Music

New Zealand music dates back to the nation’s earliest settlement by the Maori people whose musical instruments were wind instruments made of wood or bone.

In recent years New Zealand artists have increasingly mixed popular international styles with Maori and Pacific Island influences. This created music which is uniquely New Zealand in style.

New Zealand also has a strong tradition of producing Kiwi rock bands; Split Enz and Crowded House, both formed by the talented Finn Brothers, are perhaps the most famous examples. Scribe, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Bic Runga and New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords are internationally lauded, while songstress Hayley Westenra has made it big in New Zealand classical music. Kiri Te Kanawa is an internationally famous NZ opera singer who has mentored young New Zealanders such as baritone Jonathan Lemalu to international success. New Zealander Stan Walker won Australian Idol in 2009 and has since produced many top hits and two highly successful albums. Brooke Fraser’s catchy song There’s Something in the Water hit the charts worldwide in August, and almost every rugby game is interspersed with snippets of The Exponent’s Why Does Love Do This to Me?

Watching a New Zealand live band perform or picking up a few Kiwi CDs is a great way for visitors to sample a slice of New Zealand culture. To find out about NZ live gigs click here. And if you would like to shop for New Zealand songs, the list below is a great starting point.

Classic Kiwi Songs

Six Months in a Leaky Boat & I See Red by Split Enz
Nature by Fourmyula
Loyal by Dave Dobbyn
Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn and Herbs
April Sun in Cuba by Dragon
Not Given Lightly by Chris Knox
Why Does Love Do This to Me? & Victoria by The Exponents
Weather with You & Don’t Dream it’s Over by Crowded House
Dominion Road by Mutton Birds
Poi E by Patea Maori Club
Sway by Bic Runga
Venus by The Feelers
Chains by DLT featuring Che Fu
Can’t Get Enough by Supergroove
How Bizarre by OMC
Home Again by Shihad
Not Many by Scribe
Cool Me Down by The Black Seeds
One Day by Opshop
Wandering Eye by Fat Freddy’s Drop
Brother by Smashproof featuring Gin Wigmore
Black Box & Choose You by Stan Walker