The 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Awards winners were announced in a celebration of Aotearoa songwriters and composers held on October 29, at Isaac Theatre Royal in Ōtautahi.

Sixteen years since the event was last staged in Christchurch, the peer-voted 2025 Silver Scroll Award itself fittingly went to a local hero, the trophy awarded to Lyttelton’s Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai) and co-writer KOMMI, aka Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Tahu, Te-Āti-Awa), for their waiata Aua Atu Rā.

Inspired by the 1960s Māori showbands, Aua Atu Rā is a lament upon isolation, blending mournful sentiment with a familiar guitar strum and loads of charm, and with an ‘oh well, never mind,’ shrug of the shoulders. As part of the Scroll Top 5 finalist performances Aua Atu Rā was performed by folk/country sister duo The Mitchell Twins.

Aua Atu Rā was the lead single from Marlon’s 2025 album ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’ which was written entirely in te reo Māori, with guidance from close friend and fellow artist KOMMI. The album was #1 on the Aotearoa Official Top 40 Album Charts for a total of 14 weeks. 

It was Marlon Williams’ fourth Silver Scroll nomination, and his second win after Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore took the gong in 2018. He becomes the ninth songwriter to win the award more than once – others including Ray Columbus, Dave Dobbyn, Shona Laing, Don McGlashan and Lorde.

In another hometown win for the Ōtautahi songwriting community, local duo Dillastrate were presented with the 2025 Maioha Award for Kei Whati Te Marama. Henare Kaa and Tim Driver, alongside co-writers Hemi Hoskins and Rory Noble, were presented the award for their uplifting drum’n’bass tribute to wāhine, Dillastrate describing it as celebrating their heritage, enduring bonds and the promise of hopeful futures.

Ōtepoti composer Ihlara McIndoe, who is now based in New York, was announced as winner of the SOUNZ Contemporary Award for her composition of coral and foam. 

A double finalist across the screen categories this year, Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper was awarded Best Original Music in a Series for NZ/Irish co-production The Gone Season 2, with Arli Liberman and Tiki Taane (pictured) presented the Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award for Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle Without End.

Renowned alt-country band The Warratahs were also welcomed into the NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa, recognised for their lasting impact on the songwriting community and for influencing a distinctly Kiwi style of country music. Watch their video tribute here.

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka

Aua Atu Rā written by Marlon Williams and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe (KOMMI), performed by Marlon Williams 

APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha

Kei Whati Te Marama written by Henare Kaa, Tim Driver, Hemi Hoskins and Rory Matao Noble, performed by Dillastrate

SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha

of coral and foam written by Ihlara McIndoe, with text by Katherine Mansfield

APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi

Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper for The Gone Season 2

APRA Best Original Music in a Film | Tohu Pūmanawa

Arli Liberman and Tiki Taane for Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle Without End 

NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa

The Warratahs