The New Zealand Fringe Festival capped off the one of the biggest festivals in its 19-year history by naming Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement as the inaugural members of the New Zealand Fringe Festival Hall of Fame.

The naming of the duo was the highlight of the annual Fringe Awards, which named the best, brightest and most bizarre of Fringe 09 across 15 categories at Wellington's Paramount Theatre on March 1.

The winner of top award, Best of Fringe, was Two Day Plays, a month long competition that challenged 18 teams to create the best 10 minute play they can in a weekend.

Other significant winners included Improv: The Secondary School Musical for Best Comedy, Footnote Dance's Perforum for Best Dance, Frogs Under the Waterfront for Best Outdoor, and Fleur Wickes' This is Where I Live for Best Visual Arts. The Intricate Art of Actually Caring won Best Theatre, while Australian multi-instrumentalist Adam Page won two awards, for Best Music and Best 'One Man Band' / Solo Show.

"The Fringe Hall of Fame recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the New Zealand Fringe Festival over the years and Bret and Jemaine are shining examples of such individuals who have used Fringe as a platform to create diverse, brave and gob-smacking work." said Fringe Arts Trust director Mark Westerby.

Additionally, three productions were awarded the Pick of the Fringe, a successful initiative developed in the 2008 festival where Downstage Theatre and Fringe selected three gems amongst the delicious, different and downright deviant theatre shows for a return season at Downstage April 29 to May 7. Winners also receive development mentoring to help their shows conquer New Zealand's and the world's stages.

The winner of the Two Day Plays competition was Squash from the HalfWITs, which included members of the Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT).