APRA Silver Scroll Award and Maioha Award - 2025 Shortlists Announced

Aotearoa's preeminent songwriting accolade for six decades, the official top 20 shortlist has been revealed this morning for the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka, alongside the top 10 waiata announced for the APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha. There's a reasonable amount of crossover between the two categories and the writing credits themselves — notably, works performed by Marlon Williams, TAWAZ X MOHI and Anna Coddington are present in both shortlists.

Whittled down from over 300 artist submissions by a judging panel of peers (full disclosure: I took part in this year's heated panel), it is now up to APRA voters to decide the ultimate winner(s) of the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka. The result will be announced on Wednesday 29th October at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Ōtautahi Christchurch — alongside the recipients of the APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha, SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award, APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award, and NZ Music Hall of Fame Induction Te Whare Taonga Puoro O Aotearoa. Scroll downwards for a highly useful playlist featuring all shortlisted songs, APRA voting closes midnight Wednesday 30 July...

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka Top 20:

Aua Atu Rā, written by Marlon Williams* and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe, performed by Marlon Williams (*Concord Music Publishing)

Baby Bright, written and performed by Nadia Reid (Mushroom Music / Reservoir Media Music OBO Blue Raincoat Music Publishing)

Boudoir, written by Aimee Renata* and Semisi Ma’ia’i, performed by Erny Belle (*Heard and Seen Publishing)

BOYS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOLVES, written by Ruban Nielson, performed by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Mushroom Music Publishing)

Cherry Pie, written by Amelia Murray, Gareth Thomas^, and Leroy Clampitt*, performed by Fazerdaze (^Songbroker, *Kobalt Music Publishing)

Goldfish, written and performed by Emily C. Browning

Home Alone, written by Sarena Close, performed by Mousey

Honey Back, written by Anna Coddington, Ruth Smith, Jol Mulholland*, Michael Hall, and Fen Ikner, performed by Anna Coddington feat. Troy Kingi (*Concord Music Publishing)

LightBulb, written by Karoline Park-Tamati*, Brent Park-Tamati*, and Brandon Haru, performed by Ladi6 (*Concord Music Publishing)

Mango Tree, written by Aaradhna Patel, Chip Matthews, Jeremy Toy, and Jarrod Wood, and performed by Aaradhna

Margo, written by Nat Hutton, Minnie Robberds, Joel Becker, and Angus Murray, performed by There’s A Tuesday (Concord Music Publishing)

New Amsterdam, written by Priya Sami, performed by Bub

Only You, written by Cello Forrester, Haz Forrester, and Georgette Brown, performed by Womb

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)

South Coast, written by Deva Mahal and Estère Dalton, performed by Deva Mahal feat. Estère

Tātarakihi, written by Tawaroa Kawana and Mohi Allen, performed by TAWAZ X MOHI

The Data, written by Zaidoon Nasir, performed by WHO SHOT SCOTT

The Letter, written and performed by Zoe Moon

The Wolf, written by Steph Brown, Fen Ikner, and Ro Bright, performed by LIPS feat. E from Eels

TORQUE., written by Hugh Ozumba and Emmanuel Chinonso Nwachukwu, performed by Mazbou Q

The Silver Scroll Top 20 list was decided upon by a carefully curated panel of APRA members, also well-respected songwriters, producers, and performers: Andy Morton (Submariner), Chris Cudby (Power Nap), Crystal Chen, Gin Wigmore, Julia Deans, Paddy Hill, Paloma Schneideman (PollyHill), Ria Hall, Sam Trevethick (Shapeshifter), and Tama Waipara.

APRA Maioha Award Top 10:

He Piko He Tuna, written by Moetu Smith, Callum McDougall, and Reti Hedley, performed by IA and Rei

Kei Whati Te Marama, written by Henare Kaa, Tim Driver, Hemi Hoskins, and Rory Matao Noble, performed by Dillastrate

Ki Taku Awa, written by Stan Roto Walker*, Matt Sadgrove, Rio Panapa, Tawaroa Kawana, and Trojahn Tuna, performed by Stan Walker (*Sony Music Publishing)

Korero Māori, written by Marlon Williams*, and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe, performed by Marlon Williams (*Concord Music Publishing)

Murimuri Aroha, written by Hona Black, Maarire Brunning-Kouka, Noema Te Hau III, Sasha Te Whare performed by REED

Pūhā me te Porohewa, written by Maarire Brunning-Kouka, and Hannah Mereraiha, performed by MĀ

Taku Kāenga, written by Haami Tuari, Earle Karini and Matt Sadgrove, performed by Haami

Tātarakihi, written by Tawaroa Kawana, and Mohi Allen, performed by TAWAZ X MOHI

Te Taumata Ike, written by Anna Coddington, Ruth Smith, Michael Hall, Jol Mulholland*, and Fen Ikner, performed by Anna Coddington (*Concord Music Publishing)

Whakarongo Rā, written by Te Rawhitiroa Bosch, performed by Rawhitiroa

The Maioha Top 10 list was decided upon by a panel of judges selected for their knowledge and understanding of waiata reo Māori and waiata reo rua as well as the current landscape of Māori composition and songwriting: Parehuia Mackay, Paiheretia Aperahama, Seth Haapu, Tiki Taane, and Whirimako Black.