New Zealander Bret McKenzie has won an Oscar for his Man or Muppet song.

In his acceptance speech, McKenzie said "I grew up in New Zealand watching The Muppets on TV, never dreamed I’d get to work with them.

“I was genuinely star-struck when I finally met Kermit the Frog. But once you get to know him, he’s just a normal frog, and like many stars here tonight, he’s a lot shorter in real life.”

"Just a few jokes," he said to laughter from the Oscar audience.

McKenzie thanked his wife Hannah and their two children for their love and support, his friends and family at home and “especially my parents for never telling me to get a real job".

He also thanked those who worked with him on the film and song, the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and his original team for "creating the magical world of The Muppets."

"It's a true honour to work in the shadow of such legends."

McKenzie was the music director and composed a number of songs for The Muppets film. Man or Muppet, sung by actor Jason Segel, won best original song.

It won against the only other nominated song, Sergio Mendes' Real In Rio from the film Rio.

Earlier this year, McKenzie’s Life's a Happy Song won best song at the 2012 Critics' Choice Movie Awards, voted on by Broadcast Film Critics Association members. Man or Muppet was also nominated with competition from Elton John, Lady Gaga and Mary J Blige.

The 84th Academy Awards ceremony is on in Hollywood today.

The work of NZ-based Weta Digital is also recognised in the Oscar nominations with Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R Christopher White and Daniel Barrett nominated in the visual effects category for The Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

The Peter Jackson produced animation The Adventures of Tintin, which won a Golden Globe, was not nominated for an Oscar for animation - although composer John Williams has been nominated for best original score for Tintin.