APRA Awards (New Zealand)


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, sales and airplay performance by 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 three professional development awards every second year. APRA also runs awards for its Australian members.

APRA Silver Scroll Awards

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 award

Silver Scroll winners are announced annually.
YearSongwriterPerformerSong
1965Wayne Kent-HealeyHerma Keil & The Keil Isles"Teardrops"
1966Ray ColumbusRay Columbus"I Need You"
1967Roger SkinnerLarry's Rebels"Let's Think of Something"
1968David JordanDavid Jordan"I Shall Take My Leave"
1969David JordanThe Avengers"Out of Sight, Out of Mind"
1970Wayne MasonThe Fourmyula"Nature"
1971Corben SimpsonLittlejohn"Have You Heard a Man Cry?"
1972Stephen RobinsonTamburlaine"Lady Wakes Up"
1973Ray Columbus and Mike HarveyRay Columbus and Mike Harvey"Jangles, Spangles and Banners"
1974John HanlonJohn Hanlon"Lovely Lady"
1975John HanlonJohn Hanlon"Windsongs"
1976Mike HarveySalty Dogg"All Gone Away"
1977Lea MaalfridLea Maalfrid"Lavender Mountain"
1978Steve AllenSteve Allen"Why Do They?"
1979Sharon O'NeillSharon O'Neill"Face In a Rainbow"
1980Paul SchreuderPaul Schreuder"You've Got Me Loving You"
1981Phil Judd, Wayne Stevens and Mark HoughThe Swingers"Counting the Beat"
1982Stephen YoungMother Goose"I Can't Sing Very Well"
1983Stephen Bell-BoothStephen Bell-Booth"All I Want Is You"
1984Hammond Gamble - Winner Silver Scroll
Wayne Gillespie - Special APRA Award		Hammond Gamble
Wayne Gillespie		"Look What Midnight's Done to Me"
"Away With You"
1985Malcolm Black and Nick SampsonNetherworld Dancing Toys"For Today"
1986Tony WaineTony Waine"Abandoned By Love"
1987Dave DobbynDave Dobbyn"You Oughta Be In Love"
1988Shona LaingShona Laing"Soviet Snow"
1989Stephen Bell-BoothStephen Bell-Booth"Hand It Over"
1990Guy WishartGuy Wishart"Don't Take Me For Granted"
1991Rikki MorrisRikki Morris"Heartbroke"
1992Shona LaingShona Laing"Mercy of Love"
1993Dave DobbynDave Dobbyn"Belle of the Ball"
1994Don McGlashanThe Mutton Birds"Anchor Me"
1995Mark Tierney, Paul Casserly, and Anthony IoasaStrawpeople"Sweet Disorder"
1996Bic RungaBic Runga"Drive"
1997Greg JohnsonGreg Johnson"Liberty"
1998Dave DobbynDave Dobbyn"Beside You"
1999Bill UraleKing Kapisi"Reverse Resistance"
2000Chris KnoxChris Knox"My Only Friend"
2001Neil FinnNeil Finn with Sheryl Crow"Turn and Run"
2002Che Ness and Godfrey de GrutChe Fu"Misty Frequencies"
2003Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau and Feleti Strickson-PuaNesian Mystik"For the People"
2004Malo Luafutu and Peter WadamsScribe"Not Many"
2005Dan Hume, Peter Hume and Jon HumeEvermore"It's Too Late"
2006Don McGlashanMt Raskil Preservation Society feat Hollie Smith"Bathe In the River"
2007Brooke FraserBrooke Fraser"Albertine"
2008Jason Kerrison, Bobby Kennedy, Matt Treacy and Clinton HarrisOpshop"One Day"
2009James Milne and Luke BudaLawrence Arabia"Apple Pie Bed"
2010Aaron Short, Thom Powers and Alisa XayalithThe Naked and Famous"Young Blood"
2011Dave BaxterAvalanche City"Love Love Love"
2012Stephanie BrownLips“Everything To Me”
2013Ella Yelich-O’Connor and Joel LittleLorde"Royals"
2014Tami Neilson & Jay NeilsonTami Neilson"Walk "
2015Ruban Nielson, Kody NielsonUnknown Mortal Orchestra"Multi-Love"
2016Thomas OliverThomas Oliver"If I Move to Mars"
2017Ella Yelich O'Connor, Jack Antonoff and Joel LittleLorde"Green Light"
2018Marlon WilliamsMarlon Williams"Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore"
2019Aldous HardingAldous Harding"The Barrel"

Sounz Contemporary Award

Established in 1998 and supported by the music composition promotional group Sounz, the Sounz Contemporary Award recognises works by New Zealand composers. The winner received a $3000 cash prize and a trophy designed by sculptor Sarah Smuts Kennedy.
YearWinnerSong
1998Eve de Castro-Robinson"Chaos of Delight"
1999Gillian Whitehead"Outrageous Fortune"
2000Ross Harris"To the Memory of I. S. Totzka"
2001Gillian Whitehead"The Improbable Ordered Dance for Orchestra"
2002John Psathas"View From Olympus"
2003Gillian Whitehead"Alice"
2004John Psathas"Piano Concerto"
2005Ross Harris"Labyrinth for Tuba and Orchestra"
2006Ross Harris"Symphony No. 2"
2007Eve de Castro-Robinson"These Arms to Hold You"
2008Chris Gendall"Wax Lyrical"
2009Ross Harris"Symphony III"
2010Chris Cree Brown"Inner Bellow"
2011Lyell Cresswell“Concerto for Piano and Orchestra”
2012Alex Taylor“”
2013Karlo Margetic"Lightbox" for piano trio
2014Michael Norris"Inner Phases" for Chinese instrument ensemble and string quartet
2015Chris Watson"sing songs self", a single movement piano concerto
2016Salina Fisher"Rainphase"
2017Salina Fisher"Tōrino - echoes on pūtōrino improvisations by Rob Thorne"
2018Michael NorrisSygyt
2019Michael NorrisSama Violin Concerto

APRA Maioha Award

Established in 2003, the APRA Maioha Award recognises contemporary Maori music. The winner receives a $3000 cash prize and is the annual guardian of award sculpture Te Ngore, crafted by sculptor Brian Flintoff.
YearWinnerSong
2003Ngaiwi Apanui"Wharikihia"
2004Ruia Aperahama"E Tae"
2005Anituatua Black & Whirimako Black"Tini Whetu"
2006Richard Bennett"E Hine"
2007Andrea Tunks & Pierre Tohe"Aio"
2008Ruia Aperahama"Rere Reta Rere Reta"
2009Rewi Spraggon & Riki Bennett"Tapapakanga"
2010Jamie Greenslade"Sin City"
2011Tyna Keelan“Ko Koe”
2012Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai & Scotty Morrison"Matahīapo"
2013Maisey Rika, Te Kahautu Maxwell, and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper"Ruaimoko"
2014Rob Ruha"Tiki Tapu"
2015Vince Harder, Stan Walker, and Troy Kingi"Aotearoa"
2016Rob Ruha"Kariri"
2017Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, and Ethan Trembath "Raupatu"
2018Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, and Te Ori Paki"Te Ahi Kai Pō”

APRA Screen Awards

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.

Most Performed New Zealand Work in New Zealand and Internationally

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".

New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

Created in 2007 in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand, 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, selected by RIANZ.

APRA Song Awards

Separate to the Silver Scroll awards, APRA recognises New Zealand songwriting in four specific genres.

APRA Best Country Music Song

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.
YearWinnerSong
2004Donna Dean"Work It Out"
2005Kylie Harris"Give Me Something To Go On"
2006Jools Topp "Tamworth"
2007Barry Saunders"Pale Sun"
2008Bruce Dennis"Ain't Gonna Run"
2009Jess Chambers "Stringing Me Along"
2010Matt Langley"7:13"
2011Donna Dean"What Am I Gonna Do?"
2012Delaney Davidson"You're A Loser"
2013Marlon Williams & Delaney Davidson"Bloodletter"
2014Tami Neilson & Delaney Davidson"Whiskey & Kisses"
2015Kaylee Bell & Jared Porter"Pieces"
2016Mel Parsons"Alberta Sun"
2017Chester Travis"Toothache"

APRA Best Pacific Song

Established in 2005, the APRA Best Pacific Song award celebrates Pacific music. It is presented as part of the annual Pacific Music Awards.
YearWriterPerformerSong
2005Kas Futialo & Ian SeumanuTha Feelstyle"Su'amalie"
2006SavageSavage"Swing"
2007SpacifixSpacifix"Gotta Get Like This"
2008Malo Luafutu with Tyra Hammond, Jordan Iusitini & Aaron IusitiniScribe featuring Tyra Hammond"Say It Again"
2009Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau,
Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau		Nesian Mystik"Nesian 101"
2010Tonga Vaea and Three Houses DownThree Houses Down"Kanikapila"
2011Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau,
Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau		Nesian Mystik"Sun Goes Down"
2012Nainz and Viiz Tupa’iAdeaze"Paradise"
2013Aaradhna PatelAaradhna"Wake Up"
2014Mark VanilauMark Vanilau"Giant of the Sea"
2015Sid Diamond, Fred Fa'Afou, Tyree Tautogia, Joshua Fountain, Pieter TuhoroSmashproof“Survivors"
2016Annie Tonumali’i and Pearl Va’afusuagaAnnie Grace"E Le Galo"
2017Aaradhna PatelAaradhna"Brown Girl"

APRA Best Maori Songwriter

Established in 2008, the APRA Best Maori Songwriter award celebrates Maori music. It is presented as part of the annual Waiata Maori Music Awards.
YearWriter
2008Ruia Aperahama
2009Donald McNulty, Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai, Junior Rikiau, Feleti Strickson-Pua & Heath Manukau
2010Maisey Rika
2011Tiki Taane
2012Te Awanui Reeder
2013Maisey Rika
2014Rob Ruha
2015Ranea Aperahama
2016Rob Ruha
2017Rory Noble

APRA Children's Song of the Year

Established in 2008, the APRA Children's Song of the Year celebrates songwriters and composers who write for New Zealand children. APRA also sponsors the What Now Children's Music Video of the Year. The awards were previously presented at the annual StarFest event, as part of the annual KidsFest festival in Christchurch, but as of 2014 they were presented live on What Now. The winning song wins a $1000 prize.
YearWinnerSong
2008Craig Smith, "Wonky Donkey" and Claudia Gunn"Lullaby Time"
2009Levity Beet"Little Blue"
2010Claudia Gunn"Home Sweet Home"
2011Rob Wigley"Beans About Beans"
2012Levity Beet"Sometimes I Make Mistakes"
2013Chanelle Davis"If I Was a Fuzzy Buzzy Bumblebee"
2014Anika Moa"Colours are Beautiful"
2015Levity Beet and Daniel Stryczek"There’s One in the Bush"
2016Lucy Hiku & Jenny Payne "Pō Mārie"
2017Jeremy Dillon & Ben Sinclair "We Like Pets!"

APRA Best Jazz Composition

Established in 2016, the APRA Best Jazz Composition award recognises outstanding composition in jazz. The award is presented annually at the Wellington Jazz Festival.
YearWinnerSong
2016Callum Allardice"Sons of Thunder"
2017Callum Allardice"Deep Thought"

APRA Professional Development Awards

The APRA Professional Development Awards were established in 2005 and are awarded biennially. Initially awarded to one recipient, three awards are now given each round, recognising excellence in the fields of classical, pop contemporary, and film, television and video. Each recipient is awarded $12,000 cash to advance their careers through study or travel.

APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time

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.