APRA AMCOS Aotearoa has unveiled the finalists for this year’s APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka, alongside the top contenders for the APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award, which recognises contemporary Māori music. Winners will be revealed at a special ceremony in Ōtautahi at the Isaac Theatre Royal on Wednesday, October 29th.
Now in its 60th year, the peer-voted Silver Scroll continues to honour New Zealand’s most gifted songwriters, with past recipients spanning the country’s rich music history. This year’s top five finalists reflect the scope of songwriting excellence across Aotearoa:
“Aua Atu Rā” – written by Marlon Williams* and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe, performed by Marlon Williams (*Concord Music Publishing)
“Cherry Pie” – written by Amelia Murray, Gareth Thomas^ and Leroy Clampitt*, performed by Fazerdaze (^Songbroker, *Kobalt Music Publishing)
“Margo” – written by Nat Hutton, Minnie Robberds, Joel Becker and Angus Murray, performed by There’s A Tuesday (Concord Music Publishing)
“Power” – written by Jessica Bourke*, Sampa Tembo^, Ophlin Russell**, Zaidoon Nasir, Mohamed Komba and Andrew Clews, performed by JessB (*Concord Music Publishing, ^Kobalt Music Publishing, **Westbury Music)
“TORQUE.” – written by Hugh Ozumba and Emmanuel Chinonso Nwachukwu, performed by MazbouQ
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Alongside the Silver Scroll, the APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award continues to spotlight the thriving world of waiata reo Māori, celebrating songwriting in te reo through a contemporary lens. The 2025 finalists are:
“Kei Whati Te Marama” – written by Henare Kaa, Tim Driver, Hemi Hoskins and Rory Matao Noble, performed by Dillastrate
“Korero Māori” – written by Marlon Williams* and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe, performed by Marlon Williams (*Concord Music Publishing)
“Pūhā me te Porohewa” – written by Maarire Brunning-Kouka and Hana Mereraiha, performed by MĀ
The October ceremony will also see the presentation of several other prestigious honours, including the SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film | Tohu Pūmanawa, APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi, and the annual NZ Music Hall of Fame Induction | Te Whare Taonga Puoro O Aotearoa.
With a mix of established icons and rising voices, the 2025 finalists demonstrate the depth and diversity of songwriting talent in Aotearoa today.
At last year’s ceremony, held at Wellington’s St James Theatre, Anna Coddington took home the Silver Scroll for “Kātuarehe”, while Jordyn with a Why won the Maioha Award for “He Rei Niho”.
Other winners included Nathaniel Otley (SOUNZ Contemporary Award), Karl Sölve Steven and Rob Thorne (Best Original Music in a Series), and Karl Sölve Steven and Jason Smith (Best Original Music in a Film).
Jazz pianist Mike Nock was also inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, marking a night that celebrated both emerging voices and long-standing contributions to Aotearoa’s musical landscape.
