Independent Music NZ have announced that the IMNZ Classic Record recipients for 2026 are The Mint Chicks, brothers Kody and Ruban Nielson, drummer Paul Roper and bassist Michael Logie, with their influential 2006 album ‘Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!’

Honouring the gold nuggets of NZ’s musical history, the IMNZ Classic Record award recognises albums released at least 20 years ago on an independent label that have had a lasting impact on Aotearoa’s sound. Winners are selected by a panel of music journalists, radio staff, and industry experts. The award will presented at the Taite Music Prize ceremony in Auckland on April 29.

The Mint Chicks forged a reputation for chaotic energy, inventive songwriting, and unforgettable live shows. The Auckland band became renowned for their punk‑infused, unpredictable sound and DIY ethos. Their album artwork, often designed by Ruban Nielson, became nearly as recognisable as their music, mirroring the band’s off-kilter creativity and cementing their place as one of the most aesthetically and sonically singular acts of their era.

Released in 2006 on Flying Nun Records and produced by Kody, Ruban, and their father Chris Nielson, ‘Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!’ was the band’s second full-length album. It achieved Gold status and earned five Vodafone NZ Music Awards in 2007. Its jagged rhythms, audacious melodies, and uncompromising style have cemented its place as a classic of NZ music, inspiring a generation of artists and continues to resonate across the country’s independent music scene.

Also announced, the 2026 finalists for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut are:
Babe Martin – ‘Not a Bee, but a Wasp’ 
Bub – ‘Can’t Even’ 
Geneva AM – ‘PIKIPIKI’ 

And finalists for the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism award, honouring journalists, bloggers, or editors who have made real impact on Aotearoa’s music scene through their music coverage;

Chris Cudby – undertheradar.co.nz
Flynn Robson, Rosa Neviso & Sam Elliott – Newzician magazine
Hunter Keane – Long Player, 95bFM