The 43rd Vodafone NZ Music Awards 2008 went off with a BANG! last night as the industry shed light on the best in the business. And with Dai Henwood at the helm taking on MC duties for the evening we knew it was gonna go off like a cat in a sack!

Opening the showcase of NZ's finest was Best Aotearoa Roots Album winner and clear crowd favourite Tiki Taane, nominated for a massive 8 awards. With a highly visual and emotional Maori song off his album 'Past, Present, Future' called 'Tangaroa', the performance utilised  traditional Maori dancers in the background and some powerful sounds; this was the perfect opening to what was to be a fantastic night.

For the first time in its 43 year history, the awards were made big enough to be housed in Auckland's Vodafone Arena, allowing for fans as well as industry VIP's to attend. The bottom floor made way for tables and the higher surrounding seating were filled with fans who grabbed the chance to see the likes of Scribe, Anika Moa, Shihad and Koru live.

The only downer to the evening was the fact that it was somehow cheapened by the fact that many of the award winners were not even there to accept their award. Most notibly The Flight of the Concord boys, who ended up with 4 out of 4 awards, and Op Shop frontman Jason Kerrison (Op Shop winning the tri-fecta - highest selling album and single, and NZ On Air Radio airplay album of the year). But even winner of Best Classical Album, Best Gospel/Christian Album, Best Maori Album and C4 Best Music Video winners couldn't be there. At least the Concord Boys sent entertaining 1 minute videos for us to watch in their place.

International Achievement Awards were presented to Savage and Flight of the Conchords. 
avage’s single Swing has been a huge hit on the US Singles chart with sales topping half a million and the track has been remixed by international hip-hop superstar Soulja Boy. Meanwhile, Flight of the Conchords’ debut album and popular HBO show has seen the comedy duo receive a Grammy, the highest ever place for a New Zealand artist album on the US Album chart (#3) and numerous Emmy nominations.

1980s Alternative/Indie Rock band Straitjacket Fits were given the NZ Herald Legacy Award, in honour of their outstanding impact on NZ music. Only the second ever winner of the award, Straightjacket Fits will be inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. After a tribute to the band by 4 prominent women in NZ music that call themselves 'The Fast Woman', it was time to wrap things up and get the after party going.

Edited highlights of the 2008 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards screen on TV3 on Saturday at 10.30pm.

For more about the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards go to www.vnzma.co.nz

WINNERS FOR THE VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARDS 2008

Nokia Album of the Year
Winner:             Flight Of The Conchords for Flight Of The Conchords

Finalists:           Anika Moa - In Swings the Tide
Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning
cribe - Rhymebook
Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future

Vodafone Single of the Year
Winner:             Opshop - One Day
Finalists:           Liam Finn - Gather To The Chapel
hihad - One Will Hear The Other
The Phoenix Foundation - Bright Grey
Tiki Taane - Always On My Mind

Steinlager Pure Best Group
Winner:             Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords

Finalists:           Shihad - Beautiful Machine
The Phoenix Foundation - Happy Ending

Vodafone People’s Choice Award
Winner:             Parachute Band
Finalists:           Antiform
Horsemen Family
Nesian Mystik
The DFenders

Best Male Solo Artist
Winner:             Liam Finn - I'll be Lightning
Finalists:           SJD - Songs From A Dictaphone
Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future

Mazda Best Female Solo Artist
Winner:             Anika Moa - In Swings The Tide
Finalists:           Aaradhna - Sweet Soul Music
Annabel Fay - Annabel Fay

Kiwi FM Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Winner:             Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords

Finalists:           Cut Off Your Hands - Blue On Blue
Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future

C4 Best Music Video
Winner:             Ian Hart - Her Hairagami Set (The Brunettes)
Finalists            Carey Carter - Tangaroa (Tiki Taane)

Joe Lonie - Gather To The Chapel (Liam Finn)

PPNZ Best Rock Album
Winner:             Shihad - Beautiful Machine
Finalists:           Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning
The Phoenix Foundation - Happy Ending

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
Winner:             Scribe - Rhymebook
Finalists:           Mareko - White Sunday 2:The Book Of Mark

Young Sid - The Truth

Best Aotearoa Roots Album
Winner:             Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future
Finalists:           Katchafire - Say What You’re Thinking
Kora - Kora

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Winner:             Recloose - Perfect Timing
Finalists:           Magik Johnson - You Are Sound
hapeshifter – Live

Best Maori Album
Winner:             Ruia - 12:24 Tekau Ma Rua, Rua Tekau Ma Wha
Finalists:           Moana & the Tribe - Wha
Tiki Taane - Past, Present, Future

Best Gospel/Christian Album
Winner:             All Left Out - The Conquest
Finalists:           Parachute Band - Roadmaps and Revelations

The Ember Days - Your Eyes Light Up

Best Classical Album
Winner:             Michael Houstoun - Inland
Finalists:           Gillian Whitehead - Puhake ki te rangi
NZTrio - Bright Tide Moving Between

Awards where no finalists are announced:

The New Zealand Herald Legacy Award
Winner:             Straitjacket Fits

International Achievement Award
Winner:             Flight of the Conchords

                        Savage

Highest Selling NZ Single
Winner:             Opshop – One Day

Highest Selling NZ Album
Winner:             Opshop – Second Hand Planet

NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year
Winner:             Opshop – Maybe

Technical awards already presented:

Best Album Cover to Barny Bewick for Keep Me On Your Side (Goodnight Nurse)
Best Engineer to Lee Prebble for Happy Ending (The Phoenix Foundation)
Best Producer to Lee Prebble for Happy Ending (The Phoenix Foundation)

Tags: Anika Moa, Flight of the Concords, Op Shop, Savage, Scribe, Tiki Taane, Vodafone NZ Music Awards