Anna Coddington Wins 2024 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka

Much to the dismay of Tāmaki Makaurau-based music website editors, the 2024 APRA Silver Scroll Awards | Kaitito Kaiaka ceremony took place outside of the super city last night for the first time in since 2017 (barring two pandemic-era online presentations), rolling out the red carpet at Te Whanganui-a-Tara's St James Theatre. Anna Coddington won Aotearoa's most prestigious songwriting accolade the Silver Scroll for her bilingual Māori funk anthem 'Kātuarehe', while Jordyn with a Why received the APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha — recognising "the art of contemporary Māori music, honouring songwriters who are the telling stories of te ao Māori" — for 'He Rei Niho'.

Composer Karl Sölve Steven was the joint winner of two awards, the APRA Best Original Music In A Series Award | Tohu Paerangi for Black Coast Vanishings with Rob Thorne, and APRA Best Original Music In A Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa for Never Look Away with Jason Smith. The SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha winner was revealed to be Nathaniel Otley for the convergence of oceans (preceded by a standout speech by SOUNZ Chief Executive Hannah Darroch) and Aotearoa jazz fusion innovator, pianist and composer Mike Nock (ONZM) as the 2024 inductee for the NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa. Hit play on the accompanying mini-documentary tribute to his groundbreaking life in music below.

Presented by APRA AMCOS NZ, this year's ceremony was hosted by Bret McKenzie and Lisa Tomlins. Silver Scroll Music Director Ben Lemi curated a sonically adventurous programme reimagining works by finalists — including performances by AJA, Bazurka, Mā with band, Leo Coghini with jazz trio and Virtuoso Strings, Dick Move, Grayson Gilmour Ensemble, Dream Chambers, and LJ Crichton and ensemble. Highlights included Anthonie Tonnon's moving rendition of 'Submarine Bells' by The Chills, a musical memorial to those members of our community who have past over the last twelve months, and Dick Move's explosive punked-up version of 'The Letter' by Georgia Lines. The evening was closed out in style with Bret McKenzie and band's Oscar-winning '‘Man or Muppet’ — check out the full list of winners and tuck into RNZ Music's full livestream below...

APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka winner
Kātuarehe, written by Anna Coddington, Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith, Kawiti Waetford, performed by Anna Coddington

APRA Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha winner
He Rei Niho written by Jordyn Rapana, Ruth Smith, Dan Martin, and Kawiti Waetford, performed by Jordyn with a Why

SOUNZ Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha winner
the convergence of oceans by Nathaniel Otley, for orchestra

APRA Best Original Music In A Series Award | Tohu Paerangi winner
Karl Sölve Steven and Rob Thorne for Black Coast Vanishings

APRA Best Original Music In A Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa winner
Karl Sölve Steven and Jason Smith for Never Look Away

NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa inductee
Mike Nock (ONZM)