APRA Awards (New Zealand)


The APRA Music Awards are several annual and two-yearly award ceremonies run in New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills of its members. APRA hold the annual Silver Scroll Awards and song awards, selects an inductee into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, and makes five professional development awards every year. APRA also runs awards for its Australian members.

APRA Silver Scroll Awards

Each year all songwriters that are members of APRA with a song on general release in the eligibility period can enter the APRA Silver Scroll Award. For the APRA Silver Scroll Award, a judging panel of APRA members decides a shortlist of songs, which is then voted on by APRA's wider membership of 10,000+ songwriters and composers. The votes of the wider APRA membership decide the winner and finalists for the APRA Silver Scroll Award. The APRA Silver Scroll Award is awarded purely on the basis of songwriting.

Silver Scroll award

Silver Scroll winners are announced annually.

APRA Maioha Award

Established in 2003, the APRA Maioha Award recognises contemporary Māori music. The winner receives a $5000 cash prize and is the annual guardian of award sculpture Te Ngore, crafted by sculptor Brian Flintoff.
YearWinnerSong
2003Ngaiwi Apanui"Wharikihia"
2004Ruia Aperahama"E Tae"
2005Anituatua Black & Whirimako Black"Tini Whetu"
2006Richard Bennett"E Hine"
2007Andrea Tunks & Pierre Tohe"Aio"
2008Ruia Aperahama"Rere Reta Rere Reta"
2009Rewi Spraggon & Riki Bennett"Tapapakanga"
2010Jamie Greenslade"Sin City"
2011Tyna Keelan"Ko Koe"
2012Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai & Scotty Morrison"Matahīapo"
2013Maisey Rika, Te Kahautu Maxwell, and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper"Ruaimoko"
2014Rob Ruha"Tiki Tapu"
2015Vince Harder, Stan Walker, and Troy Kingi"Aotearoa"
2016Rob Ruha"Kariri"
2017Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, and Ethan Trembath "Raupatu"
2018Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, and Te Ori Paki"Te Ahi Kai Pō"
2019Tyna Keelan, Angelique Te Rauna and Matauranga Te Rauna"Ka Ao"
2020Rob Ruha"Ka Mānu"
2021Maisey Rika, Seth Haapu"Waitī Waitā"
2022Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean, and Chris Wethey"Te Iho"
2023Mohi Allen, Hēmi Kelly, Amy Boroevich, Noema Te Hau III "Me Pēhea Rā"
2024Jordyn Rapana, Dan Martin, Ruth Smith, Kawiti Waetford "He Rei Niho"
2025Dillistrate"Kei Whati Te Marama"

SOUNZ Contemporary Award

Established in 1998 and supported by SOUNZ, the centre for New Zealand music, the SOUNZ Contemporary Award recognises works by New Zealand composers. The winner received a $3000 cash prize and a trophy designed by sculptor Sarah Smuts Kennedy.
YearWinnerSong
1998Eve de Castro-Robinson"Chaos of Delight"
1999Gillian Whitehead"Outrageous Fortune"
2000Ross Harris"To the Memory of I. S. Totzka"
2001Gillian Whitehead"The Improbable Ordered Dance for Orchestra"
2002John Psathas"View From Olympus"
2003Gillian Whitehead"Alice"
2004John Psathas"Piano Concerto"
2005Ross Harris"Labyrinth for Tuba and Orchestra"
2006Ross Harris"Symphony No. 2"
2007Eve de Castro-Robinson"These Arms to Hold You"
2008Chris Gendall"Wax Lyrical"
2009Ross Harris"Symphony III"
2010Chris Cree Brown"Inner Bellow"
2011Lyell Cresswell"Concerto for Piano and Orchestra"
2012Alex Taylor""
2013Karlo Margetic"Lightbox" for piano trio
2014Michael Norris"Inner Phases" for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet
2015Chris Watson"sing songs self", a single movement piano concerto
2016Salina Fisher"Rainphase"
2017Salina Fisher"Tōrino - echoes on pūtōrino improvisations by Rob Thorne"
2018Michael NorrisSygyt
2019Michael NorrisSama Violin Concerto
2020Michael Norris"Mātauranga "
2021David Donaldson, Janet Roddick, Steve Roche "The Bewilderness"
2022Reuben Jelleyman"Catalogue"
2023Victoria Kelly"Requiem"
2024Nathaniel Otley"the convergence of oceans"
2025Ihlara McIndoe"of coral and foam"

APRA Screen Awards

Established in 2014, the APRA Screen Awards consist of the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award and the APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award, celebrating the work of New Zealand's film composers. As of 2014, the winner of each award receives a $1500 cash prize and is the annual guardian of a trophy.

Most Performed New Zealand Work in New Zealand and Internationally

Between 1994 and 2015, APRA also awarded the New Zealand songs most played in New Zealand and around the world each year. While the national award was highly contested, from 2000 to 2012 the international award was dominated by Crowded House's 1986 song "Don't Dream It's Over".

New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

Created in 2007 in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame pays tribute to those who have "shaped, influenced and advanced popular music in New Zealand." Two musicians or groups are inducted into the hall each year, one at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, decided by APRA, and the other is the winner of the Legacy Award at the New Zealand Music Awards, selected by RIANZ.

APRA Song Awards

Separate to the Silver Scroll awards, APRA recognises New Zealand songwriting in four specific genres.

APRA Best Country Music Song

Established in 2004, the APRA Best Country Music Song is presented as part of the NZ Country Music Awards at the annual Gold Guitar celebrations of New Zealand country music.
YearWinnerSongRef
2004Donna Dean"Work It Out"
2005Kylie Harris"Give Me Something To Go On"
2006Jools Topp "Tamworth"
2007Barry Saunders"Pale Sun"
2008Bruce Dennis"Ain't Gonna Run"
2009Jess Chambers "Stringing Me Along"
2010Matt Langley"7:13"
2011Donna Dean"What Am I Gonna Do?"
2012Delaney Davidson"You're A Loser"
2013Marlon Williams & Delaney Davidson"Bloodletter"
2014Tami Neilson & Delaney Davidson"Whiskey & Kisses"
2015Kaylee Bell & Jared Porter"Pieces"
2016Mel Parsons"Alberta Sun"
2017Chester Travis"Toothache"
2018Reb Fountain"Hopeful and Hopeless"
2019Holly Arrowsmith"Slow Train Creek"
2020Tami Neilson"Hey Bus Driver"
2021Tami Neilson"Queenie Queenie"
2022Jenny Mitchell, Tami Neilson, Tali Jenkinson, and Chris Wethey"Trouble Finds A Girl"
2023Tami Neilson & Delaney Davidson"Beyond the Stars"
2024Holly Arrowsmith"Desert Dove"
2025Holly Arrowsmith"Blue Dreams"

APRA Best Pacific Song

Established in 2005, the APRA Best Pacific Song award celebrates Pacific music. It is presented as part of the annual Pacific Music Awards.
YearWriterPerformerSongRef
2005Kas Futialo & Ian SeumanuTha Feelstyle"Su'amalie"
2006SavageSavage"Swing"
2007SpacifixSpacifix"Gotta Get Like This"
2008Malo Luafutu with Tyra Hammond, Jordan Iusitini & Aaron IusitiniScribe featuring Tyra Hammond"Say It Again"
2009Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau,
Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau
Nesian Mystik"Nesian 101"
2010Tonga Vaea and Three Houses DownThree Houses Down"Kanikapila"
2011Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau,
Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau
Nesian Mystik"Sun Goes Down"
2012Nainz and Viiz Tupa’iAdeaze"Paradise"
2013Aaradhna PatelAaradhna"Wake Up"
2014Mark VanilauMark Vanilau"Giant of the Sea"
2015Sid Diamond, Fred Fa'Afou, Tyree Tautogia, Joshua Fountain, Pieter TuhoroSmashproof"Survivors"
2016Annie Tonumali’i and Pearl Va’afusuagaAnnie Grace"E Le Galo"
2017Aaradhna PatelAaradhna"Brown Girl"
2018Charlie Pome'e and Nicholas Pome'eGeneral Fiyah"Here To Stay"
2019Kingdon Chapple-WilsonKings"6 Figures"
2020Metitilani Alo and Livingstone EfuLani Alo"Alo I Ou Faiva"
2021 Joshua Nanai, Phil Greiss, Jason Desrouleaux, and Jacob Kasher HindlinJawsh 685"Savage Love "
2022Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram, Isaiah Libeau, Lomez Brown, and Samuel VerlindenSWIDT"Kelz Garage"
2023Victor J Sefo, Ventry Parker, Elijah TovioVictor J Sefo"685"
2024Aaradhna PatelAaradhna"She"
2025Shane WalkerShane Walker"Believe"