| APRA Music Awards (New Zealand) | |
| Current Awards: | 2019 APRA Silver Scroll Awards |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Presenter: | Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |
| Year: | 1965 |
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.
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 winners are announced annually.[1]
| Year | Songwriter | Performer | Song | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Wayne Kent-Healey | Herma Keil & The Keil Isles | "Teardrops" | |
| 1966 | "I Need You" | |||
| 1967 | Roger Skinner | Larry's Rebels | "Let's Think of Something" | |
| 1968 | David Jordan | David Jordan | "I Shall Take My Leave" | |
| 1969 | David Jordan | The Avengers | "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" | |
| 1970 | Wayne Mason | The Fourmyula | "Nature" | |
| 1971 | Corben Simpson | Littlejohn | "Have You Heard a Man Cry?" | |
| 1972 | Stephen Robinson | Tamburlaine | "Lady Wakes Up" | |
| 1973 | Ray Columbus and Mike Harvey | Ray Columbus and Mike Harvey | "Jangles, Spangles and Banners" | |
| 1974 | John Hanlon | "Lovely Lady" | ||
| 1975 | John Hanlon | "Windsongs" | ||
| 1976 | Mike Harvey | Salty Dogg | "All Gone Away" | |
| 1977 | Lea Maalfrid | Lea Maalfrid | "Lavender Mountain" | |
| 1978 | Steve Allen | Steve Allen | "Why Do They?" | |
| 1979 | Sharon O'Neill | Sharon O'Neill | "Face in a Rainbow" | |
| 1980 | Paul Schreuder | Paul Schreuder | "You've Got Me Loving You" | |
| 1981 | Phil Judd, Wayne Stevens and Mark Hough | The Swingers | "Counting the Beat" | |
| 1982 | Stephen Young | Mother Goose | "I Can't Sing Very Well" | |
| 1983 | Stephen Bell-Booth[2] | Stephen Bell-Booth | "All I Want Is You" | |
| 1984 | Hammond Gamble - Winner Silver Scroll Wayne Gillespie - Special APRA Award | Hammond GambleWayne Gillespie | "Look What Midnight's Done to Me" "Away With You" | |
| 1985 | Malcolm Black and Nick Sampson | Netherworld Dancing Toys | "For Today" | |
| 1986 | Tony Waine | Tony Waine | "Abandoned By Love" | |
| 1987 | Dave Dobbyn | Dave Dobbyn | "You Oughta Be In Love" | |
| 1988 | Shona Laing | "Soviet Snow" | ||
| 1989 | Stephen Bell-Booth[3] | Stephen Bell-Booth | "Hand It Over" | |
| 1990 | Guy Wishart | Guy Wishart | "Don't Take Me For Granted" | |
| 1991 | Rikki Morris | Rikki Morris | "Heartbroke" | |
| 1992 | Shona Laing | Shona Laing | "Mercy of Love" | |
| 1993 | Dave Dobbyn | Dave Dobbyn | "Belle of the Ball" | |
| 1994 | The Mutton Birds | "Anchor Me" | ||
| 1995 | Mark Tierney, Paul Casserly, and Anthony Ioasa | Strawpeople | "Sweet Disorder" | |
| 1996 | Bic Runga | "Drive" | ||
| 1997 | "Liberty" | |||
| 1998 | "Beside You" | |||
| 1999 | Bill Urale | King Kapisi | "Reverse Resistance" | |
| 2000 | Chris Knox | Chris Knox | "My Only Friend" | |
| 2001 | Neil Finn | Neil Finn with Sheryl Crow | "Turn and Run" | |
| 2002 | Che Ness and Godfrey de Grut | Che Fu | "Misty Frequencies" | |
| 2003 | Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau and Feleti Strickson-Pua | Nesian Mystik | "For the People" | |
| 2004 | Malo Luafutu and Peter Wadams | Scribe | "Not Many" | |
| 2005 | Dann Hume, Peter Hume and Jon Hume | Evermore | "It's Too Late" | |
| 2006 | Don McGlashan | Mt Raskil Preservation Society feat Hollie Smith | "Bathe In the River" | |
| 2007 | Brooke Fraser | Brooke Fraser | "Albertine" | |
| 2008 | Jason Kerrison, Bobby Kennedy, Matt Treacy and Clinton Harris | Opshop | "One Day" | |
| 2009 | James Milne and Luke Buda | Lawrence Arabia | "Apple Pie Bed" | |
| 2010 | Aaron Short, Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith | The Naked and Famous | "Young Blood" | |
| 2011 | Dave Baxter | Avalanche City | "Love Love Love" | |
| 2012 | Stephanie Brown | Lips | "Everything To Me" | |
| 2013 | Ella Yelich-O’Connor and Joel Little | Lorde | "Royals" | |
| 2014 | Tami Neilson & Jay (Joshua) Neilson | Tami Neilson | "Walk (Back To Your Arms)" | |
| 2015 | Ruban Nielson, Kody Nielson | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | "Multi-Love" | |
| 2016 | Thomas Oliver [Revoked] | Thomas Oliver [Revoked] | "If I Move to Mars" | |
| 2017 | Ella Yelich O'Connor, Jack Antonoff and Joel Little | Lorde | "Green Light" | |
| 2018 | Marlon Williams | Marlon Williams feat. Aldous Harding | "Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore" | |
| 2019 | Aldous Harding | Aldous Harding | "The Barrel" | |
| 2020 | Stella Bennett, Joshua Fountain and Djeisan Suskov | Benee | "Glitter" | |
| 2021 | Troy Kingi | Troy Kingi | "All Your Ships Have Sailed" | |
| 2022 | Rob Ruha, Kaea Hills, Te Amorutu Broughton, Ainsley Tai, Dan Martin, Whenua Patuwai | Ka Hao and Rob Ruha | "35" | |
| 2023 | Benjamin Sinclair, Elizabeth Stokes, Jonathan Pearce, Tristan Deck | The Beths | "Expert in a Dying Field" |
Established in 1998 and supported by the music composition promotional group Sounz, the Sounz Contemporary Award recognises works by New Zealand composers.[4] The winner received a $3000 cash prize and a trophy designed by sculptor Sarah Smuts Kennedy.[5]
| Year | Winner | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Eve de Castro-Robinson | "Chaos of Delight" |
| 1999 | Gillian Whitehead | "Outrageous Fortune" |
| 2000 | Ross Harris | "To the Memory of I. S. Totzka" |
| 2001 | Gillian Whitehead | "The Improbable Ordered Dance for Orchestra" |
| 2002 | John Psathas | "View From Olympus" |
| 2003 | Gillian Whitehead | "Alice" |
| 2004 | John Psathas | "Piano Concerto" |
| 2005 | Ross Harris | "Labyrinth for Tuba and Orchestra" |
| 2006 | Ross Harris | "Symphony No. 2" |
| 2007 | Eve de Castro-Robinson | "These Arms to Hold You" |
| 2008 | Chris Gendall | "Wax Lyrical" |
| 2009 | Ross Harris | "Symphony III" |
| 2010 | Chris Cree Brown | "Inner Bellow" |
| 2011 | Lyell Cresswell | "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" |
| 2012 | Alex Taylor | "[inner]" |
| 2013 | Karlo Margetic | "Lightbox" for piano trio |
| 2014 | Michael Norris | "Inner Phases" for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet |
| 2015 | Chris Watson | "sing songs self", a single movement piano concerto |
| 2016 | Salina Fisher | "Rainphase" |
| 2017 | Salina Fisher | "Tōrino - echoes on pūtōrino improvisations by Rob Thorne" |
| 2018 | Michael Norris | Sygyt |
| 2019 | Michael Norris | Sama Violin Concerto |
| 2020 | Michael Norris | "Mātauranga (Rerenga)" |
| 2021 | David Donaldson, Janet Roddick, Steve Roche (Plan 9) | "The Bewilderness" |
| 2022 | Reuben Jelleyman | "Catalogue" |
Established in 2003, the APRA Maioha Award recognises contemporary Maori music. The winner receives a $5000 cash prize and is the annual guardian of award sculpture Te Ngore, crafted by sculptor Brian Flintoff.[6]
| Year | Winner | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ngaiwi Apanui | "Wharikihia" |
| 2004 | Ruia Aperahama | "E Tae" |
| 2005 | Anituatua Black & Whirimako Black | "Tini Whetu" |
| 2006 | Richard Bennett | "E Hine" |
| 2007 | Andrea Tunks & Pierre Tohe | "Aio" |
| 2008 | Ruia Aperahama | "Rere Reta Rere Reta" |
| 2009 | Rewi Spraggon & Riki Bennett | "Tapapakanga" |
| 2010 | Jamie Greenslade | "Sin City" |
| 2011 | Tyna Keelan | "Ko Koe" |
| 2012 | Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai & Scotty Morrison | "Matahīapo" |
| 2013 | Maisey Rika, Te Kahautu Maxwell, and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper | "Ruaimoko" |
| 2014 | Rob Ruha | "Tiki Tapu" |
| 2015 | Vince Harder, Stan Walker, and Troy Kingi | "Aotearoa" |
| 2016 | Rob Ruha | "Kariri" |
| 2017 | Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, and Ethan Trembath (Alien Weaponry) | "Raupatu" |
| 2018 | Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, and Te Ori Paki | "Te Ahi Kai Pō" |
| 2019 | Tyna Keelan, Angelique Te Rauna and Matauranga Te Rauna | "Ka Ao" |
| 2020 | Rob Ruha | "Ka Mānu" |
| 2021 | Maisey Rika, Seth Haapu | "Waitī Waitā" |
| 2022 | Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean, and Chris Wethey | "Te Iho" |
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.[7]
| Year | APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award | APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer(s) | Composition | Composer(s) | Composition | ||
| 2014 | Victoria Kelly | Field Punishment No. 1 | Tom McLeod | Girl vs. Boy (Series 2) | |
| 2015 | Grayson Gilmour | Consent | Tom McLeod | Girl vs. Boy (Series 3) | |
| 2016 | Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper and Tama Waipara | Mahana | Karl Steven | 800 Words | |
| 2017 | Tim Prebble | One Thousand Ropes | Claire Cowan | Hillary | |
| 2018 | David Long | McLaren | Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Buda, Samuel Scott | Cleverman | |
| 2019 | Mike Newport | Mega Time Squad | Karl Steven | The Bad Seed | |
| 2020 | Karl Steven | Come to Daddy | David Long | The Luminaries | |
| 2021 | Arli Liberman | Savage | Karl Steven | Black Hands | |
| 2022 | Dana Lund and Horomona Horo | Whina | Jonathan Crayford, Joel Tashkoff, Troy Kingi, and Diggy Dupé | The Panthers |
See main article: APRA Silver Scroll Awards for Most Performed New Zealand Works.
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".[8]
See main article: New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Created in 2007 in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), 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 (NZMAs), selected by RIANZ.[9]
Separate to the Silver Scroll awards, APRA recognises New Zealand songwriting in four specific genres.[10]
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.[11]
| Year | Winner | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Donna Dean | "Work It Out" |
| 2005 | Kylie Harris | "Give Me Something To Go On" |
| 2006 | Jools Topp (Topp Twins) | "Tamworth" |
| 2007 | Barry Saunders | "Pale Sun" |
| 2008 | Bruce Dennis | "Ain't Gonna Run" |
| 2009 | Jess Chambers (Woolshed Sessions) | "Stringing Me Along" |
| 2010 | Matt Langley | "7:13" |
| 2011 | Donna Dean | "What Am I Gonna Do?" |
| 2012 | Delaney Davidson | "You're A Loser" |
| 2013 | Marlon Williams & Delaney Davidson | "Bloodletter" |
| 2014 | Tami Neilson & Delaney Davidson | "Whiskey & Kisses" |
| 2015 | Kaylee Bell & Jared Porter | "Pieces" |
| 2016 | Mel Parsons | "Alberta Sun" |
| 2017 | Chester Travis | "Toothache" |
| 2018 | Reb Fountain | "Hopeful and Hopeless" |
| 2019 | Holly Arrowsmith | "Slow Train Creek" |
| 2020 | Tami Neilson | "Hey Bus Driver" |
| 2021 | Tami Neilson | "Queenie Queenie" |
| 2022 | Jenny Mitchell, Tami Neilson, Tali Jenkinson, and Chris Wethey | "Trouble Finds A Girl" |
Established in 2005, the APRA Best Pacific Song award celebrates Pacific music. It is presented as part of the annual Pacific Music Awards.[12]
| Year | Writer(s) | Performer | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Kas Futialo & Ian Seumanu | Tha Feelstyle | "Su'amalie" |
| 2006 | Savage | Savage | "Swing" |
| 2007 | Spacifix | Spacifix | "Gotta Get Like This" |
| 2008 | Malo Luafutu (Scribe) with Tyra Hammond, Jordan Iusitini & Aaron Iusitini | Scribe featuring Tyra Hammond | "Say It Again" |
| 2009 | Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau, Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau | Nesian Mystik | "Nesian 101" |
| 2010 | Tonga Vaea and Three Houses Down | Three Houses Down | "Kanikapila" |
| 2011 | Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau, Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau | Nesian Mystik | "Sun Goes Down" |
| 2012 | Nainz and Viiz Tupa’i | Adeaze | "Paradise" |
| 2013 | Aaradhna Patel | Aaradhna | "Wake Up" |
| 2014 | Mark Vanilau | Mark Vanilau | "Giant of the Sea" |
| 2015 | Sid Diamond, Fred Fa'Afou, Tyree Tautogia, Joshua Fountain, Pieter Tuhoro | Smashproof | "Survivors" (featuring Pieter T) |
| 2016 | Annie Tonumali’i and Pearl Va’afusuaga | Annie Grace | "E Le Galo" |
| 2017 | Aaradhna Patel | Aaradhna | "Brown Girl" |
| 2018 | Charlie Pome'e and Nicholas Pome'e | General Fiyah | "Here To Stay" |
| 2019 | Kingdon Chapple-Wilson | Kings | "6 Figures" |
| 2020 | Metitilani Alo and Livingstone Efu | Lani Alo | "Alo I Ou Faiva" |
| 2021 | Joshua Nanai, Phil Greiss, Jason Desrouleaux, and Jacob Kasher Hindlin | Jawsh 685 | "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" |
| 2022 | Daniel Latu, Amon McGoram, Isaiah Libeau, Lomez Brown, and Samuel Verlinden | SWIDT | "Kelz Garage" |
Established in 2008, the APRA Best Maori Songwriter award celebrates Maori music. It is presented as part of the annual Waiata Maori Music Awards.[13]
| Year | Writer |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Ruia Aperahama |
| 2009 | Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau, Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau (Nesian Mystik) |
| 2010 | Maisey Rika |
| 2011 | Tiki Taane |
| 2012 | Te Awanui Reeder |
| 2013 | Maisey Rika |
| 2014 | Rob Ruha |
| 2015 | Ranea Aperahama |
| 2016 | Rob Ruha |
| 2017 | Rory Noble |
| 2018 | Seth Haapu |
| 2019 | Amba Holly |
| 2020 | Brad Kora, Stuart Kora, Joel Shadbolt, Ara Adams-Tamatea & Miharo Gregory (L.A.B.) |
| 2021 | Troy Kingi |
| 2022 | Coterie |
Established in 2008, the APRA Best Children's Song award celebrates songwriters and composers who write for New Zealand children. APRA also sponsors the NZ On Air Best Children's Music Video award. The awards were previously presented at the annual StarFest event, as part of the annual KidsFest festival in Christchurch, then as of 2014 they were presented live on What Now and are now celebrated at an invite only music industry event in Auckland each NZ Music Month (May). The winning song wins a $10,000 special NZ On Air grant for producing new music and visual content, while the winning video receives a $500 prize.[14]
| Year | Winner | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Craig Smith, "Wonky Donkey" and Claudia Robin Gunn | "Lullaby Time" |
| 2009 | Levity Beet | "Little Blue" |
| 2010 | Claudia Robin Gunn | "Home Sweet Home" |
| 2011 | Rob Wigley | "Beans About Beans" |
| 2012 | Levity Beet | "Sometimes I Make Mistakes" |
| 2013 | Chanelle Davis | "If I Was a Fuzzy Buzzy Bumblebee" |
| 2014 | Anika Moa | "Colours are Beautiful" |
| 2015 | Levity Beet and Daniel Stryczek | "There's One in the Bush" |
| 2016 | Lucy Hiku & Jenny Payne (Itty Bitty Beats) | "Pō Mārie" |
| 2017 | Jeremy Dillon & Ben Sinclair (Moe & Friends) | "We Like Pets!" |
| 2018 | Craig Smith | "The Scariest Thing In The Garden" |
| 2019 | Cy Winstanley (Simon Stanley) | "Marley Sitting On A Pumpkin Seed" |
| 2020 | Kath Bee and Doug Stenhouse (Joelle) | "I Love Life" |
| 2021 | Michal Bush, Andrew Knopp, and Victoria Knopp | "Brave" |
| 2022 | Kath Bee, Ryan Beehre, and Luke Epapara (Mika Elley and Kurnel MC) | "E Tū Tāngata - Stand Together" |
Established in 2016, the APRA Best Jazz Composition award recognises outstanding composition in jazz. The award is presented annually at the Wellington Jazz Festival.[15]
| Year | Winner | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Callum Allardice | "Sons of Thunder" |
| 2017 | Callum Allardice | "Deep Thought" |
| 2018 | Anita Schwabe | "Springtide" |
| 2019 | Callum Allardice | "Chungin'" |
| 2020 | Jake Baxendale | "Tui" |
| 2021 | Lucien Johnson | "Blue Rain" |
| 2022 | Lauren Ellis | "Papatūānuku" |
The APRA Professional Development Awards were established in 2005 and are awarded biennially. Initially awarded to one recipient, from 2009 to 2019 three awards were given each round, recognising excellence in the fields of classical, pop contemporary, and film, television and video. Each recipient was awarded $12,000 cash to advance their careers through study or travel.[16] Due to post-COVID circumstances, adjustments were made to the way the Professional Development Awards are distributed. Instead of $30,000 being split between three disciplines, six winners are chosen with each recipient receiving $5,000.[17]
| Year | Professional Development Award | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Robin Toan | ||
| 2007 | John Chong Nee | ||
| Film, TV & Video | Pop Contemporary | Classical | |
| 2009 | Grayson Gilmour | Jessica Hansell | Samuel Holloway |
| 2011 | Stephen Gallagher | Miriam Clancy | Simon Eastwood |
| 2013 | Karl Steven | Nick Gaffaney | Alex Taylor |
| 2015 | Hamish Oliver | Mara TK | Sarah Ballard |
| 2017 | Claire Cowan | Chelsea Jade | Clovis McEvoy |
| 2019 | Maxwell Stone | Delaney Davidson Jamie McDell Brooke Singer | Reuben Jelleyman |
| Professional Development Award | |||
| 2021 | Emi Pogoni, Jolyon Mulholland, Lisa Crawley, Maree Sheehan, Phodiso Dintwe, Valentine Nixon | ||
| 2022 | Gabriel Everett, Jessie Leov, Joel Tashkoff, Katie Sharp, Tali Jenkinson, William Philipson |
In 2001, the APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time was compiled by members of APRA to commemorate the organisation's 75th anniversary. The top 30 entries were used to create the Nature's Best compilation CD, with the rest of the list appearing in follow-up compilations. A similar list was made in Australia of the top 30 Australian songs.