2016 New Zealand Music Awards


The 2016 New Zealand Music Awards was the 51st holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. It took place in November 2016 at Vector Arena in Auckland and was hosted by comedy duo Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce. The awards show was broadcast live on TV3 and The Edge TV.
Nominations for the 2016 New Zealand Music Awards opened on 20 June 2016, and cover artists who have had commercial recordings released between 1 July 2015 and 31 July 2016. Nominations closed on 3 August 2016. The nominees were announced on 13 October, along with the 2016 Legacy Award recipient and the Critics' Choice Prize shortlist.

Early awards

While most of the awards were presented at the main awards ceremony held in November, five genre awards are presented earlier in the year at ceremonies of their field.
In addition, the artisan awards were presented on 20 October at a cocktail event at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. The Critics' Choice prize event and winner announcement will be held on 2 November at the Tuning Fork bar in Auckland.

Nominees and winners

New for 2016, the technical awards have been renamed the artisan awards, and the Best Electronica Album award is now named Best Electronic Album. Broods dominated the awards, picking up Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Group, Best Pop Album and the People's Choice Award. R&B singer Aaradhna won Best Urban/Hip Hop Album, but refused to accept the award as she felt a category that included both R&B and rap acts was putting the two genres together for racial reasons. She then informally presented the award to rap group SWIDT. Recorded Music NZ still lists Aaradhna as the winner of the category.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.
;Key
Album of the YearSingle of the Year
Sponsored by Godfrey Hirst

  • Broods – Conscious
  • *Aaradhna – Brown Girl
  • *Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays
  • *Hollie Smith – Water or Gold
  • *Tami Neilson – Don’t Be Afraid
  • *The Phoenix Foundation – Give Up Your Dreams
Sponsored by Vodafone
  • Broods - Free
  • *Aaradhna - Brown Girl
  • *Kings - Don't Worry Bout It
  • *Maala - Kind of Love
  • *Shapeshifter - Stars
  • *The Naked and Famous - Higher
    • Best GroupBreakthrough Artist of the Year
    Sponsor
  • Broods – Conscious
  • *Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays
  • *Sole Mio - On Another Note
  • *The Phoenix Foundation – Give Up Your Dreams
    		• Sponsor
  • Kings - Don't Worry Bout It
  • *Leisure – All Over You
  • *Nomad – Oh My My
  • *Sachi – Lunch with Bianca
    • Best Male Solo ArtistBest Female Solo Artist
    Sponsor
  • Maala – Composure
  • *Avalanche City – We are for the Wild Places
  • *Dave Dobbyn – Harmony House
  • *Lawrence Arabia – Absolute Truth
    		• Sponsor
  • Aaradhna - Brown Girl
  • *Hollie Smith – Water or Gold
  • *Ladyhawke – Wild Things
  • *Tami Neilson – Don’t Be Afraid
    • Best Rock AlbumBest Pop Album
    Sponsor
  • Villainy - Dead Sight
  • *Beastwars - The Death of All Things
  • *Jordan Luck Band - Not Only… But Also
    • Sponsored by The Edge
  • Broods – Conscious
  • *Avalanche City – We Are for the Wild Places
  • *Maala - Composure
    • Best Urban/Hip Hop AlbumBest Reggae/Roots Album
    Sponsor
  • Aaradhna – Brown Girl
  • *SWIDT – SmokeyGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY
  • *PNC – The Luke Vailima EP
    		• Sponsor
  • Unity Pacific – Blackbirder Dread
  • *Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays
  • *Rob Ruha – Pūmau
    • Best Alternative AlbumBest Māori Album
    Sponsor
  • Lawrence Arabia – Absolute Truth
  • *The Phoenix Foundation – Give Up Your Dreams
  • *Silicon – Personal Computer
    		• Sponsor
  • Rob Ruha – Pūmau
  • *Dennis Marsh – Maori Songbook 2
  • *Kirsten Te Rito – Āiotanga
    • Best Worship AlbumBest Classical Album
    Sponsor
  • Edge Kingsland - Edge Vol. 3: The Common Good
  • *Grace Vineyard Music - Seek You
  • *LIFE Worship - By My Spirit
    		• Sponsor
  • Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris – Fjärren: In the Distance
  • *Kenneth Young – Shadows and Light
  • *Zephyr – Zephyr
    • Best Electronic AlbumLegacy Award
    Sponsor
  • Pacific Heights – The Stillness
  • *Electric Wire Hustle – Aeons
  • *Opiuo – Omniversal
    • Sponsored by The New Zealand HeraldNo finalists are announced in this category.

    Announced 13 October 2016
    • Bic Runga
    People's Choice AwardCritics' Choice Prize
    Sponsored by Vodafone
  • Broods
  • *Fat Freddy's Drop
  • *Kings
  • *Maala
  • *Sole Mio
    • Sponsored by NZ on Air
    Presented 2 November 2016
    • Scuba Diva
    • *Kane Strang
    • *Spycc & INF
    Highest selling New Zealand SingleHighest selling New Zealand Album
    Sponsor
    No finalists are announced in this category.

    		Sponsor
    No finalists are announced in this category.

    Radio Airplay Record of the YearInternational Achievement Award
    Sponsored by NZ on Air
    No finalists are announced in this category.
    • Six60 - White Lines
    		Sponsor
    No finalists are announced in this category.

    Best Music VideoBest Album Cover‡
    Sponsored by NZ on Air
    Presented 20 October 2016
  • Chris Lane – Inside Out
  • *Sam Peacocke – Buried by the Burden
  • *Simon Oliver – Secret Lives of Furniture
    		• SponsorPresented 20 October 2016
    • Anns Taylor – Absolute Truth
    • *Henrietta Harris – I'll Forget 17
    • *Simon Faisandier – Road To You
    Best Engineer‡Best Producer‡
    SponsorPresented 20 October 2016
    • Joel Little – Conscious
    • *Miller & Phil Yule – Shoot Me in the Heart
    • *Samuel Flynn Scott & Lee Prebble –Harmony House
    Sponsored by Massey University
    Presented 20 October 2016
  • Joel Little – Conscious
  • *Devin Abrams – The Stillness'’
  • *Josh Fountain – Composure’
    • Best Folk AlbumBest Jazz Album
    Presented 7 February 2016
  • Holly Arrowsmith - For The Weary Traveller
  • *Nadia Reid - Listen to Formations, Look for the Signs
  • *Amiria Grenell - Autumn
    		• Presented 26 March 2016
  • Phil Broadhurst Quintet - Panacea
  • *Michael Houstoun and the Rodger Fox Big Band for Concerti
  • *Kevin Field - The A List
    • Best Country Music AlbumBest Pacific Music Album
    Presented 2 June 2016
  • The Warratahs - Runaway Days
  • *Eb & Sparrow - Sun/Son
  • *Jody Direen - Breaks Out
    		• Presented 9 June 2016
  • Te Vaka - Amataga
  • *Annie Grace - The Journey
  • *Sole Mio - On Another Note
    • Best Children's Music Album
    Presented 9 August 2016
  • Itty Bitty Beats - Lay Your Head Down
  • *Anna van Riel - Cooking up a Song
  • *Peter Weatherall - Lollipop Man