# 2012 New Zealand Music Awards

The 2012 New Zealand Music Awards was the 47th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. Finalists for the three technical awards were announced on 3 October 2012, the date on which finalists for 16 'non-technical' categories were also revealed.
The Critics Choice prize was announced on Wednesday 17 October, at the Kings Arms Tavern in Auckland. It was won by Watercolours (Chelsea Jade Metcalf).
The awards ceremony took place on 1 November 2012 at Vector Arena, Auckland. The ceremony was again hosted by television presenter Shannon Ryan and comedian Ben Boyce and was broadcast live on television channel Four.
The awards were dominated by Six60 with six awards, and Kimbra with five awards .

## Nominees and winners

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

### Key

    † – Non-technical award
    ‡ – Technical award
| Album of the Year† | Single of the Year† |
| Sponsor Kimbra – Vows Home Brew – Home Brew Opossom – Electric Hawaii Six60 – Six60 The Adults – The Adults | Sponsored by Vodafone Six60 – "Don't Forget Your Roots" Annah Mac – "Girl in Stilettos" Gin Wigmore – "Black Sheep" Kimbra – "Warrior" The Adults – "Nothing To Lose" |
| Best Group† | Breakthrough Artist of the Year† |
| Sponsored by Four Six60 – Six60 Home Brew – Home Brew Opossom – Electric Hawaii | Sponsored by Westpac Hotpoints Kimbra – Vows Annah Mac – Little Stranger Home Brew – Home Brew |
| Best Male Solo Artist† | Best Female Solo Artist† |
| Sponsor Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra Bulletproof – Dub Me Crazy Seth Haapu – Seth Haapu | Sponsor Kimbra – Vows Gin Wigmore – Gravel & Wine Ladyhawke – Anxiety |
| Best Rock Album† | Best Pop Album† |
| Sponsored by Rockshop The Checks – Deadly Summer Sway Clap Clap riot – Counting Spins Head Like a Hole – Blood Will Out | Sponsored by The Edge Kimbra – Vows Bic Runga – Belle Gin Wigmore – Gravel & Wine |
| Best Urban / Hip Hop Album† | Best Roots Album† |
| Sponsor Home Brew – Home Brew Adeaze – Rise & Shine Savage – Mayhem & Miracles | Sponsor The Black Seeds – Dust and Dirt Hollie Smith – Band of Brothers Vol.1 (Hollie Smith & Mara TK) Tomorrow People – ONE |
| Best Alternative Album† | Best Māori Album† |
| Sponsor Opossom – Electric Hawaii Ladyhawke – Anxiety Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Sponsor Ria Hall – Ria Hall Upper Hutt Posse – Declaration of Resistance Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns – Te More |
| Best Music Video† | Best Electronica Album† |
| Sponsored by NZ On Air Special Problems – "The Sun" (The Naked and Famous) Special Problems – "Take a Picture" (David Dallas) Special Problems – "My Calculator" (Zowie) | Sponsor Concord Dawn – Air Chrysalis Bulletproof – Dub Me Crazy Six60 – Six60 |
| Best Gospel / Christian Album† | Best Classical Album† |
| Sponsor Parachute Band – Matins:Vespers Rapture Ruckus – Open Your Eyes The Ember Days – Emergency | Sponsored by KBB Music Christopher Blake – Angel at Ahipara Anthony Ritchie and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – A Bugle Will Do Eve de Castro-Robinson – Releasing the Angel |
| Peoples' Choice Award† | Critics' Choice Prize† |
| Sponsored by Vodafone Six60 Gin Wigmore Kimbra Home Brew Stan Walker | Sponsor Watercolours Beach Pigs Loui the ZU |
| Highest selling New Zealand Single† | Highest selling New Zealand Album† |
| Sponsored by Vodafone No finalists were announced in this category. Six60 – "Don't Forget Your Roots" | No finalists were announced in this category. Six60 – Six60 |
| Radio Airplay Record of the Year† | International Achievement Award† |
| Sponsored by NZ On Air No finalists were announced in this category. Six60 – "Don't Forget Your Roots" | No finalists were announced in this category. The Naked and Famous Kimbra |
| Legacy Award† | Best Album Cover‡ |
| Sponsored by New Zealand Herald No finalists were announced in this category. Toy Love | Angela Keoghan for Dearly Departed (Bannerman) |
| Best Engineer‡ | Best Producer‡ |
| Sponsored by MAINZ Neil Baldock for Me & Moon (Lydia Cole) | Sponsored by MAINZ Kody Nielson for Belle (Bic Runga) |

## Presenters and performers
### Performers

* Gin Wigmore performed "Man Like That"
* Annah Mac sang "Girl in Stilettos"
* Homebrew performed "Benefit"
* Members from Street Chant, Rackets and Tiny Ruins performed a tribute to Legacy Award winner Toy Love.