The awards were hosted by Lisa Tomlins and Bret McKenzie at the St James Theatre in Wellington on Tuesday night.
Translated as "to be outstanding, marvellous", the single was co-written by Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith and Kawiti Waetford.
The track was born through Reo Māori Song Hubs, a camp for musicians to advance the use of te reo Māori, and is included on Coddington’s album Te Whakamiha.
"It’s a song that lifts spirits and confidence, and clearly resonated with the Aotearoa Apra membership who voted it to be the winning song."
The 43-year-old has been in the top 20 Silver Scroll shortlist four times since 2010, and was in the top five in 2013 for Bird In Hand.
Descending from Whāingaroa, Mulifanua Lalovi, Falelatai and Vaimoso, Jordyn Rapana won the Maioha Award for her waiata He Rei Niho.
Inspired by Lizzo and Bruno Mars, it is a celebration of tāera Māori, or "Māori style".
Composer Nathaniel Otley was awarded the Sounz Contemporary Award for his exploration of the movement of the waters surrounding Aotearoa in The convergence of oceans.
Otley created the piece as part of his 2023 composer in residence position with the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, which he felt suited the ocean theme.
Multi-award-winning composer Karl Solve Steven dominated the screen awards section, winning Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award and Best Original Music in a Series Award, alongside two collaborators.
His work with Rob Thorne on local true crime series Black Coast Vanishings — a true crime series delving into the disappearance of six people in the west coast community of Piha — won the music series award.
Steven’s compositions alongside Jason Smith on feature documentary Never Look Away were awarded the Best Music in a Feature Film award.
The film profiles New Zealand-born CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth, whose first assignment was to cover the riots that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination in India.
Steven has successfully won Apra Screen awards in 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2016, and was also a finalist for two other works this year.
Award winners
Apra Silver Scroll Award/Kaitito Kaiaka: Kātuarehe, written by Anna Coddington, Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith, Kawiti Waetford, performed by Anna Coddington.
Apra Maioha Award/Tohu Maioha: 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: The convergence of oceans, by Nathaniel Otley, for orchestra.
Apra Best Original Music In A Series Award/Tohu Paerangi: Karl Solve Steven and Rob Thorne for Black Coast Vanishings.
Apra Best Original Music In A Film Award/Tohu Pūmanawa: Karl Solve Steven and Jason Smith for Never Look Away.
Apra Best Jazz Composition Award: Lucien Johnson for Satellites.
NZ Music Hall of Fame/Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa inductee: Mike Nock (ONZM).
