APRA Silver Scroll Award and Maioha Award 2026 Finalists Announced + More

Whittled down by APRA voting members from one of the most exciting Top 20 shortlists we've seen this decade (or longer), the Top Five finalists have been revealed for the 61st APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka, recognising outstanding achievement in the craft of songwriting in Aotearoa New Zealand since 1965.

APRA AMCOS Aotearoa have also announced the finalists for APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award — which recognises the art of contemporary Māori music and celebrates kaitito creating waiata in te reo Māori, through a distinct cultural lens — and even more accolades to be presented at next month's official award ceremony.

Finalists have been revealed for the Te Tihi o te Maunga Tito | Kapa Haka Songwriting Award — a brand new award introduced for 2026, to honour, uplift and acknowledge kapa haka songwriters whose original compositions in te reo Māori carry language, culture and identity across generations — the SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha, APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi, and the APRA Best Original Music in a Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa.

One of Aotearoa music's most significant annual events, the stars will come out to shine when the red carpet rolls out at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards 2026 presentation ceremony, happening at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau on Wednesday 14th October. Here is the full rundown of the finalists for 2026...

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka

Afters, written by Troy Kingi* and Maarire Brunning-Kouka, performed by Troy Kingi feat. MĀ (*LOOP Publishing / Kobalt Music)

LALELEI, written by David Feauai-Afaese*, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule*, Levi Gemmell, Larsen Taylor, and performed by LEAO (*Heard & Seen Publishing)

One Stop, written by Hannah Topp, performed by Aldous Harding (BMG Publishing)

Someone’s Daughter, written by Deva Mahal and Chris Wethey, performed by Deva Mahal

Wrong Party, written by Peter McCall, performed by Fazed on a Pony

APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award

Mānawa Maiea Matariki, written by Tawaroa Kawana and Rangi-Ānehu Mātāmua, performed by TAWAZ, Stan Walker, Hera, Hone, Nepia, Rani, and Hops

Puna Ora, written by Charles Looker and Emily Looker, performed by Aro

Toitū Te Tiriti, written by Geneva Alexander-Marsters and Eric Scholes, performed by Geneva AM

Te Tihi o te Maunga Tito | Kapa Haka Songwriting Award

Ka Mutu Te Aroha written by Dr Hinurewa Poutū and Tawaroa Kāwana, performed by Te Whare Haka o Te Puku
Te Tapuni written by Rob Ruha, performed by Te Taumata o Apanui (TOA)
Wai Ka Tuku Wai Ka Hono written by Tā Derek Lardelli, Te Rauhuia Ngata, Ani Piki Tuari, and Hamiora Tuari, performed by Te Kapa Haka o Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti

SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha

curio by Ihlara McIndoe
Light Lines by Dylan Lardelli
Partial Forms by Michael Norris and Nicholas Denton Protsack
Soft Logic by Samuel Holloway

APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi

Claire Cowan for Bust Up
Lachlan Anderson for Crackhead
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper for Tangata Pai

APRA Best Original Music in a Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa

Jonathan Crayford for Caterpillar
Karl Steven and Rob Thorne for Mārama (Heard & Seen Publishing)
Karl Steven for Pike River (Heard & Seen Publishing)