APRA Silver Scroll Award and Maioha Award - 2026 Finalists Announced

Aotearoa's most prestigious accolades for individual songwriting, the finalists have been revealed for both the APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka (recognising outstanding achievement in the craft of songwriting since 1965) and the APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha (celebrating excellence in popular Māori composition, from 2003 onwards). Whittled down to the long lists below by panels of judges of peers / experts in their respective fields, the next step is for APRA members to cast their votes before midnight Wednesday 29th July, to decide the ultimate winners.

The resulting shortlists of will be revealed in the coming weeks, in advance of the APRA Silver Scroll Awards 2026 presentation ceremony on Wednesday 14th October at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau. The winners will be announced on the night, alongside the recipients of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award Te Tohu Auaha, APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award and APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award.

You can tune in to this year's finalist selections with the YouTube Music playlist HERE.

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka Top 20

The Silver Scroll Top 20 list was decided upon by a carefully curated panel of APRA members, also well-respected songwriters, producers, and performers: Cass Mitchell, Chelsea Nikkel, (Princess Chelsea), Diaz Grimm, Godfrey de Grut, Holly Arrowsmith, JessB, Lisa Wright (Romi Wrights ), Mara TK, Paddy Hill, and Phil Bell (DJ Sirvere).

Afters, written by Troy Kingi*, and Maarire Brunning-Kouka, performed by Troy Kingi feat. MĀ (*LOOP Publishing / Kobalt Music)
Aurora, written by Finn Andrews, performed by The Veils (Concord Music Publishing)
But It's Lonely, written by Alayna Powley, Micah Premnath*, and Ben Malone, performed by alayna (*Basement Kids Music / Where Da Kasz At BMI)
Cinnamon, written by Stella Rose Bennett*, and Ryan Raines^, performed by BENEE (*Sony/ATV Songs LLC, ^WC Music Corp / RRR Dream World)
Coucou!, written by Amy Boroevich, James Milne, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, Hamish Morgan, Tiare Kelly, Stenn Francis-Deare, and Dave Khan, performed by HINA
David, written by Ella Yelich-O’Connor*, and James Stack^, performed by Lorde (*Universal Music Works, ^Brought To You By Heavy Duty)
drag, written by Sophie Brown, Nick Ward, and Harry Charles*, performed by ratbag (*Universal Music Publishing)
Hellhole of the Pacific, written by Payton Taplin* and Akshay Raju-Morrison, performed by Greatsouth (*Heard and Seen Publishing)
HOME (MOKOTRON REMIX), written by Samara Autagavaia, Paloma Schneideman*, and Tiopira McDowell, performed by Samara Alofa x MOKOTRON x PollyHill (*Heard and Seen Publishing)
LALELEI, written by David Feauai-Afaese*, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule*, Levi Gemmell, Larsen Taylor, and performed by LEAO (*Heard and Seen Publishing)
Neon Cowgirl, written by Tami Neilson* and Joshua Neilson, performed by Tami Neilson feat Neil Finn (*Control Global Publishing)
One Stop, written by Hannah Topp, performed by Aldous Harding (BMG Publishing)
Post Truth Allegory, written by Hannah Lynch, performed by Hun Lynch (Noa Records)
SAND DUNES, written by Dave Khan, Matthew Mitchinson, and Reb Fountain*, performed by Reb Fountain (*Concord Music Publishing)
Someone’s Daughter, written by Deva Mahal and Chris Wethey, performed by Deva Mahal
Taukaea, written by Hope Fuimaono, Noema Te Hau, Jordyn Rapana, Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, Eugene Fuimaono, Māiamārama Huia, performed by HOPE
till then, written by Tom Scott*, Joe Kaptein, Abraham Kunin^, Ben Lawson, performed by Tom Scott (*Concord Music Publishing, ^BMG Publishing)
TrapsJam, written by Maarire Brunning-Kouka and Leonardo Coghini, performed by MĀ
Urban Planning, written by Geneva Alexander-Marsters, performed by Geneva AM
Wrong Party, written by Peter McCall, performed by Fazed on a Pony

APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha Top 11

The Maioha Top 11 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: Byllie-jean Zeta, Hēmi Kelly, Mareikura Nathan, Nikora Edwards, Rebel Reid, and Stormie Kereopa-Lloyd.

Ka Rea (ft PARE), written by Mohi Allen, Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, and Joel Tashkoff, performed by MOHI and PARE
Mai Tawhiti (ft. Anna Coddington), written by Arahi Whaanga, performed by Arahi and Anna Coddington
Mānawa Maiea Matariki, written by Tawaroa Kawana and Rangi-Ānehu Mātāmua, performed by TAWAZ, Stan Walker, Hera, Hone, Nepia, Rani, and Hops.
Matariki Hunga Nui, written by Rob Ruha, Troy Kingi*, Kaylee Bell, Rangi Mātāmua, performed by Rob Ruha, Troy Kingi, Kaylee Bell (*LOOP Publishing / Kobalt Music)
Mumura, written by Te Kiwa Goddard, Callum Rei McDougall, Wailan Tuhakaraina-Goddard, Rongonui Goddard-Tuhakaraina, performed by Te Kiwa and WAILAN
Oro Taketake, written by Anthony Haki Te Whakaara, Callum Rei McDougall, Hori Shaw*, Te Kiwa Goddard, Hohua Sta, performed by Kruzi, Hori Shaw, and Hohua Sta (*Precise Digital Ltd)
Puna Ora, written by Charles Looker and Emily Looker, performed by Aro (Songbroker)
Ready To Ride, written by Hori Shaw*, Liam Richards*, Kingdon Chapple-Wilson^, and Paiheretia Aperahama, performed by Hori Shaw & Te Wehi (*Precise Digital Ltd, ^Big Pop Music Publishing)
Taukaea, written by Hope Fuimaono, Noema Te Hau, Jordyn Rapana, Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, Eugene Fuimaono, and Māiamārama Huia, performed by HOPE
Toitū Te Tiriti, written by Geneva Alexander-Marsters and Eric Scholes, performed by Geneva AM
Whakataratara, written by Charles Looker and Emily Looker, performed by Aro (Songbroker)