One of the country's foremost reggae bands, Herbs, has been inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
The band has been producing distinct Pacific-style reggae and political hits for more than 30 years and was honoured on Thursday at the APRA Silver Scrolls awards at the Auckland Town Hall.
Founding member Dilworth Karaka said band members got together the night before the awards for the first time in some 20 years. "It was like yesterday, the magic, the spirit, the love - it was all there," he told the awards audience.
The awards are voted on by APRA's more than 8000 members and particularly recognise songwriting talent.
The big winner of the night was Stephanie Brown, who performs under the alias "Lips", for her song Everything to Me.
The keyboard player dedicated the award to her parents because, she said, "they've had to endure a lot of really bad songs."
Last year's Silver Scroll recipient Dave Baxter proved his work was worth the accolade. The songwriter scooped this year's award for most played song for his catchy hit Love Love Love, performed by Avalanche.
Other big winners last night included Te Awanui Reeder, David Atai and Scotty Morrison who won the Maioha Award for contemporary maori music with Matahiapo.
Alex Taylor picked up the Sounz Contemporary Award for best classical composition with his piece Inner, performed during the awards by Rhian Sheehan.
Listen to item on award ceremony