Marlon Williams Wins Silver Scroll Award in Hometown Celebration

Marlon Williams has been awarded the prestigious Silver Scroll Award for New Zealand’s top song of 2025, celebrating his victory in front of a supportive hometown audience in Christchurch. The award was presented on Wednesday night at the Isaac Theatre Royal, where Williams, alongside Lyttelton rapper Kommi, was recognized for their poignant song Aua Atu Rā. This collaboration is featured on Williams’ acclaimed album Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which dominated the Aotearoa Official Top 40 Album Chart for an impressive 14 weeks.

The Silver Scrolls ceremony marked a significant return to Christchurch, the first held in the city since the devastating Canterbury earthquakes. Attendees included fellow nominees from the Christchurch music scene, such as Dillistrate, Fazerdaze, and There’s a Tuesday. Williams reflected on the importance of the event, stating, “Silver Scrolls are big in terms of awards… this is a peer-nominated award so it’s my people.”

Williams recalled his first experience at the Silver Scrolls in 2009 when he was just 18 years old. He remembered the moment Lawrence Arabia won the award for his song “Apple Pie Bed.” “The city’s changed a lot since 2009,” Williams noted, adding, “a lot of people who I love aren’t here anymore that I would love to hang out and party with tonight.” He emphasized the emotional significance of the award returning to Christchurch.

The song Aua Atu Rā draws inspiration from 1960s Māori showbands and showcases the rich cultural fabric of New Zealand music. This win also marks Williams as the ninth songwriter to receive the Silver Scroll multiple times, joining the ranks of acclaimed artists like Ray Columbus, Dave Dobbyn, and Lorde.

Among the other nominees were local acts Amelia Murray, known as Fazerdaze, and the indie folk group There’s a Tuesday. Nat Hutton from There’s a Tuesday shared that their nominated song “Margo” reflects her experiences growing up queer in high school. “It feels like a bit of a dream to be standing beside them,” Hutton expressed.

Fazerdaze conveyed her feelings of honour being nominated alongside such talented artists, stating, “It’s so special… Just to have my song in the mix, I’m absolutely chuffed.”

The evening was hosted by TV and radio personality Stacey Morrison and local singer-songwriter Jed Parsons. The ceremony featured live performances, including a rendition of Aua Atu Rā by the folk/country duo The Mitchell Twins, as part of the traditional Silver Scroll Top 5 finalist performances. Musical director Delaney Davidson curated the night’s entertainment.

In another highlight, Christchurch duo Dillistrate received the Maioha Award for their uplifting love song “Kei Whati Te Marama.” The peer-voted award was presented to members Henare Kaa and Tim Driver, who expressed their gratitude for the recognition of their hard work.

The SOUNZ Contemporary Award was awarded to Ihlara McIndoe for her composition “Of Coral and Foam,” which she accepted via video message from New York. The work was reinterpreted at the Silver Scrolls by the Heather Webb Ensemble.

Double finalist Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper took home the award for Best Original Music in a Series for the NZ/Irish co-production “The Gone Season 2.” Meanwhile, Arli Liberman and Tiki Taane received the award for Best Original Music in a Feature Film for “Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle Without End.”

The event also saw the induction of the renowned alt-country band The Warratahs into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Their lasting impact on the songwriting community was acknowledged, with local artist Adam Hattaway performing their song “Keep On” as a tribute.

In remembrance of those in the musical community who have passed away in the past year, Kommi, his bandmate Tae Renee, and Delaney Davidson performed a heartfelt tribute. The night concluded with a performance by Marlon Williams and Davidson, who performed the Fat Freddy’s Drop song “Blackbird,” capping off an evening filled with celebration and musical excellence.