The winner of the 2013 APRA Silver Scroll Award is ‘Royals', written by the prolifically talented Ella Yelich-O'Connor and her collaborator Joel Little (EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd), performed by Lorde.

"Ella and Joel have created a song that has quite rightfully taken the world by storm. It is testament to the quality of song that it should gain such widespread support, but also be chosen as the best song of the past year by their songwriter peers" says Anthony Healy, Director of NZ Operations, APRA

The award comes in the wake of Royals reaching number one on the Billboard charts in the US, and Lorde's debut album Pure Heroine garnering critical and commercial acclaim across the globe.

The prestigious APRA Silver Scroll award has recognised songwriting excellence since 1965, paying tribute to the best song of the previous year, as voted for by APRA's 10,000+ membership of songwriters and composers.

Alongside the APRA Silver Scroll Award, the following awards were also presented on the night:

APRA Maioha Award - celebrating contemporary Maori music, won by Maisey Rika (Mushroom Music NZ Ltd), Te Kahautu Maxwell and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (Native Tongue Music Publishing) for ‘Ruaimoko'.

SOUNZ Contemporary Award - recognising creative excellence by a contemporary composer, won by Karlo Margetic for ‘Lightbox'

Most Performed New Zealand Work in New Zealand: ‘Something in the Water' written by Brooke Fraser andScott Ligertwood, performed by Brooke Fraser (Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Most Performed New Zealand Work Overseas: ‘Something in the Water' written by Brooke Fraser and Scott Ligertwood, performed by Brooke Fraser (Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

The night also saw Dave Dobbyn inducted into the prestigious New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.