APRA Silver Scroll Award and Maioha Award - 2025 Finalists Announced

The finalists have been revealed for two of Aotearoa's top songwriting accolades, the APRA Silver Scroll Award and the APRA Tohu Maioha — which "recognises the art of contemporary Māori music and celebrates kaitito creating waiata in te reo Māori, through a distinct cultural lens." Whittled down to a pair of shortlists by APRA voters, the ultimate winners will be announced at this year's no doubt ritzy awards ceremony at Ōtautahi's Isaac Theatre Royal on Wednesday 29th October, presented alongside the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film, APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award and the NZ Music Hall of Fame Induction. Notably Ōhinehou / Lyttelton icon Marlon Williams, subject of Ursula Grace Williams' documentary Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds, has two different waiata in the running for the APRA Silver Scroll Award and the APRA Tohu Maioha. Scope out the official shortlist below...

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka Top 5

'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 Mazbou Q

APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award Top 3

'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