1. All groups will perform at a District Contest to be organised during June by a local organiser from Chamber Music New Zealand. Actual session times will be advised after entries have been received, but the period will be from 5 June to 17 June 2012.

2. The District Contest Adjudicators will select a winning group and can name up to four highly commended groups at each District Contest. The winning group will receive the Chamber Music New Zealand Prize.

3. An Adjudicators Award may be made to a group worthy of special mention. Special prizes may be given out at District Contests by local sponsors to groups chosen by the adjudicators.

4. A Statham Award for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Work will be presented in all districts where one or more New Zealand works are performed.

5. KBB Music Awards may be presented to groups containing wind, brass or percussion who are judged by the adjudicator to be striving for excellence in their playing.

6. At the conclusion of the District Contests, up to twelve groups will be selected by the District Contest Adjudicators to perform at the National Semi-Finals which will be held in Auckland on Friday 3 August 2012.

7. Following the Semi-Finals, up to six groups will be selected to perform at the National Final on Saturday 4 August 2012. Groups will be selected solely on merit, and there will be no obligation for groups to represent all or any particular areas in which a District Contest was held. Groups selected for the National Semi-Finals and Final must perform the same work, with the same personnel, as at their District Contests.

8. All groups will receive a written report from their District Contest Adjudicator, and each member will receive a certificate recognising their participation in the Contest. All groups participating at the National Semi-Finals and Final will receive a certificate recognising their participation and a written report from the National Final Adjudicators.