Lorde to perform at local music awards

Lorde joined fellow musicians at Vector Arena yesterday for a sound check before tonight's awards ceremony. Picture / Greg Bowker

A live performance by Lorde is set to be one of the highlights at tonight's Vodafone New Zealand Music awards ceremony.

The 17-year-old singer, whose hit single

Royals

has topped the United States charts for the past seven weeks, will be the big drawcard at the 48th annual awards show at Auckland's Vector Arena.

As well as performing, Lorde is nominated for three awards, otherwise known as "Tuis" - single of the year, for

Royals

, breakthrough artist of the year, and the people's choice award. But despite her huge success overseas, the Aucklander is not the leading contender back home.

X Factor

mentor Stan Walker, who will perform live and is also up for two awards, will co-host the ceremony with television presenter Shannon Ryan.

There will also be a special tribute to NZ Herald Legacy Award recipient Shona Laing.

Last year's awards were dominated by Six60 with six awards, and Kimbra with five awards.