Bret McKenzie 'terrified' during Oscars

Bret McKenzie on the red carpet at the 84th Academy Awards. Photo / AP

Bret McKenzie plans to put his Oscar on top of his piano - although might use the award to get into a few bars first.

The New Zealander yesterday won the best original song at the Academy Awards for his song Man or Muppet, in The Muppets movie.

The Flight of the Conchord's told Radio New Zealand he was terrified during the award's show.

"When they did actually call my name I was strangely calm. But leading up to it, I haven't slept since I got nominated a month ago.

"I spent two days (working on the speech), practising in the shower. I knew that if I didn't prepare something I would be a total mess.

"It was really fun, it was a great night."

McKenzie said his two young children were "pretty impressed" with the Oscar statue.

"I've got a two-year-old and a one-year-old. The one-year-old, all he got to do was wear a tuxedo t-shirt, and the two-year-old, she now has some shoes she calls her Oscar shoes."

He said the Oscar will likely go on top of his piano.

"Maybe I'll take it around town for a while, [use it to] get into bars."

Much has been made about how the Oscar, alongside McKenzie's previous Grammy win, would open doors for the Kiwi.

"I'm not sure what it will mean for my career," McKenzie said. "I think I will be able to take meetings more easily in Hollywood.

"I haven't caught up with Jemaine yet. When we write some more songs coming up in the next couple of months, I'll be able to fall back on the Oscar if we have a disagreement over what chord to go to."

McKenzie joked the success has "gone to my head".

"It's going to be very difficult from now on."

McKenzie said he would be returning to Wellington this week to "chill out for a bit".

"What do I do next? I'll have to work on getting into the All Blacks," he joked.