Maori singer and songwriter, Maisey Rika, has been recognised at the Silver Scroll awards, which celebrate the nation's best songwriting.
Her song Ruaimoko took out the 2013 Australasian Performing Right Association's Maioha award at a ceremony in Auckland on Tuesday night.
The award recognises excellence in contemporary Maori music and acknowledges songs written in or strongly featuring te reo Maori.
Maisey Rika says her song explains the story of Ruaimoko, the god of earthquakes, and is a tribute to the people affected by the recent earthquakes in Canterbury.
Ms Rika says the song is also about a new life, new beginning and looking towards the future.
She says even though not everyone will understand the lyrics she hopes the message will get across through the music.
