Since the release of her first single Drive in 1996 – Bic Runga (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine) has been awarded almost every musical honour in New Zealand, including the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award. Bic has won the most Tui Awards (New Zealand Music Awards) by any individual, ever (twenty). She has won Best Female Vocalist four times and Best Producer three times. Bic’s debut album Drive was certified seven times platinum and featured the enormous hit Sway. The follow up in Beautiful Collision in 2002 was certified an incredible eleven times platinum and featured the hits Get Some Sleep, Something Good and Listening For The Weather.
Beautiful Collision was followed by an album recorded live with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. This album included beautiful orchestral versions of all her hits and a recording of the classic Jacque Brel song Ne Me Quitte Pas, which was an early indicator of Bic's next move to relocate to Paris. Paris life resulted in the more cinematic Birds album in 2005 which also won Album Of The Year and featured the hit Winning Arrow.
Her songs have featured in film soundtracks (American Pie), her records have been released around the world, and she has won loyal followings in Europe, Asia and North America.
In January 2006, Runga was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Zealand New Year's Honours List.
In 2016 she was the recipient of the Legacy award at the New Zealand music awards and inducted in to New Zealand Music hall of fame.