NZ Music Awards: NZ's stars gather to celebrate Kiwi music

Tiki Taane at the 2016 NZ Music Awards at Vector Arena. Photo / Doug Sherring

The New Zealand Music Awards are kicking off in Auckland with many of New Zealand's favourite artists vying for the coveted Tui awards.

Kiwi stars have been strutting their stuff on the red carpet at Auckland's Vector Arena ahead of the show which starts at 8.30 and will include performances from Shapeshifter, Tami Neilson, Aaradhna, Maala, Kings, Fat Freddy's Drop and 2016's NZ Herald Legacy Award recipient Bic Runga.

Bic Runga at the 2016 NZ Music Awards at Vector Arena. Photo / Doug Sherring

Bic Runga and Hollie Smith. Photo / Doug Sherring

Kapa haka at the NZ Music Awards

Posted by nzherald.co.nz on Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Missing something @JonoAndBen? #VNZMA #MusicAwards pic.twitter.com/iy7UYMrG4d

— NZMA (@NZMusicAwards) November 17, 2016

View this post on Instagram

@swidtmusic bout to run it all the way straight at the #VNZMA

A post shared by LIGHT SKIN TONGAN FINESSER (@spyccmusic) on Nov 16, 2016 at 7:26pm PST

You can keep up with all the action live from the red carpet on Facebook with NZ Herald and Spy.

We're also bringing you some behind-the-scenes action with Hunt for the Wilderpeople star Julian Dennison on our Instagram (@seenbyspy).

Aaradhna, Broods and Maala are leading the pack as far as nominations go.

Leading the nominations at this year's VNZMAs is brother/sister duo Broods (Caleb and Georgia Nott), with five nominations for their work on their latest album Conscious.

Close behind them with four nominations each is soul/R&B singer Aaradhna, Kiwi favourites Fat Freddy's Drop and relative newcomer Maala, plus the Phoenix Foundation is close behind with three nominations.

And Kiwi comedy duo Jono and Ben will co-host the awards this year, following Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi's polarising stint at last year's ceremony.

Comedy duo Jono and Ben will host the 2016 VNZMA music awards.

The full list of nominees is below, and we will update you with the full winner's list later tonight.

Album of The Year

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Broods, Conscious
Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Hollie Smith, Water Or Gold
Tami Neilson, Don't Be Afraid
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Single of the Year

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Broods, Free
Kings, Don't Worry Bout' It
MAALA, Kind Of Love
Shapeshifter, Stars
The Naked And Famous, Higher

Best Group

Broods, Conscious
Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Sol3 Mio, On Another Note
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Best Male Solo Artist

Avalanche City, We Are For The Wild Places
Dave Dobbyn, Harmony House
Lawrence Arabia, Absolute Truth
MAALA, Composure

Best Female Solo Artist

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Hollie Smith, Water Or Gold
Ladyhawke, Wild Things
Tami Neilson, Don't Be Afraid

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Kings, Don't Worry Bout' It
LEISURE, All Over You
nomad, Oh My My
Sachi, Lunch with Bianca

Best Rock Album

Beastwars, The Death of All Things
Jordan Luck Band, Not Only ... But Also
Villainy, Dead Sight

Best Pop Album

Avalanche City, We Are For The Wild Places
Broods, Conscious
MAALA, Composure

Best Alternative Album

Lawrence Arabia, Absolute Truth
Silicon, Personal Computer
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
PNC, The Luke Vailima EP
SmokeyGotBeatz, SmokeyGotBeatz Presents: SWIDT vs EVERYBODY

Best Roots Album

Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Rob Ruha, Pumau
Unity Pacific, Blackbirder Dread

Best Electronic Album

Electric Wire Hustle, Aeons
Opiuo, Omniversal
Pacific Heights, The Stillness

Best Maori Album

Dennis Marsh, Maori Songbook 2
Kirsten Te Rito, Aiotanga
Rob Ruha, Pumau

Best Worship Album

Edge Kingsland, Edge Kingsland Vol.3: The Common Good
Grace Vineyard Music, Seek You
LIFE Worship, By My Spirit

Best Classical Album

Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris, Fjarran
Kenneth Young, Shadows and Light
Zephyr, Zephyr

People's Choice Award

Broods
Fat Freddy's Drop
Kings
MAALA
Sol3 Mio

Critics' Choice Award

Kane Strang
Scuba Diva
Spycc & INF