Just like overseas, the NZ Music Awards start off with a red carpet full of musicians, hangers on and - worse - media.

She may have been the red hot favourite to win at the New Zealand Music Awards last night but Kiwi songbird Kimbra didn't get it all her own way.

Hot off the red carpet, we're bringing you the best shots from the New Zealand Music Awards at Vector Arena in Auckland.

nzherald.co.nz was backstage at the 2012 VNZMA's. Multi award winner Kimbra, Annah Mac & The New Zealand Herald Legacy award recipients were just some of the stars Hugh Sundae, Entertainment Editor spoke to.

The short, sharp, but influential creative burst that Toy Love brought to Kiwi rock at the beginning of the 80s is being celebrated tonight with the band being this year's recipient of The NZ Herald Legacy Award at the VNZMA.

One day before receiving their NZ Herald Legacy Award - and just moments after some of them had met for the first time in over 20 years - Toy Love members Mike Dooley, Jane Walker and Alec Bathgate sat down with Hugh Sundae to reflect on their short but sharp existence.

In a packed media room the day before the Music Awards, Home Brew's Tom Scott, Lui Silk and Haz Beats found time to provide Hugh Sundae with some serious awards analysis.

Ahead of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, finalist and performer Annah Mac spoke to Hugh Sundae at Auckland's Pullman Hotel about Southland's music scene, her APRA Silver Scroll nomination and what she has planned for her Music Awards performance.

Ahead of the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, Kimbra spoke to Hugh Sundae at Auckland's Pullman Hotel about her nominations, her career to date - and her vocal coach.

Watch the brand new video for Toy Love's Swimming Pool, directed by Jeff Smith.

Watch Zowie's video for My Calculator, from her album Love Demolition.

One of three finalists for Best Video, all made be creative duo Special Problems.

Watch David Dallas' video for Take A Picture, from his album The Rose Tint.

One of three finalists for Best Video, all made be creative duo Special Problems.

Watch The Naked And Famous' video for The Sun, from their album Passive Me Aggressive You.

One of three finalists for Best Video, all made be creative duo Special Problems.

Watch Squeeze, from Toy Love, recipients of the 2012 New Zealand Herald Legacy Award, and inductees into the New Zealand Music Hall Of Fame.

Kimbra, Home Brew and Six60 lead the field in this year's Tui awards.

Check out some of the Kiwi artists nominated for awards at this year's New Zealand Music Awards.

I was keen to find out who won what at the New Zealand Music Awards - and while the winners were predictably predictable, what an amusing circus the fringe goings-on turned out to be.

There were two major winners but it was still a five-all draw at the New Zealand Music Awards.....

Join music staff from TimeOut, Volume and nzherald.co.nz for full coverage on the 2011 New Zealand Music awards, live (blogging) from Vector Arena.

As his band is honoured tonight with the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award, Dragon founding member Todd Hunter talks to Scott Kara about the band's life and times.

There's always something slightly odd about music awards ceremonies. I struggle to see how definitive winners can be decided. Picking favourites is fraught with endless difficulty, and tonight's New Zealand Music Awards are no exception.