# 2010 New Zealand Music Awards

The 2010 New Zealand Music Awards was the 45th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical artists based in or originating from New Zealand. Finalists for the three technical awards were announced on 16 August 2010 with winners announced on 1 September, the date on which finalists for 16 'non-technical' categories were revealed. Five 'non-technical' awards were presented without a group of finalists being selected. The awards ceremony took place on 7 October 2010 at Vector Arena, Auckland. Hosted by television presenter Shannon Ryan and comedian Ben Hurley, the ceremony was broadcast on television channel C4. Various musicians, most of whom had been nominated for awards, performed songs on the awards night.
Gin Wigmore and Dane Rumble each received six nominations, while The Phoenix Foundation received eight nominations, including three in technical categories. Wigmore's album Holy Smoke won three of the categories in which it was nominated, including Album of the Year, as well as the award for the highest selling New Zealand album. New Zealand-born Australian Idol winner Stan Walker won the People's Choice Award, as well as three awards featuring no finalists. "Just a Little Bit" by Kids of 88 was awarded the title of Single of the Year. Shihad won the Legacy Award, and were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

## 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† |
| Sponsored by Vodafone Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke Anika Moa – Love in Motion Dane Rumble – The Experiment Shapeshifter – The System Is a Vampire The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo | Sponsored by Vodafone Kids of 88 – "Just a Little Bit" Dane Rumble – "Cruel" Gin Wigmore – "Oh My" J.Williams featuring Scribe – "You Got Me" The Phoenix Foundation – "Buffalo" |
| Best Group† | Breakthrough Artist of the Year† |
| Sponsored by Steinlager The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo Shapeshifter – The System Is a Vampire The Checks – Alice by the Moon | Sponsored by Pacific Blue Airlines Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke Artisan Guns – Autumn Dane Rumble – The Experiment |
| Best Male Solo Artist† | Best Female Solo Artist† |
| Sponsor Dane Rumble – The Experiment Connan Mockasin – Please Turn Me Into the Snat J.Williams – Young Love | Sponsored by Mazda Anika Moa – Love in Motion Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke Hollie Smith – Humour and the Misfortune of Others |
| Best Rock Album† | Best Pop Album† |
| Sponsored by PPNZ The Checks – Alice by the Moon Dimmer – Degrees of Existence The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo | Sponsor Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke Anika Moa – Love in Motion Dane Rumble – The Experiment |
| Best Urban / Hip Hop Album† | Best Aotearoa Roots Album† |
| Sponsor David Dallas – Something Awesome J.Williams – Young Love Young Sid – What Doesn't Kill Me... | Sponsored by Kiwi FM Opensouls – Standing In The Rain Fly My Pretties – A Story Hollie Smith – Humour and the Misfortune of Others |
| Best Music Video† | Best Electronica Album† |
| Sponsored by C4 Tim van Dammen – "Just a Little Bit" (Kids of 88) Nathan Hickey – "Buffalo" (The Phoenix Foundation) Sam Peacocke – "Sleepeater" (Shihad) | Sponsor Jay Bulletproof – Soundtrack To Forever P-Money – Everything Shapeshifter – The System Is a Vampire |
| Best Gospel / Christian Album† | Best Classical Album† |
| Edwin Derricutt – Three Hours South John Michaelz – Walk on Water Magnify – Wonderland | Simon O'Neill – Father & Son: Wagner Scenes & Arias John Psathas – UKIYO NZTrio – Flourishes Strike Percussion – Sketches |
| Peoples' Choice Award† | Critics' Choice Prize† |
| Sponsored by Vodafone Stan Walker Gin Wigmore Dane Rumble Kids of 88 Shapeshifter | Sponsored by Gravity Coffee Street Chant The Naked and Famous Home Brew |
| Highest selling New Zealand Single† | Highest selling New Zealand Album† |
| No finalists were announced in this category. Stan Walker – "Black Box" At the time of the awards, "Black Box" had been certified double platinum, denoting over 30,000 sales. | No finalists were announced in this category. Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke At the time of the awards, Holy Smoke had been certified triple platinum, denoting over 45,000 shipments. |
| Radio Airplay Record of the Year† | International Achievement Award† |
| No finalists were announced in this category. Sponsored by New Zealand On Air Stan Walker – "Black Box" | No finalists were announced in this category. Stan Walker |
| Legacy Award† | Best Album Cover‡ |
| No finalists were announced in this category. Sponsored by The New Zealand Herald Shihad | Paul Johnson – Buffalo (The Phoenix Foundation) Rebekah Atkins, Kieran Rynhart, Mikee Tucker and Anita Liu – A Story (Fly My Pretties) Ryan Marx – Everything (P-Money) |
| Best Engineer‡ | Best Producer‡ |
| Sponsored by the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ) Lee Prebble – Buffalo (The Phoenix Foundation) Andre Upston – Magnetic (Miriam Clancy) Lee Prebble – A Story (Fly My Pretties) | Sponsored by the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ) The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo (The Phoenix Foundation) Jeremy Toy – Standing In The Rain (Opensouls) Lee Prebble and Barnaby Weir – A Story (Fly My Pretties) |

## Presenters and performers
### Presenters

Presenters of awards at the ceremony:
* Irish Boyzone singer Ronan Keating and New Zealand pop musician Brooke Fraser presented the awards for Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
* Actress Rose McIver and musician Liam Finn presented the awards for Best Group, Best Male Solo Artist and Best Female Solo Artist.
* Actress Robyn Malcolm and songwriter Don McGlashan presented the awards for Best Pop Album, Best Rock Album and Breakthrough Artist of The Year.
* Newsreader Sam Hayes and footballers Winston Reid and Tim Brown presented the awards for Best Urban / Hip Hop Album, Best Aotearoa Roots Album and Best Electronica Album.
* Entertainment reporter Kate Rodger presented the award for Best Music Video.
* Film and television producer Dave Gisbon presented the awards for Gospel / Christian Album and Best Classical Album.
* Rugby league players Lance Hohaia and Micheal Luck and the Vodafone 'Voice of the People' winner presented the People's Choice Award.

### Performers

Performers at the ceremony:
* Dane Rumble, Stan Walker and J.Williams sang an 'Illegal mashup', a medley which included parts of "Choose You", "You Got Me", "Black Box", "Everything (Take Me Down)" and "Takes Me Higher".
* Pop singer Anika Moa sang "Running Through the Fire (Storm)", the lead single from her album, accompanied by Julia Deans.
* David Dallas performed his song "Til Tomorrow".
* "Buffalo" was given by indie rock band The Phoenix Foundation.
* Pop duo Kids of 88 played their award-winning single "Just a Little Bit".
* Gin Wigmore gave her number, "Oh My".
* 'Luger Boa and friends' sang a Shihad tribute.