Announcing finalists for the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Award & Tohu Maioha

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka

The esteemed peer-voted award has reached its 60th year of being passed through the hands of New Zealand's finest songwriters. The APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka offers a unique chance for songwriters to be acknowledged by their peers for their songwriting craft.

Top five finalists:

• 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

The APRA Tohu Maioha | Maioha Award recognises the art of contemporary Māori music and celebrates kaitito creating waiata in te reo Māori, through a distinct cultural lens. This year's finalists reflect the fast growing and evolving landscape of waiata reo Māori.

Top three finalists:

• 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

Aua Atu Rā
Marking his fourth time as a finalist, ‘Aua Atu Rā’ is a mournful lament upon isolation, featuring lyrics co-written by Marlon Williams and Lyttelton-based artist/mātanga reo KOMMI, and inspired by 60s Māori showbands. Responding to a famous Māori proverb expressing communal solidarity, 'He waka eke noa,’ meaning ‘We’re all in this boat together’, Marlon takes a different view and sings: “I am alone / In this boat / On the ocean / There is not a trace of wind / No, none at all.” ‘Aua Atu Rā’ is the lead single from Marlon’s fourth studio album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, an album steeped in te ao Māori and the catalyst for Williams reconnecting to his heritage.

Cherry Pie
Fazerdaze is a first-time finalist this year for ‘Cherry Pie’, the lead single from her second album Soft Power. ‘Cherry Pie’ is a combination of synth dream-pop and new wave grooves with signature Amelia Murray hooks. Amelia explains: “‘Cherry Pie’ began as lyrics on my phone during my first overseas trip to LA almost ten years ago. Now, at 31, this song has journeyed with me through many different versions of myself.” Fazerdaze explores the complexities of identity on her album, Soft Power, released in November 2024. The album launched a new season of success for Fazerdaze, including winning Album of the Year at the 2025 AMA.

Margo
Ōtautahi-born indie rock band There’s A Tuesday return to the shortlist this year for their song ‘Margo’ from their debut album Blush. An exploration of self, ‘Margo’ reflects on the emotional journey of being closeted in a world that doesn’t fully accept queerness. With raw lyrics and a compelling indie-rock sound, ‘Margo’ speaks to anyone who has struggled with societal expectations and the tension between personal truth and public persona. With accolades from Rolling Stone paired with Aotearoa Music Award and Scroll nominations under their belt, the band continues to grow their fanbase.

Power
Kenyan-New Zealand artist JessB is a new finalist this year for her bass heavy, dancehall song ‘Power’. Produced by hip-hop agitator WHO SHOT SCOTT, the song features none other than dancehall reggae legend Sister Nancy and Zambian/Australian hip-hop artist Sampa the Great, making for an anthem of self-empowerment. ‘Power’ is the lead single from JessB’s debut album, Feels Like Home, a project that embodies the essence of home not being defined as a place, but instead, being where the heart is.
Born and raised in New Zealand to a Kenyan father and Pākehā mother, JessB is part of the new generation of African Kiwi hip-hop artists bringing their culture to the mainstream, having shared stages with the likes of Kehlani and Stormzy, and served strength to audiences at SXSW, Listen Out and Laneway, as well as working as a part of the African New Zealand rap supergroup BLKCITY.

TORQUE.
First time APRA Silver Scroll Award finalist Mazbou Q is celebrated this year for self-produced single 'TORQUE.’ The song features a sample of ‘Ka Home’ by Afro Soul artist and frequent collaborator, Ch! Nonso. Also known as ‘The Rap Scientist’, Mazbou Q’s theory-based framework for the analysis of rap flow has gained popularity in both industry and academic circles. Covering concepts like polymetricism, micro-timing and displacement, Mazbou Q has guest lectured at Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, and Louisiana State University. As both educator and practitioner, Mazbou Q continues to capture the imagination of fans via the power of hip-hop.

Kei Whati Te Marama
Described as ‘New Zealand's five-piece duo’ born from late legend Aaron Tokona's Ahoribuzz, Ōtautahi band Dillastrate are Henare 'H' Kaa (lead vocals/drums) and Tim Driver (keyboard/bass synth/loops/vocals) producing memorable high energy tunes. Their Maioha nominated waiata ‘Kei Whati Te Marama’, is an uplifting drum ‘n’ bass love song and, according to the pair, a “tribute to our wāhine - who go through so much.” The song was featured in the fifth anniversary Waiata Anthems release in 2024, accompanied by a short documentary following the band’s creative process. In this waiata, Dillastrate celebrate their heritage and their continued inspirations, celebrating enduring bonds and promising hopeful futures.

Korero Māori
Marlon Williams and KOMMI appear as first-time Maioha Award finalists for their kapa haka waiata ‘Korero Māori’. Recorded with Ōtepoti kapa haka roopu He Waka Kōtuia, it’s the fifth track on his album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, Marlon's first project written entirely in te reo Māori. “Through the process of constructing these songs,” Marlon says, “I’ve found a means of expressing my joys, sorrows and humour in a way that feels both distinctly new yet also connects me to my tīpuna and my whenua.” The album is another step in Marlon’s reo journey, his language developing as the songs accumulate in the hours spent with close friend and co-writer, artist and mātanga reo KOMMI.

Pūhā me te Porohewa
The first single from MĀ's sophomore album, Blame It On The Weather, ‘Pūhā me te Porohewa’ gives listeners a moment to safely feel anger. Weaving strategic narratives in her native tongue, te reo Māori, MĀ reinvents anger as an important emotion – one that tends to be often disregarded or misunderstood.
Over the last three years, MĀ has won over audiences with their distinctly indigenous blend of abstract downtempo rap and D.I.Y neo-soul. Born from grief, self-love and an attentive awareness of the natural world, MĀ’s waiata value te taiao, whakapapa, manaakitanga, humour, and honesty.

Alongside the APRA Silver Scroll Award and APRA Maioha Award, three other awards will be presented at the private event held at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Ōtautahi Christchurch on Wednesday 29 October.

The other awards presented on the night are:

• SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha
• APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa
• APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi
• NZ Music Hall of Fame Induction | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa