Music

2026 APRA Silver Scroll Awards celebrate Aotearoa songwriting as LEAO make history

Aotearoa music group LEAO have won the 2026 APRA Silver Scroll Award for LALELEI, becoming the first act to win the prestigious songwriting award with a song written entirely in Gagana Samoa.

The award was presented at the 61st annual APRA Silver Scroll Awards at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre last night, as APRA AMCOS New Zealand marked 100 years of representing Aotearoa songwriters and composers.

Written by David Feauai-Afaese, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, Levi Gemmell and Larsen Taylor, LALELEI earned the group their first Silver Scroll nomination before receiving the most votes from APRA members. The song is a dedication to family and homeland, exploring distance, longing and commitment to the fa’asamoa.

Five further awards were presented on the night, recognising songwriting, contemporary composition and music for screen.

Aro took home the APRA Maioha Award for Puna Ora, while Dylan Lardelli won the SOUNZ Contemporary Award for Light Lines. Rob Ruha received the inaugural Te Tihi o te Maunga Tito Kapa Haka Songwriting Award for Te Tapuni, performed by Te Taumata o Apanui (TOA).

Claire Cowan won the APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award for Bust Up, and Karl Sölve Steven received the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award for Pike River.

First presented in 1965, the APRA Silver Scroll Awards recognise excellence in songwriting and composition across Aotearoa.

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