in Pacific opera. This award supports the career development of a Pasifika singer, musician or composer across all classical genres and career stages.

How award recipients are selected

Nominations were assessed by a panel of peer assessors who are Pasifika artists and practitioners.

The panel made recommendations to the Arts Council to approve.

Recipients for 2024

Recipients of Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika 2024 awards were celebrated at an in-person event on 16 October 2024 in Wellington.

See the list of recipients for 2024. 

Who to contact

For more information email pacificarts@creativenz.govt.nz