With the first in-person celebration since 2019, the 2022 APRA Silver Scroll Awards winners were announced at Spark Arena in Tāmaki Makaurau on October 18, an evening celebrating Aotearoa’s songwriters and composers.

Te Tairāwhiti choir Ka Hao and Rob Ruha took home the 2022 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka for their globally viral feel-good waiata 35, written by Rob Ruha, Kaea Hills, Te Amorutu Broughton, Ainsley Tai, Dan Martin, and Whenua Patuwai. Referencing the highway that runs along the North Island’s east coast, 35 is Ka Hao’s first single, released ahead of their debut album ‘Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice’. 

A project intended to promote and revitalise Te Reo Māori, the group’s name refers to the proverb ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi (as the old fishing net is worn, a new one is made), referring to youth growing up and entering adulthood. With his distinguished and respected kaitiaki of waiata reo and rangatahi in Aotearoa, Rob Ruha is the perfect conduit to welcome Ka Hao into the legacy of the Silver Scroll.

By coincidence Ruha and his wife Cilla Ruha were also the night’s music directors, bringing together musicians to honour the Silver Scroll Award finalist songs, along with the winners of the APRA Maioha and SOUNZ Contemporary Award, two NZ Music Hall of Fame inductees plus presentations of the Screen Awards.

Voted by their songwriter peers, the win for Ka Hao recognises the successful work in recent years to revitalise te reo through exemplary songwriting and composition. The APRA Silver Scroll award was presented by songwriter icon Bic Runga with the song performed by Stan Walker and Hamo Dell. 

First time finalist and winners Aja Ropata, Byllie-Jean Rangihuna and producer Chris Wethey were presented the APRA Maioha Award for their waiata Te Iho. Performed by Aja and Byllie-Jean Te Iho is a potent waiata praising the essence of powerful wāhine Māori.

Reuben Jelleyman was presented the 2022 SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha by Minister of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni. After two previous nominations, Reuben was selected this year’s winner for his orchestral work ‘Catalogue’, a “chaotic collision” written during his studies at CNSMDP in Paris. 

The APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa went to Dana Lund and Horomona Horo for their score on Whina, a retelling of the legacy of Dame Whina Cooper. 

Diggy Dupé, Jonathan Crayford, Joel Tashkoff (Choicevaughan), and Troy Kingi were presented the APRA Best Original Music in a Series award for The Panthers soundtrack. Their soundtrack to the recounting of the Polynesian Panthers and their work amidst the controversial Dawn Raids was also released as a standalone album featuring a trove of local hip hop/RnB artists. 

Also celebrated on the night were the late Ngoi Pēwhairangi and Tuini Ngāwai as they are inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa.