The Composers Association of New Zealand (CANZ), established in 1974, after an initial meeting of composers was organised by David Farquhar. Farquhar was the association's first president. It is a body that lobbies for the interests of New Zealand composers. Through its affiliations with the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) and the Asian Composers League, CANZ provides its members with opportunities to participate in international music festivals as well as other opportunities. The organisation's flagship event is the annual CANZ Nelson Composers Workshop, a four-day gathering of New Zealand's emerging composers. CANZ members receive the yearbook, Canzona, and the bi-monthly newsletter, Canzonetta. Composer and scholar Glenda Keam was President of CANZ from 2007 to 2017. The association presents two prizes annually: the KBB Citation for Services to New Zealand Music and the CANZ Trust Fund Award which recognises current compositional achievement.

Award recipients

KBB Citation for Services to New Zealand Music Composers Association New Zealand Trust Fund award