The APRA Silver Scroll Awards
A DigitalNZ Story by DigitalNZ
This story is a brief history of the Silver Scrolls and takes a look at some of the illustrious winners over the years.
APRA, aotearoa, music, songwriter, songwriting, performance, live, concerts
A HISTORY OF THE SILVER SCROLLS AWARDS
Since 1965 APRA Silver Scroll Awards have celebrated music, songwriting and the musicians that wrote the best songs of the year in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As it states on the APRA website, the awards celebrate the best of New Zealand's songwriters and composers. As well as the APRA Silver Scroll Award, the APRA Maioha award and the SOUNZ Contemporary Award and awards for music in film and television are also awarded. APRA also induct people who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand music in to the Hall of Fame (although this doesn't necessarily happen every year).
Audioculture have written a fantastic history of the awards. They have charted how it grow in cultural prominence and its importance as a cultural lens for Aotearoa New Zealand during the last 50+ years.
The 1960s
The first Silver Scroll was awarded to Wayne Kent-Healey for the song 'Teardrops' in 1965.
AudioCulture
The 1970s
During this period it grew in to an event on the music industry's calendar.
AudioCulture
The 1980s
The nominees this decade included Dave Dobbyn, Charlie Tumahai, The Narcs, Shona Laing and Netherworld Dancing Toys.
AudioCulture
The 1990s
At the beginning of the decade, the awards moved to Auckland's Powerstation.
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The 1993 Silver Scroll Awards
APRA’s former director of New Zealand Operations Mike Chunn remembers the 1993 award ceremony.
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APRA Silver Scrolls 2015
In 2015, an additional award was given. The 1981 'lost scroll' was presented to The Swingers for 'Counting the Beat'.
AudioCulture
The Musical Directors
Since the early 2000s the awards have included a 'musical director' – the key creative role responsible for interpretations of the finalists’ songs by other New Zealand musicians, the Hall of Fame tributes and the grand closing set-pieces. Previous musical directors have included Eddie Rayner, Shayne Carter, Victoria Kelly, Bic Runga, and Rob and Cilla Ruha.
The Musical Directors
Every year the musical director coordinate the performances of the nominated songs during the awards ceremony.
AudioCulture
The APRA Maioha award
The APRA Maioha award was first awarded in 2003 to celebrate Māori composers and exceptional waiata featuring te reo. Previous winners include Vince Harder, Stan Walker, Maisey Rika, and Rob Ruha. In 2022 it was awarded to Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean Zeta and Chris Wethey for their song 'Te Iho'.
2022 - Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean Zeta and Chris Wethey - '"Te Iho'"
Radio New Zealand
2021 - Maisey Rika and Seth Haapu - "Waitī Waitā"
Radio New Zealand
2019 - Tyna Keelan, Angelique Te Rauna and Matauranga Te Rauna - "Ka Ao"
Radio New Zealand
2018 - Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, and Te Ori Paki - "Te Ahi Kai Pō"
Te Ahi Kai Pō
Radio New Zealand
2017 - Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong, and Ethan Trembath (Alien Weaponry) - "Raupatu"
Radio New Zealand
2016 - Rob Ruha - "Kariri"
Radio New Zealand
2015 - Vince Harder, Stan Walker, and Troy Kingi - "Aotearoa"
Radio New Zealand
2013 - Maisey Rika, Te Kahautu Maxwell, and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper - "Ruaimoko"
Radio New Zealand
The Silver Scroll AWARD
Every year, songwriters who are members of APRA submit their works for consideration. These submissions are whittled down to 20 finalists, which are then narrowed down further to the top five finalists for the APRA Silver Scroll.
Here are some of the recent winners of the Silver Scroll award.
2021 - Troy Kingi - "All Your Ships Have Sailed"
SOUNZ
2020 - Stella Bennett, Joshua Fountain and Djeisan Suskov - Benee -"Glitter"
Radio New Zealand
2019 - Aldous Harding - "The Barrel"
Radio New Zealand
2018 - Marlon Williams - "Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore"
Radio New Zealand
2017 - Ella Yelich O'Connor, Jack Antonoff and Joel Little - Lorde - "Green Light"
Radio New Zealand
2016- Thomas Oliver [Revoked] - "If I Move to Mars"
Radio New Zealand
2015 - Ruban Nielson, Kody Nielson - Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Multi-Love"
Radio New Zealand
2014 - Tami Neilson & Jay (Joshua) Neilson - Tami Neilson - "Walk (Back To Your Arms)"
Radio New Zealand
2013 - Ella Yelich-O’Connor and Joel Little - Lorde - "Royals"
Radio New Zealand