The awards honour musicians who primarily work in the Pacific Island style of music from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau or Tuvalu, and also in urban and gospel genre categories.

In 2022 the Trust's Officers were: Sina Wendt, Petrina Togi-Sa'ena, Ngaire Fuata, Pati Umaga and the Reverend Muamua Strickson - Pua.

Hip hop artist Tha Feelstyle won three of the six contestable awards.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to producer and community figure Phil Fuemana, who died two weeks before the ceremony.

[5][7][8][9] Winners and nominees The 2006 awards were held on Friday 12 May 2006 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.

No longer held as part of the Pasifika festival, the awards venue moved to the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau.

The Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award was added, in honour of the late music producer.

[10][11][12] The 2007 awards were held on Thursday 31 May 2007 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland.

The 2008 awards were held on Thursday 29 May 2008 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau.

A new People's Choice category was added to the awards, with the public voting on the shortlist of all finalists on the PMA website.

The People's Choice Award was not given in 2010 due to "an irregularity in the voting which compromised the results."

From 2013 the awards are known as the Pasefika Proud Pacific Music Awards, with the government-run Family & Community Services community support programme Pasefika Proud the new naming-rights sponsor.