Bic Runga to receive Tui Legacy honour, VNZMA finalists announced

Bic Runga (Getty)
Bic Runga (Getty)

Bic Runga will be honoured with the prestigious Legacy accolade at the 2016 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards (VNZMA), while brother and sister duo Broods lead the nominees.

Since releasing her debut album in 1997, Runga has received more Tuis than any other solo artist ever, has won a Silver Scroll award and was honoured with the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.

She's very proud of adding the Legacy Award to her collection, especially as she has no plans on retiring any time soon.

"It was a real surprise. I like to think that I'm mid-career, rather than at the end of my career, so it's a pretty nice thing to get relatively early," says Runga.

"It's a nice award to help you take stock of what you've done. [Previous winners] like Supergroove and the Exponents, they're guys I've known and worked with so it's pretty cool to be a part of that with them."

She says the honour gave her a burst of confidence and inspired her to finish her new album, Close Your Eyes, which will be released on November 18.

Runga will be singing at the awards ceremony and is assembling an impressive line-up to ensure it's a memorable performance.

"I'm working with my sister [Boh], Hollie Fullbrook of Tiny Ruins and my partner [Kody Nielson] who was in the Mint Chicks and one of his old bandmates," she says.

"It's fun doing that, to remember what it's about. It's all about the music. So to practice with those guys and practice with people you like working with, it's settling and calming, rather than doing the red carpet prep and dressing up."

In the main 2016 VNZMA awards pool, Broods has five nominations, Aaradhna, Fat Freddy's Drop and MAALA have four each and The Phoenix Foundation has three.

Runga's award will be given to her as the other winners are announced during the 51st VNZMA ceremony, which will take place at Vector Arena on November 17 with a live broadcast on TV3 from 8:30pm and stream on TV3.co.nz.

The full list of main 2016 VNZMA nominations is below:

Album of the Year Aaradhna - Brown GirlBroods - 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' The Naked and Famous - 'Higher' Shapeshifter - 'Stars'

Best Group Broods Fat Freddy's Drop The Phoenix Foundation Sol3Mio

Best Male Solo Artist Avalanche City Dave Dobbyn Lawrence Arabia MAALA

Best Female Solo Artist Aaradhna Hollie Smith Ladyhawke Tami Neilson

Breakthrough Artist of the Year KINGS Leisure nomad SACHI

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 PlacesBroods - Conscious MAALA - Kind of Love

Best Alternative Album Lawrence Arabia - Absolute Truth The Phoenix Foundation - Give Up Your Dreams Silicon - Personal Computer

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album Aaradhna - Brown Girl PNC - The Luke Vailima EP SWIDT - SmokeyGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY

Best Roots Album Fat Freddy's Drop - BAYS Rob Ruha - Pūmau 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 - Āiotanga Rob Ruha - Pūmau

Best Worship Album Edge Kingsland - Edge 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

Newshub.