Music of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The music of New Zealand is the expression of the culture of New Zealand
. New Zealand
's music is influenced by the culture of the indigenous Māori
and immigrants from the Pacific region, though its musical origins lie predominantly in British
colonial history, with contributions from Europe
and America
. As the nation grew and established its own culture, local artists combined these styles with local influences to create music that is distinctively New Zealand.
The most popular styles of the late 20th century were rock
and hip hop
, both genres garnished with New Zealand's unique Pacific influences. By the 21st century, roots
, reggae
, dub
and electronica
were all popular with local artists. New Zealand has maintained an alternative
scene for several decades and has a rapidly growing Heavy Metal
scene.
Māori have also developed a popular music scene, and incorporated reggae, rock and roll
and other influences: New Zealand reggae
bands like Herbs
, Katchafire
and Fat Freddy's Drop
are highly popular. The 1990s saw the rise of hip hop groups like Moana & the Moahunters and the Upper Hutt Posse
, primarily based out of South Auckland
(see below).
In the traditional styles, New Zealand's geographic isolation and cultural milieu perhaps contributed to the slow growth of formal traditions based on European classical music, however these styles have also gained broad recognition. In 1975, the Composers Association of New Zealand
was established, creating a more defined structure and network to the development of classical composition in New Zealand.
originating in New Zealand or music most popular among mainstream New Zealand teenage audiences. New Zealand's first pop song was "Blue Smoke", written in the 1940s by Ruru Karatiana. Pixie Williams sung the song in 1949 and although it went triple platinum in New Zealand, the award for selling 50,000 copies of the song was only presented to Pixie Williams on the 13th of July, 2011.
The arrival of television in New Zealand during the 1960s helped connect New Zealand to global pop culture. It also lead to the rise of Sandy Edmonds, one of New Zealand's first popstars.
One of New Zealand's most successful pop songs is 'How Bizarre' by OMC
. It sold between three and four million records worldwide during 1995 and 2000, making it the biggest-selling New Zealand record of all time to date.
In 2011, New Zealand pop is mainly dominated with electropop (like Zowie, Ruby Frost
, Kids of 88
) and hip-hop
artists (like Ladi6
, Ria
& Kidz in Space
).
reached the country's musicians. A number of garage bands were formed, all with a high-energy performing style. Though few became internationally (or even nationally) famous, they stirred into life a number of fertile local scenes, full of musicians and fans. Much of their material has been collected by John Baker for his Wild Things collections.
Perhaps the most well-known contribution by a New Zealander to the world of popular music is the enduring Rocky Horror Show musical, written by Richard O'Brien
, and first performed on stage in London during 1973.
Back home, a more mainstream hard rock
sound had developed in New Zealand by the early 1970s, exemplified by bands like The Human Instinct
with Billy T.K.
, Space Farm, Living Force, Dragon
, and Hello Sailor
.
New Zealand's size meant that many of the country's more prominent mainstream bands found their largest audiences in Australia. Of these, perhaps the most successful has been Split Enz
, founded by Tim Finn
and Phil Judd
in the early 1970s. The addition of Tim's younger brother Neil
after Judd's departure led to a more accessible style and several big hits. After the demise of Split Enz, Neil Finn went on to found the highly successful Crowded House
.
In the mid-1990s, the Otara
, Auckland
group OMC
, led by Pauly Fuemana, scored a worldwide hit with the song "How Bizarre
". Locally, the single sold over 35,000 copies (3½ times platinum), a figure not exceeded in New Zealand as of 2011.
Following international trends, New Zealand's own independent rock scene grew increasingly popular throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Among the most active cities in modern New Zealand indie scene are Christchurch
, Auckland and Dunedin
. Important bands currently include Die! Die! Die!
, Shocking Pinks
, Stomp Box, Pig Out, The Mint Chicks
, The Brunettes
, The Bleeders and Soulseller.
Current mainstream rock bands of note include Head Like a Hole
, Shihad
, Opshop
, The Feelers
, I Am Giant
, Luger Boa
, Black River Drive
, Autozamm
, Fall Within
, Midnight Youth
, The Earlybirds
, Shotgun Alley and Th' Dudes.
Recently, comedy band Flight of the Conchords
popularity has exploded, driving them to No. 1 in NZ and also giving them a massive US fan-base, making them immensely popular and famous.
New Zealand also has a number of heavy metal
bands including 8 Foot Sativa
, In Dread Response
, Dawn of Azazel
, Sinate
and Ulcerate
, with most metal bands playing death metal.
began from such elements as the release of the 1979 US movie The Warriors, and the rise of the breakdancing craze, both of which emanated from New York City
. Breaking
was one of the four elements of the original hip hop culture. The others were graffiti art, emceeing and Deejaying.
Considered by most to be the first hip-hop record, The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight
" had been an American hit in 1979 and was released in New Zealand a year later, where it stayed on the charts for some time.
Many of the first hip hop performers from the country, such as Dalvanius Prime
, whose "Poi E" was a major hit, were Māori. "Poi E" had no rapping
and was not pure hip hop. It was basically a novelty record intended as a soundtrack for dancing. Even so, it marked a shift from reggae
and funk
as the previously most favoured genre of Māori musicians.
At first apolitical fun-rhyming, many hip-hop raps developed a social conscience in the second half of the 1980s. Inspired by the example of US outfit Public Enemy, hip hop's new 'political' messages of persecution and racism resonated with many Māori musicians. The first entire album of locally-produced hip hop was Upper Hutt Posse
's E Tu EP
, from 1988. E Tu was partially in Māori and partially in English, and its lyrics were politically-charged.
The first major New Zealand hip hop hit was "Hip Hop Holiday" by 3 The Hard Way
. Sampling the song "Dreadlock Holiday" by 10CC
, it went to number one for several weeks in 1993 and was also an Australian hit. To date, it remains the biggest selling NZ hip hop single in New Zealand.
In the 1990s, New Zealand hip hop scene grew with the added input of Pacific Island
musicians, creating a local variant style known as Urban Pasifika
, a term first coined by producer Alan Jansson for the influential Proud
collection in 1994, That album, featuring Sisters Underground
and OMC
, helped set the stage for the next decade of NZ hip hop. 'Protest' content was still present, but lyrical and musical emphasis had largely evolved into a 'sweet', chart-friendly sound. Artists such as Che Fu
and, more recently, Nesian Mystik
, and Scribe
have carried the ideas and themes to new heights. In 2004, Scribe became the first New Zealand artist to achieve the double honour of simultaneously topping the New Zealand singles and album charts.
In 2005, Savage
, another NZ hip hop artist, had back to back number one hits with Swing
and Moonshine
, the latter featuring a USA artist called Akon
. Both of the songs stayed in the number one spot for eight weeks each.
Maori rap as used in New Zealand throughout the 1990s was looked down upon, unacknowledged and was allegedly a target of racism. Maori rap was a rarity on the radio, as a segregated form of music, national radios did not acknowledge the accomplishments of the music, and rarely played any songs. Maori music combines traditional vocal chants with and incorporates traditional elements of Maori culture and integrates it with traditional "American" based rap. The direct impact of the Black American culture is naturally adapted from break dancing to gang culture collectively into the Maori and Polynesian youths. In addition to European influences, the unique sound that Maori youths create identifies it originality.
Hip hop went in a new direction in the 21st century when it mixed with electronica
, reggae
and dub music to create a sound known as roots. The roots scene had a strong base in Wellington.
music scene has been favourably regarded abroad despite frequent marginalization locally. As well as gaining international critical acclaim, many of New Zealand's alternative artists have been cited as influences by American groups such as Pavement
, Yo La Tengo
and Sonic Youth
. A willingness to experiment, a keen sense of melody, and a DIY attitude are characteristic of New Zealand's independent artists. Geographical isolation and the reliance on inexpensive equipment are also frequently cited as influential factors.
Independent music in New Zealand began in the latter half of the 1970s, with the development of a local punk rock scene
. This scene spawned several bands of note, including The Scavengers
, the Suburban Reptiles
, Proud Scum and Nocturnal Projections
. One of the most important New Zealand punk bands was The Enemy
, formed by lo-fi pioneer Chris Knox
. After a reshuffle of personnel, many of the band's songs were recorded over 1979–1980 as Toy Love
. The same musicians formed the basis for later groups such as The Bats
and Tall Dwarfs
.
The first independent record labels arrived in the early 1980s, with Propeller Records
and Ripper Records in Auckland. The labels' influential releases, such as AK79
and albums by The Screaming Meemees
and Blam Blam Blam
inspired a raft of other labels including, several years later, the Flying Nun
label
which was formed in Christchurch
. The Clean
, hailing from Dunedin
, was the first major band to emerge from the Flying Nun roster. The South Island cities of Dunedin and Christchurch
provided most of the first wave of Flying Nun's artists. During the early 1980s the label's distinctive jangle-pop sound was established by leading lights such as The Chills
, The Verlaines
, Sneaky Feelings
, The Bats
and The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience. Other prominent bands to emerge later via Flying Nun
included The Puddle, The Headless Chickens, Straitjacket Fits
, The 3Ds
, Bailter Space
, the Able Tasmans
and The D4
. Outside of the Flying Nun stable, The Kiwi Animal gained prominence with melodic punk/folk mixed with experimental soundscapes. Strangely, a revival of emo
/punk-pop bands has started here, fronted by bands like Goodnight Nurse
. As well as that, New Zealand has a developing punk rock scene. This includes bands like Kitsch, Cobra Khan, City Newton Bombers as well as ska bands such as The WBC and The Managers. Bands such as The Mint Chicks
and The DHDFD's
are in the more experimental, noisy, punk/pop vein.
As a response to Flying Nun's increasing commercialism in the 1990s, New Zealand's alternative pop tradition found a new home with independent labels such as IMD and Arclife in Dunedin, Failsafe Records
and She'll Be Right Records in Christchurch, Capital Recordings
, Stink Magnetic and Loop in Wellington and Arch Hill Recordings
, Lil' Chief Records
and Powertool Records in Auckland. The new alternative pop sound is typified by the likes of The Brunettes
, Goldenhorse
, The Phoenix Foundation, Lawrence Arabia
and George and Queen. A Low Hum
has had a big influence bringing new artists to the attention of alternative music fans in New Zealand putting on nationwide tours and a music festival, Camp A Low Hum, selling fanzine
style booklets with free CDs, and releasing artists like The Enright House
and Disasteradio
on its label.
Independent music in New Zealand has mainly been supported by student radio stations such as bFM and RDU, and fanzines like Opprobium and Clinton. Internationally, New Zealand's alternative music has come to recognition via labels such as Homestead, Merge, Drunken Fish, and Father Yod
.
Since the early 1980s, several small independent labels have been established in New Zealand, including Xpressway
and Failsafe Records
. Failsafe released a series of compilations that included many artists (Notably JPSE, Double Happys Nocturnal Projections, Loves Ugly Children) that later appeared on Flying Nun, Major Labels, or other larger indies. It continues on till today as the home of a long list of archival releases of historically important post punk bands, while still releasing material from alternative guitar rock on a smaller scale. Important Xpressway artists included This Kind Of Punishment
, Alastair Galbraith, The Terminals
, Peter Jefferies
and The Dead C
. All of these artists became part of an emerging international underground scene, and were typically more popular with foreign collectors than local enthusiasts.
Many more small independent labels were formed after Xpressway's demise in 1992, such as Bruce Russell's Corpus Hermeticum label, Campbell Kneale's Celebrate Psi Phenomenon label, Clayton 'CJA' Noone's Root Don Lonie for Cash, Club Bizarre
and Crawlspace Records. These labels tended to focus on esoteric forms like free improv
, noise
, psych-rock
, Industrial
and experimental
. Artists such as Thela
, Omit, Witcyst, Armpit, Empirical, Dadamah
, Flies Inside The Sun
, Crude, Rahmane
, Birchville Cat Motel
, Pumice
, Hieronymus Bosch (NZ) and Rosy Parlane
are successful proponents of this new dynamic. In the late 1980s, Peter King established King Worldwide
, which specialised in lathe-cut polycarbonate
records. This operation specialised in small-run editions, and thus attracted numerous underground bands such as The Dead C
, Birchville Cat Motel
, Thela
, Armpit and Pumice
.
In 2008, The Trons
, a fully automated robotic band was formed in New Zealand. In 2010 This Flight Tonight was crowned first in Auckland at Global Battle of the Bands.
, Children's Hour, Fetus Productions, The Skeptics
, Hieronymus Bosch and Winterland. Although such scenes boast longer and more famous histories in Europe, New Zealand darkwave bands such as N.U.T.E, Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine and The Mercy Cage enjoy international acclaim, despite remaining relatively unknown outside the scene at home.
The dark scene in New Zealand supported itself via various self-funded groups such as Circadian Rhythms and Club Bizarre both of which are now defunct. They organised events to promote dark arts, music and fashion. In other words, the scene remains underground in the truest sense: most New Zealand dark releases are independent, self-funded or funded by the various support networks of artists and musicians, and following the closing of the last of the darkwave / gothic / industrial clubs in 2008, there are no longer regularly scheduled scene nights in any city in the country. Although in recent years Creative New Zealand (New Zealand's Arts Council) has showed support of some darkwave-experimental artists such as Jordan Reyne, the genre remains largely unacknowledged by the local music industry and many of the bands and musicians survive from overseas sales via internet and the wider reaching darkwave networks.
in New Zealand came out of Auckland
and Wellington
in the early 1980s. Wellington's The Body Electric, formed out of the punk band, The Steroids, had a massive hit with Pulsing which, without airplay beyond student stations, spent four months in the national Top 50.
In Auckland there was a rush of activity, much of it centred around Trevor Reekie's labels, Reaction Records (which he A&Red) and Pagan Records. The compilation, We'll Do Our Best, on Propeller Records
was an early sampler of this. The most prominent act from Auckland in this period was The Car Crash Set, who released several singles and a now sought after album for Reaction in the mid 1980s.
The explosion of the club scene in Auckland in the era led to a surge in the recording related recording activity, and in 1988 Propeller Records released New Zealand's first House
record, Jam This Record, produced by James Pinker, Alan Jansson, Dave Bulog (ex Car Crash Set) and Simon Grigg
.
There were sporadic recordings over the next few years, notably the work of Joost Langeveld, Angus McNaughton, DLT
along with Future Jazz (the term was first coined in Auckland in the early 1990s) scene grew up in the urban inner cities centred, in Auckland, around the Cause Celebre nightclub and the work of Nathan Haines
, the two notable early releases being Freebass Live At Cause Celebre and Haines' Shift Left.
The later nineties saw a raft of independent labels releasing electronica, including Chris Chetland's Kog Transmissions, Simon Flower's Nurture Records, Loop Recordings, Simon Grigg's huh!, and, importantly, Joost Langeveld's Reliable Records. Other artists, like Roger Perry, Soane, Greg Churchill, Stephen Hill and Rob Salmon have found success with offshore labels.
In recent times Salmonella Dub
, Concord Dawn
, Tiki Taane
, Shapeshifter
, Truth
, Neon Knights
, Pitch Black
, TRei, The Upbeats
, Antiform, State of Mind
, Bulletproof, Optimus Gryme have all had success.
Roots/reggae like Katchafire
, Kora
, Fat Freddy's Drop
, The Black Seeds
, Breaks Co-op
or Trinity Roots, are very popular. Many of New Zealand's electronic artists are attempting, often successfully, to bridge the gap between diverse genres by including musical influences such as rock, jazz, soul and hip hop. This fusion is commonly referred to as dub.
, a variety of blown, struck and twirled instruments. Missionaries brought harmony, a wider compass and their instruments which were gradually adopted in new compositions. The action song (waiata-ā-ringa) was largely developed in the early 20th century. Since colonisation, Māori music has developed in parallel and in interaction with styles from overseas, generating a rich brew of new styles.
) settlers had folk music
similar to, and shared with Australia
's. The tradition is invigorated with several festivals, especially the annual Tahora
gathering, and musicians like Mike Harding
have won some fame for performing old and original New Zealand folks music.
New Zealand has a proud history of Brass Bands, which hold regular provincial contests, and often celebrate cultural events. The NZ National Band has earned international accolades. http://www.brassnz.co.nz/
http://www.nznationalband.com/
; historical links are maintained by Caledonian Societies throughout the country. The nation is often reminded of its colonial heritage by the stirring sounds of bagpipes
at military commemorations and parades.
were educated in Europe
and brought late Romantic Music
traditions to New Zealand. He attempted to graft them on to New Zealand themes with one notable success, the popular "Waiata Poi". However, before 1960 New Zealand did not have a distinct classical style of its own, having "a tendency to over-criticize home-produced goods".
Douglas Lilburn
, working predominantly in the third quarter of the 20th century, is often credited with being the first composer
to 'speak' with a truly New Zealand voice and gain international recognition for it. Lilburn's Second Piano Sonatina was described as "a work which seems to draw on the best of Lilburn's past...specially suited to New Zealand." He also pioneered electronic music. Lilburn and other composers working during the late 1950s and 60s, including Edwin Carr
, developed a new direction in New Zealand music that was distinctly separate from its influences.
With significant acceleration New Zealanders have found their own style and place, with people such as Larry Pruden, David Griffiths
, David Farquhar, Jenny McLeod
, Jack Body
, Gillian Whitehead
, Dorothy Buchanan
, Anthony Ritchie
, Ivan Zagni, Martin Lodge, Nigel Keay
and Ross Harris leading the way.
Diverse musical currents in the world from the Europe
an avant-garde
to American
minimalism
have influenced particular New Zealand composers to varying degrees. Increasingly, there are more cross-over composers fusing Pacific, Asia
n and Europe
an influences along with electronic instruments and techniques into a new sound, Gareth Farr
, Phil Dadson and composer co-operative Plan9 among them. The latter provided much of the ambient music used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
.
In 2004, Wellington
composer John Psathas
achieved the largest audience for New Zealand-composed music when his fanfares and other music were heard by billions at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens
2004 Summer Olympics
. In the same year, he took the Tui Award for Best Classical Recording at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards and the SOUNZ Contemporary Award at the APRA
Silver Scrolls.
There are several twelve-month Composer-in-Residence positions available in New Zealand, notably with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
and at the University of Otago
(Mozart Fellowship
).
(NZSO), the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
(APO), the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), the New Zealand Youth Choir
, and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir
.
There are also a number of semi-professional regional orchestras presenting their own concert series each year. These include the Opus Chamber Orchestra in Hamilton
, the Vector Wellington Orchestra, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) and the Southern Sinfonia in Dunedin
.
and two professional trios, the NZTrio and the New Zealand Chamber Soloists
. Other string quartets include the Nevine String Quartet
and the Jade String Quartet. There are several groups performing new music from local and overseas composers. These include the Karlheinz Company
, Stroma, 175 East, Strike and Okta.
Chamber Music New Zealand is an organisation that promotes concerts throughout New Zealand providing a performing platform for local and international artists.
, Sir Donald McIntyre
, Simon O'Neill
, Jonathan Lemalu
, Teddy Tahu Rhodes
, Anna Leese
, Dame Malvina Major
, Michael Houstoun
, David Guerin, Hayley Westenra
, Jeffrey Grice
, John Chen
and recently, Elliot Brown
. Those of earlier times included Oscar Natzka
, Richard Farrell
and Dame Heather Begg
.
Culture of New Zealand
The culture of New Zealand is largely inherited from British and European custom, interwoven with Maori and Polynesian tradition. An isolated Pacific Island nation, New Zealand was comparatively recently settled by humans...
. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's music is influenced by the culture of the indigenous Māori
Maori music
Te Pūoro Māori or Māori Music is music composed or performed by Māori, the native people of New Zealand, and includes a wide variety of folk music styles, often integrated with poetry and dance, as well as modern rock and roll, soul, reggae and hip hop....
and immigrants from the Pacific region, though its musical origins lie predominantly in British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial history, with contributions from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. As the nation grew and established its own culture, local artists combined these styles with local influences to create music that is distinctively New Zealand.
The most popular styles of the late 20th century were rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, both genres garnished with New Zealand's unique Pacific influences. By the 21st century, roots
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
were all popular with local artists. New Zealand has maintained an alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
scene for several decades and has a rapidly growing Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
scene.
Māori have also developed a popular music scene, and incorporated reggae, rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and other influences: New Zealand reggae
New Zealand reggae
New Zealand reggae is the New Zealand variation of the musical genre reggae. It is a large and well established part of New Zealand music, and includes some of the country's most successful and highly acclaimed bands....
bands like Herbs
Herbs (band)
Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
, Katchafire
Katchafire
Katchafire is a New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band and later began writing and performing their own songs...
and Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop is a seven-piece band from Wellington, New Zealand, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by musicians from other bands in Wellington, Fat Freddy’s Drop...
are highly popular. The 1990s saw the rise of hip hop groups like Moana & the Moahunters and the Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse is a musical band in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The progenitors of Hiphop music in the South Pacific originally formed as a four piece reggae group in 1985, the Posse emerged at the forefront of the local response to emerging rap culture...
, primarily based out of South Auckland
South Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
(see below).
In the traditional styles, New Zealand's geographic isolation and cultural milieu perhaps contributed to the slow growth of formal traditions based on European classical music, however these styles have also gained broad recognition. In 1975, the Composers Association of New Zealand
Composers Association of New Zealand
The Composers Association of New Zealand is a body that lobbies for the interests of New Zealand composers. Through its affiliations with the International Society for Contemporary Music and the , CANZ provides its members with opportunities to participate in international music festivals...
was established, creating a more defined structure and network to the development of classical composition in New Zealand.
New Zealand Pop
New Zealand pop is term generally applied to popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
originating in New Zealand or music most popular among mainstream New Zealand teenage audiences. New Zealand's first pop song was "Blue Smoke", written in the 1940s by Ruru Karatiana. Pixie Williams sung the song in 1949 and although it went triple platinum in New Zealand, the award for selling 50,000 copies of the song was only presented to Pixie Williams on the 13th of July, 2011.
The arrival of television in New Zealand during the 1960s helped connect New Zealand to global pop culture. It also lead to the rise of Sandy Edmonds, one of New Zealand's first popstars.
One of New Zealand's most successful pop songs is 'How Bizarre' by OMC
OMC (band)
OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, was a music group from Auckland, New Zealand best known for their 1996 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealand songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association...
. It sold between three and four million records worldwide during 1995 and 2000, making it the biggest-selling New Zealand record of all time to date.
In 2011, New Zealand pop is mainly dominated with electropop (like Zowie, Ruby Frost
Ruby Frost
Ruby Frost is a pop singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. After winning the nationwide MTV 42Unheard competition in 2009, Frost signed with Universal Music NZ and began work on her debut album...
, Kids of 88
Kids of 88
Kids of 88 is New Zealand New Wave music duo based in Auckland City, New Zealand, consisting of Jordan Arts and Sam McCarthy. They are best known for their 2009 single, "My House"...
) and hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artists (like Ladi6
Ladi6
Ladi6 is a singer-songwriter/rapper of Samoan descent. She is currently based in New Zealand, although she spent six months living in Berlin and touring Europe in both 2010 and 2011. Her debut album Time Is Not Much debuted at number 4 on the New Zealand Top 40 Album chart...
, Ria
Ria (singer)
- Biography :RIA started performing at a young age before progressing in her teens to leading an all girl band "Vivah" to becoming winners of the national Smokefree Pacifica Beats in 2007. RIA is a graduate from the Music & Audio Institute of NZ and singing tutor at the Otara Music Centre .-...
& Kidz in Space
Kidz in Space
Kidz in Space is a New Zealand pop music and hip-hop band, consisting of Josh Fountain, Ashley Hughes and Mat Neshat. Their costumed media appearances have been likened to those of Devo and Split Enz.-Formation:...
).
Rock
Distanced from overseas cultural centres, the New Zealand rock scene began in earnest during the 1960s, when the British InvasionBritish Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
reached the country's musicians. A number of garage bands were formed, all with a high-energy performing style. Though few became internationally (or even nationally) famous, they stirred into life a number of fertile local scenes, full of musicians and fans. Much of their material has been collected by John Baker for his Wild Things collections.
Perhaps the most well-known contribution by a New Zealander to the world of popular music is the enduring Rocky Horror Show musical, written by Richard O'Brien
Richard O'Brien
Richard Timothy Smith , better known under his stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English writer, actor, television presenter and theatre performer. He is perhaps best known for writing the cult musical The Rocky Horror Show and for his role in presenting the popular TV show The Crystal Maze...
, and first performed on stage in London during 1973.
Back home, a more mainstream hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound had developed in New Zealand by the early 1970s, exemplified by bands like The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct
The Human Instinct are a New Zealand blues rock band that has been active since the late 1960s. The band currently consists of Maurice Greer , Phil Pritchard , Joel Haines and Tony Baird...
with Billy T.K.
Billy TK
Billy TK is a Māori guitarist, born in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He has often been touted as the Māori Jimi Hendrix, and is one of the most respected and technically proficient guitarists in New Zealand today.- Early work :...
, Space Farm, Living Force, Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
, and Hello Sailor
Hello Sailor (band)
Hello Sailor was a New Zealand pop/rock band originally formed in 1975.- History :The band's history is long and complicated, with guitarist/vocalists Dave McArtney and Harry Lyon having first played together in the mid 1960s. After several lineup changes, the band released its first album, Hello...
.
New Zealand's size meant that many of the country's more prominent mainstream bands found their largest audiences in Australia. Of these, perhaps the most successful has been Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
, founded by Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
and Phil Judd
Phil Judd
Philip Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.-Split Enz:...
in the early 1970s. The addition of Tim's younger brother Neil
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
after Judd's departure led to a more accessible style and several big hits. After the demise of Split Enz, Neil Finn went on to found the highly successful Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
.
In the mid-1990s, the Otara
Otara
Ōtara is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, situated 18 kilometres to the southeast of the Auckland CBD. Ōtara lies near the head of the Tāmaki River , which extends south towards the Manukau Harbour...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
group OMC
OMC (band)
OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, was a music group from Auckland, New Zealand best known for their 1996 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealand songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association...
, led by Pauly Fuemana, scored a worldwide hit with the song "How Bizarre
How Bizarre (song)
"How Bizarre" is the debut single of New Zealand musical group OMC from their debut album of the same name. It was released as a single in New Zealand in 1995 and internationally in 1996....
". Locally, the single sold over 35,000 copies (3½ times platinum), a figure not exceeded in New Zealand as of 2011.
Following international trends, New Zealand's own independent rock scene grew increasingly popular throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Among the most active cities in modern New Zealand indie scene are Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, Auckland and Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. Important bands currently include Die! Die! Die!
Die! Die! Die!
Die! Die! Die! is a noise pop/punk three-piece from Dunedin, New Zealand, formed in late 2003 and signed to Flying Nun Records.Their self-titled album Die! Die! Die! was released in 2005 in New Zealand, with an international release soon after. It was recorded in Chicago's Electrical Audio by...
, Shocking Pinks
Shocking Pinks
Shocking Pinks are a band formed by Nick Harte and based in Christchurch, New Zealand.Nick Harte has been in New Zealand bands such as CM Ensemble, Hiatus, The Incisions, Montessouri, Laudanum, Luxor Dance Ensemble, Urinator, Solaa, The Brunettes and Pig Out. The band has been signed to New York...
, Stomp Box, Pig Out, The Mint Chicks
The Mint Chicks
The Mint Chicks were an experimental noise rock/power pop group originally from Auckland, New Zealand, who relocated to Portland, Oregon, USA in 2007...
, The Brunettes
The Brunettes
The Brunettes are an indie pop or twee pop group from New Zealand formed in 1998. The band consists of core members Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield with additional contributions from part-time band members including James Milne , Ryan McPhun , Harry Cundy, and most recently,...
, The Bleeders and Soulseller.
Current mainstream rock bands of note include Head Like a Hole
HLAH
HLAH is a rock band from Wellington, New Zealand.-History:HLAH formed in Wellington, originally consisting of Nigel Regan, Mark Hamill, Nigel Beazley and Andrew Durno....
, Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
, Opshop
Opshop
Opshop is a New Zealand rock band formed in 2002. Their first album, You Are Here was released in 2004. Their second album, Second Hand Planet was released in 2007 and received Triple Platinum certification. It produced the successful single, One Day...
, The Feelers
The Feelers
The Feelers are a New Zealand rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid , Matthew Thomas and Hamish Gee .-History:...
, I Am Giant
I Am Giant
I Am Giant is a New Zealand Alternative rock band based in London. They formed in 2009 and released their debut studio album, The Horrifying Truth on 1 August 2011....
, Luger Boa
Luger Boa
Luger Boa is a New Zealand rock band led by Jimmy Christmas, formerly of The D4. Christmas formed Luger Boa after The D4 decided to take an indefinite break. Christmas describes the band as "pop-oriented", but with the "intensity of The D4"...
, Black River Drive
Black River Drive
Black River Drive are a rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Black River Drive consists of Sam Browne , Rusty McNaughton , Matt Stone and Mike Tan ....
, Autozamm
Autozamm
- As For Now :-Singles:-References:*****-External links:**...
, Fall Within
Fall Within
Fall Within is a Kiwi metal core band composed of Brodie Te Anau Doherty-Ramsay , Daniel Hodge , Luke Burn , Fraser Walker and Luke Campbell...
, Midnight Youth
Midnight Youth
Midnight Youth are a New Zealand rock band formed in 2006. Their debut album, The Brave Don't Run, was released in 2009 in New Zealand and Australia. The band have subsequently toured and played festivals across Australasia, the United States and Asia...
, The Earlybirds
The Earlybirds
The Earlybirds are a band from New Zealand. Their debut album, Favourite Fears, was released on the 23rd of August 2010 and entered the New Zealand album charts at number seven, spending three weeks on the chart.-Studio albums:-Singles:...
, Shotgun Alley and Th' Dudes.
Recently, comedy band Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords are a New Zealand-based comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series, which premiered in 2007 on HBO, also called Flight of the Conchords.They were named...
popularity has exploded, driving them to No. 1 in NZ and also giving them a massive US fan-base, making them immensely popular and famous.
New Zealand also has a number of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands including 8 Foot Sativa
8 Foot Sativa
8 Foot Sativa is a New Zealand-based metal band formed in 1998. Their most famous single is their self titled song, "8 Foot Sativa", which was number one on M2's top 12 list for 12 weeks, and stayed on the chart for seven months...
, In Dread Response
In Dread Response
In Dread Response is a New Zealand metal band from Auckland formed in 2005 commonly referred to as "In Dread" or "IDR".In Dread has released one full-length studio album and two EPs with a new album in the works set for a 2011 release on DeadBoy Records...
, Dawn of Azazel
Dawn of Azazel
Dawn of Azazel is a death metal band from New Zealand. They have played around the world in countries such as U.S., Switzerland , Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia...
, Sinate
Sinate
Sinate is a New Zealand death/thrash metal band.-History:The band was formed in 2001 but did not release their debut album, Beyond Human, until September 2005....
and Ulcerate
Ulcerate
Ulcerate is a death metal band from Auckland, New Zealand. The band formed in 2000 under the name Bloodwreath with Michael Hoggard on guitar, Jamie Saint Merat on drums and Mark Seeney on vocals...
, with most metal bands playing death metal.
Hip hop
The genesis of New Zealand hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
began from such elements as the release of the 1979 US movie The Warriors, and the rise of the breakdancing craze, both of which emanated from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Breaking
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
was one of the four elements of the original hip hop culture. The others were graffiti art, emceeing and Deejaying.
Considered by most to be the first hip-hop record, The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight
Rapper's Delight
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 single by American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang. While it was not the first single to feature rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. The song's opening lyric "I said a hip hop, a...
" had been an American hit in 1979 and was released in New Zealand a year later, where it stayed on the charts for some time.
Many of the first hip hop performers from the country, such as Dalvanius Prime
Dalvanius Prime
Maui Dalvanius Prime was a New Zealand entertainer and songwriter. His career spanned 30 years. He mentored many of New Zealand's Māori performers, and was a vocal and forthright supporter of Māori culture.-Early life:...
, whose "Poi E" was a major hit, were Māori. "Poi E" had no rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
and was not pure hip hop. It was basically a novelty record intended as a soundtrack for dancing. Even so, it marked a shift from reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
as the previously most favoured genre of Māori musicians.
At first apolitical fun-rhyming, many hip-hop raps developed a social conscience in the second half of the 1980s. Inspired by the example of US outfit Public Enemy, hip hop's new 'political' messages of persecution and racism resonated with many Māori musicians. The first entire album of locally-produced hip hop was Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse is a musical band in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The progenitors of Hiphop music in the South Pacific originally formed as a four piece reggae group in 1985, the Posse emerged at the forefront of the local response to emerging rap culture...
's E Tu EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, from 1988. E Tu was partially in Māori and partially in English, and its lyrics were politically-charged.
The first major New Zealand hip hop hit was "Hip Hop Holiday" by 3 The Hard Way
3 The Hard Way
3 The Hard Way is a New Zealand hiphop group formed in 1994.-History:3 The Hard Ways first release was Hip Hop Holiday, which was released in 1994. The song spent five weeks at the top of the New Zealand charts, selling in excess of thirty thousand copies, and became a Kiwi anthem...
. Sampling the song "Dreadlock Holiday" by 10CC
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
, it went to number one for several weeks in 1993 and was also an Australian hit. To date, it remains the biggest selling NZ hip hop single in New Zealand.
In the 1990s, New Zealand hip hop scene grew with the added input of Pacific Island
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
musicians, creating a local variant style known as Urban Pasifika
Urban Pasifika
Urban Pacifika Records is a sub-genre of hip hop which combines American style hip hop or R&B rhyming and beats with Pacific Island or Māori instrumentation and Pacific Island or Māori language singing/rapping....
, a term first coined by producer Alan Jansson for the influential Proud
Proud (compilation)
Proud: An Urban Pacific Streetsoul Compilation is a New Zealand Hip Hop compilation album released in New Zealand by Second Nature Records and in Australia by Violation Records and later rereleased in New Zealand by huh! Records in 2000...
collection in 1994, That album, featuring Sisters Underground
Sisters Underground
Sisters Underground is a New Zealand RnB and hip hop group formed in 1994.-History:Best known for their 1994 hit In The Neighbourhood, the single spent 12 weeks in the New Zealand Top 50 Singles Chart, peaking at #6 and has more recently been used on TV2 advertisements...
and OMC
OMC (band)
OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, was a music group from Auckland, New Zealand best known for their 1996 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealand songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association...
, helped set the stage for the next decade of NZ hip hop. 'Protest' content was still present, but lyrical and musical emphasis had largely evolved into a 'sweet', chart-friendly sound. Artists such as Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
and, more recently, Nesian Mystik
Nesian Mystik
Nesian Mystik was a New Zealand Hip-Hop/R&B group formed in 1999. Their cultural backgrounds unite a remarkable diversity of Polynesia by bringing together Cook Island, Tongan, Samoan and Maori ancestry...
, and Scribe
Scribe (rapper)
Malo Luafutu better known by his stage name Scribe, is a New Zealand hip hop rapper and recording artist of Samoan descent...
have carried the ideas and themes to new heights. In 2004, Scribe became the first New Zealand artist to achieve the double honour of simultaneously topping the New Zealand singles and album charts.
In 2005, Savage
Savage (rapper)
- Studio albums :-Singles:-Featured singles:- External links :*****...
, another NZ hip hop artist, had back to back number one hits with Swing
Swing (Savage song)
"Swing" is the first solo single from Savage's debut album, Moonshine released in 2005 and it peaked at number one for five weeks in the New Zealand chart....
and Moonshine
Moonshine (Savage song)
"Moonshine" is a single by Savage featuring Akon was released in 2005. It was also on Savage's Re-Release album Savage Island.-Remix:The official remix, the "West Coast Remix", features Akon, Gangsta Rkdd of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., & Monsta Ganjah of The Regime....
, the latter featuring a USA artist called Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. Both of the songs stayed in the number one spot for eight weeks each.
Maori rap as used in New Zealand throughout the 1990s was looked down upon, unacknowledged and was allegedly a target of racism. Maori rap was a rarity on the radio, as a segregated form of music, national radios did not acknowledge the accomplishments of the music, and rarely played any songs. Maori music combines traditional vocal chants with and incorporates traditional elements of Maori culture and integrates it with traditional "American" based rap. The direct impact of the Black American culture is naturally adapted from break dancing to gang culture collectively into the Maori and Polynesian youths. In addition to European influences, the unique sound that Maori youths create identifies it originality.
Hip hop went in a new direction in the 21st century when it mixed with electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and dub music to create a sound known as roots. The roots scene had a strong base in Wellington.
Alternative/indie
New Zealand's alternative and independentIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
music scene has been favourably regarded abroad despite frequent marginalization locally. As well as gaining international critical acclaim, many of New Zealand's alternative artists have been cited as influences by American groups such as Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
, Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
. A willingness to experiment, a keen sense of melody, and a DIY attitude are characteristic of New Zealand's independent artists. Geographical isolation and the reliance on inexpensive equipment are also frequently cited as influential factors.
Independent music in New Zealand began in the latter half of the 1970s, with the development of a local punk rock scene
. This scene spawned several bands of note, including The Scavengers
The Scavengers
The Scavengers were a New Zealand Punk Rock band, formed in 1977. In 1979 they moved to Melbourne, Australia, and became The Marching Girls in 1980.-History:...
, the Suburban Reptiles
Suburban Reptiles
The Suburban Reptiles and The Scavengers were the first punk bands to form in New Zealand.- History :The Suburban Reptiles were first conceptualised by Auckland students Simon Grigg and Brett Salter in late 1976, with some encouragement from filmmaker David Blyth...
, Proud Scum and Nocturnal Projections
Nocturnal Projections
Nocturnal Projections were a post-punk band from Stratford, near New Plymouth, New Zealand that began recording in 1981 and split up in 1983. Often compared to British bands, especially Joy Division, with whom they shared a moody, bass-driven sound, although the Projections’ guitar was less...
. One of the most important New Zealand punk bands was The Enemy
The Enemy (New Zealand band)
The Enemy were a band from Dunedin, New Zealand, that are often seen as the starting point of the Dunedin Sound rock movement.Though the band did not release any official recordings, some of their performances are available in bootleg form. They are seen as hugely influential on the development of...
, formed by lo-fi pioneer Chris Knox
Chris Knox
Chris Knox is a New Zealand rock and roll musician, cartoonist, and DVD reviewer who emerged during the punk rock era with his bands The Enemy and Toy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group Tall Dwarfs with guitarist Alec Bathgate, much loved for their honest,...
. After a reshuffle of personnel, many of the band's songs were recorded over 1979–1980 as Toy Love
Toy Love
Toy Love was a New Zealand New Wave/punk rock band fronted by Chris Knox. Other members were guitarist Alec Bathgate, bass player Paul Kean, drummer Mike Dooley, and keyboard player Jane Walker...
. The same musicians formed the basis for later groups such as The Bats
The Bats
The Bats are an influential New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Christchurch by Paul Kean , Malcolm Grant , Robert Scott and Kaye Woodward...
and Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs
Tall Dwarfs are a New Zealand rock band formed in 1981 by Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate who, through their do-it-yourself ethic, helped pioneer the lo-fi style of rock music. The duo formed out of the ashes of Toy Love....
.
The first independent record labels arrived in the early 1980s, with Propeller Records
Propeller Records
Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
and Ripper Records in Auckland. The labels' influential releases, such as AK79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
and albums by The Screaming Meemees
The Screaming Meemees
The Screaming Meemees were one of the biggest post-punk new-wave pop bands in New Zealand in the early 1980s. The band formed in Auckland in 1979, composed of vocalist Tony Drumm, guitarist Michael O'Neill, keyboard and bass player Peter van der Fluit and drummer "Laurence "Yoh" Landwer-Johan...
and Blam Blam Blam
Blam Blam Blam
Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon and Mark Bell had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids...
inspired a raft of other labels including, several years later, the Flying Nun
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which was formed in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. The Clean
The Clean
The Clean are an influential Indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. Led through a number of early rotating line-ups by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour, the band settled down to their well-known and current line-up with bassist Robert Scott...
, hailing from Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, was the first major band to emerge from the Flying Nun roster. The South Island cities of Dunedin and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
provided most of the first wave of Flying Nun's artists. During the early 1980s the label's distinctive jangle-pop sound was established by leading lights such as The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
, The Verlaines
The Verlaines
The Verlaines are a rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. Formed in 1981 by Graeme Downes, Craig Easton, Anita Pillai, Phillip Higham and Greg Kerr, the band went through multiple line-ups before going on an extended hiatus after their 1997 album Over The Moon. In 2003 a career retrospective, You're...
, Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings were a 1980s New Zealand pop/rock band, led by Matthew Bannister, who recorded on the Flying Nun label. Initially recording with the line-up of Bannister , David Pine , Kat Tyrie and Martin Durrant , Tyrie was replaced by John Kelcher early in the band's career...
, The Bats
The Bats
The Bats are an influential New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Christchurch by Paul Kean , Malcolm Grant , Robert Scott and Kaye Woodward...
and The Jean-Paul Sartre Experience. Other prominent bands to emerge later via Flying Nun
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
included The Puddle, The Headless Chickens, Straitjacket Fits
Straitjacket Fits
Straitjacket Fits formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1986 and were a prominent band in the Flying Nun label's second wave of the Dunedin Sound.-Biography:...
, The 3Ds
The 3Ds
The 3Ds were an alternative pop/rock band based from Dunedin, New Zealand, together from 1988 to 1997. The band was formed in May 1988 by* Dominic Stones — drums,* Denise Roughan — bass, keyboards, tambourine, vocals...
, Bailter Space
Bailter Space
Bailter Space is an atmospheric noise rock band that formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space; they had previously recorded as The Gordons. Its members are Alister Parker , John Halvorsen , Brent McLachlan...
, the Able Tasmans
Able Tasmans
The Able Tasmans were an indie band from Auckland, New Zealand.At various times, the band consisted of Leslie Jonkers, Peter Keen, Graeme Humphreys, Craig Mason, Jane Dodd , and Ronald Young. They formed in 1984, and named themselves after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. They released four albums...
and The D4
The D4
The D4 was a rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Their music was released by Hollywood Records in the U.S., Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and by Infectious Records in the UK....
. Outside of the Flying Nun stable, The Kiwi Animal gained prominence with melodic punk/folk mixed with experimental soundscapes. Strangely, a revival of emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
/punk-pop bands has started here, fronted by bands like Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse was a pop punk band from New Zealand, formed in Auckland, in 2001. The group originally began as a trio, but later changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album...
. As well as that, New Zealand has a developing punk rock scene. This includes bands like Kitsch, Cobra Khan, City Newton Bombers as well as ska bands such as The WBC and The Managers. Bands such as The Mint Chicks
The Mint Chicks
The Mint Chicks were an experimental noise rock/power pop group originally from Auckland, New Zealand, who relocated to Portland, Oregon, USA in 2007...
and The DHDFD's
The DHDFD's
The DHDFD's are a four-piece New Zealand garage punk band who formed during the summer of 2005 in the Point Chevalier area of Auckland New Zealand...
are in the more experimental, noisy, punk/pop vein.
As a response to Flying Nun's increasing commercialism in the 1990s, New Zealand's alternative pop tradition found a new home with independent labels such as IMD and Arclife in Dunedin, Failsafe Records
Failsafe Records
Failsafe Records is a record label that was founded in 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand. It started a long line of releases, including a chain of compilations that featured many artists who later appeared on Flying Nun Records, major labels, or other larger indies.- History :The label has...
and She'll Be Right Records in Christchurch, Capital Recordings
Capital Recordings
Capital Recordings is a small record label formed in November 2001 based in Wellington, New Zealand. Their aim is to help musicians recording in their bedrooms, apartments and beach houses around Wellington and New Zealand reach a wider audience . They have released albums for such New Zealand...
, Stink Magnetic and Loop in Wellington and Arch Hill Recordings
Arch Hill Recordings
Arch Hill Recordings, formerly Arch Hill Studios, is a New Zealand recording studio and record label in Auckland. It was founded in 1998.Artists include David Kilgour The Clean, The Bats, Don McGlashan, Bachelorette, The Boxcar Guitars, Luke Buda, Dappled Cities Fly, Fang, Ghostplane, Grand Prix,...
, Lil' Chief Records
Lil' Chief Records
Lil' Chief Records is a boutique New Zealand based indie pop record label which was formed in 2002. It operates out of the Auckland suburb of Kingsland. The aesthetic of the label tends towards 60s influenced pop. All the releases have been characterised by lush production, vocal harmonies, strong...
and Powertool Records in Auckland. The new alternative pop sound is typified by the likes of The Brunettes
The Brunettes
The Brunettes are an indie pop or twee pop group from New Zealand formed in 1998. The band consists of core members Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield with additional contributions from part-time band members including James Milne , Ryan McPhun , Harry Cundy, and most recently,...
, Goldenhorse
Goldenhorse
-Studio albums:-Singles:-Charity singles:-External links:*...
, The Phoenix Foundation, Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia
Lawrence Arabia is the musical guise of New Zealand artist James Milne. In 2006, Lawrence Arabia released his self titled debut album and the debut album his band The Reduction Agents, The Dance Reduction Agents...
and George and Queen. A Low Hum
A Low Hum
A Low Hum is the on-going project founded by photographer and music impresario Blink , and is based in Wellington, New Zealand. Under the umbrella A LOW HUM, Blink organises tours, releases records, makes music videos, organises one-off events/festivals and publishes magazines & books...
has had a big influence bringing new artists to the attention of alternative music fans in New Zealand putting on nationwide tours and a music festival, Camp A Low Hum, selling fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
style booklets with free CDs, and releasing artists like The Enright House
The Enright House
The Enright House was the moniker under which Mark Roberts wrote, recorded and performed music. The project began in Chicago in 2001, and, after Roberts moved to New Zealand, was based in Christchurch from 2004 until 2009. After touring the United States in early 2009, Roberts relocated back to...
and Disasteradio
Disasteradio
Disasteradio is the pseudonym of Luke Rowell, a computer musician from Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He began writing a mixture of Chiptune and synth-pop in 1999 and has released eight albums, toured New Zealand over ten times and completing several tours of Europe and one of the US.- History :Beginning...
on its label.
Independent music in New Zealand has mainly been supported by student radio stations such as bFM and RDU, and fanzines like Opprobium and Clinton. Internationally, New Zealand's alternative music has come to recognition via labels such as Homestead, Merge, Drunken Fish, and Father Yod
Father Yod
Father Yod or YaHoWha was the American owner of a Los Angeles health food restaurant on the Sunset Strip who founded a spiritual commune in the Hollywood Hills known as the Source Family...
.
Since the early 1980s, several small independent labels have been established in New Zealand, including Xpressway
Xpressway
Xpressway was a record label founded by New Zealand musician Bruce Russell in Dunedin in 1988. Until it ceased in 1993, Xpressway released a variety of New Zealand musicians, primarily on cassette, but its catalogue included several 7" singles and one 12" EP....
and Failsafe Records
Failsafe Records
Failsafe Records is a record label that was founded in 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand. It started a long line of releases, including a chain of compilations that featured many artists who later appeared on Flying Nun Records, major labels, or other larger indies.- History :The label has...
. Failsafe released a series of compilations that included many artists (Notably JPSE, Double Happys Nocturnal Projections, Loves Ugly Children) that later appeared on Flying Nun, Major Labels, or other larger indies. It continues on till today as the home of a long list of archival releases of historically important post punk bands, while still releasing material from alternative guitar rock on a smaller scale. Important Xpressway artists included This Kind Of Punishment
This Kind Of Punishment
This Kind Of Punishment were a band from New Zealand.The band was formed by brothers Peter and Graeme Jefferies, after the breakup of their post-punk outfit Nocturnal Projections. Their first self-titled album was recorded on 4-track recorder borrowed from Chris Knox, and released in an edition of...
, Alastair Galbraith, The Terminals
The Terminals
The Terminals are an alternative rock band from New Zealand. They released material on the Xpressway and Flying Nun labels.No affiliation with the TERMINALS aka the TERMINALS , a Surf/Punk band from Hutchinson, KS, USA...
, Peter Jefferies
Peter Jefferies
Peter Jefferies is a musician from New Zealand.In 1981 Peter and his brother Graeme Jefferies formed the post-punk band Nocturnal Projections. The band released a few records, and played around their hometown of New Plymouth, as well as Auckland....
and The Dead C
The Dead C
The Dead C are a New Zealand based noise rock trio made up of members Bruce Russell, Michael Morley and Robbie Yeats. Most often, Russell plays electric guitar, Morley sings and plays electric guitar or laptop, and Yeats plays drums....
. All of these artists became part of an emerging international underground scene, and were typically more popular with foreign collectors than local enthusiasts.
Many more small independent labels were formed after Xpressway's demise in 1992, such as Bruce Russell's Corpus Hermeticum label, Campbell Kneale's Celebrate Psi Phenomenon label, Clayton 'CJA' Noone's Root Don Lonie for Cash, Club Bizarre
Club Bizarre
"Club Bizarre" is a 1994 song recorded by German act U96. It was a single from the album of the same name and was released in summer 1995. The song was a hit in several countries, although it was not as successful as U96's previous single, "Love Religion", but became a top twenty hit in the...
and Crawlspace Records. These labels tended to focus on esoteric forms like free improv
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
, noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
, psych-rock
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
, Industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
and experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
. Artists such as Thela
Thela
Thela were a short-lived rock band from New Zealand. It was formed in 1992 and consisted of Dion Workman, Rosy Parlane, and Dean Roberts. They released two LPs on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label. Following the band's demise in 1996, all three members undertook solo projects...
, Omit, Witcyst, Armpit, Empirical, Dadamah
Dadamah
Dadamah were a band from New Zealand, active during the early 1990s. The band consisted of Kim Pieters, Peter Stapleton, Roy Montgomery, and Janine Stagg. After the band broke up, the members went on to numerous other music projects, including Flies Inside The Sun, Doramaar, Dissolve, and...
, Flies Inside The Sun
Flies Inside The Sun
Flies Inside the Sun were a band from New Zealand. They formed in 1993, and consisted of Kim Pieters, Peter Stapleton, Danny Butt, and Brian Crook. They were part of a prominent improvisation / noise scene which was active in New Zealand at the time, documented in magazines such as Opprobrium and...
, Crude, Rahmane
Rahmane
Rahmane is a surname or given name, and may refer to:* Aboubakar Abdel Rahmane , Chadian warlord* Rahmane Barry , Senegalese football player...
, Birchville Cat Motel
Birchville Cat Motel
Birchville Cat Motel is a one-man experimental music project formed by Campbell Kneale from Wellington, New Zealand. Although largely unknown in his home country, Kneale has toured throughout Japan, America, Europe, and Australia. His first vinyl release was Jewelled Wings on the Freedom From label...
, Pumice
Pumice
Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified frothy lava typically created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. It can be formed when lava and water are mixed. This unusual formation is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid...
, Hieronymus Bosch (NZ) and Rosy Parlane
Rosy Parlane
Rosy Parlane is an electronic musician from New Zealand, based in London since 2000. He was in the New Zealand trio Thela, then went on a solo career, as well as co-founding the Sigma Editions record label.-Overview:...
are successful proponents of this new dynamic. In the late 1980s, Peter King established King Worldwide
King Worldwide
King Worldwide is a New Zealand record manufacturing plant run by Peter King. It specialises in cutting polycarbonate records using a lathe technique, as opposed to the traditional vinyl material. The operation began in the late 1980s in the town of Geraldine, and as such, King's records are...
, which specialised in lathe-cut polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
records. This operation specialised in small-run editions, and thus attracted numerous underground bands such as The Dead C
The Dead C
The Dead C are a New Zealand based noise rock trio made up of members Bruce Russell, Michael Morley and Robbie Yeats. Most often, Russell plays electric guitar, Morley sings and plays electric guitar or laptop, and Yeats plays drums....
, Birchville Cat Motel
Birchville Cat Motel
Birchville Cat Motel is a one-man experimental music project formed by Campbell Kneale from Wellington, New Zealand. Although largely unknown in his home country, Kneale has toured throughout Japan, America, Europe, and Australia. His first vinyl release was Jewelled Wings on the Freedom From label...
, Thela
Thela
Thela were a short-lived rock band from New Zealand. It was formed in 1992 and consisted of Dion Workman, Rosy Parlane, and Dean Roberts. They released two LPs on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label. Following the band's demise in 1996, all three members undertook solo projects...
, Armpit and Pumice
Pumice
Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified frothy lava typically created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. It can be formed when lava and water are mixed. This unusual formation is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid...
.
In 2008, The Trons
The Trons
The Trons are a New Zealand self-playing robot band created by musician Greg Locke. The band consists of four robots, created from scratch using a variety of spare parts and electronic equipment, and are based in Hamilton .-History:During the 1990s, while a member of the New Zealand musical duo The...
, a fully automated robotic band was formed in New Zealand. In 2010 This Flight Tonight was crowned first in Auckland at Global Battle of the Bands.
Darkwave/ Gothic/ Industrial
New Zealand has maintained a small dark music scene which dates back to the 1970s and 1980s via iconoclastic bands such as Nocturnal ProjectionsNocturnal Projections
Nocturnal Projections were a post-punk band from Stratford, near New Plymouth, New Zealand that began recording in 1981 and split up in 1983. Often compared to British bands, especially Joy Division, with whom they shared a moody, bass-driven sound, although the Projections’ guitar was less...
, Children's Hour, Fetus Productions, The Skeptics
The Skeptics
The Skeptics was a New Zealand postpunk band from 1979 to 1990. They became notorious in 1987 for an unusually graphic music video entitled "AFFCO".-Early recordings:...
, Hieronymus Bosch and Winterland. Although such scenes boast longer and more famous histories in Europe, New Zealand darkwave bands such as N.U.T.E, Dr Kevorkian & the Suicide Machine and The Mercy Cage enjoy international acclaim, despite remaining relatively unknown outside the scene at home.
The dark scene in New Zealand supported itself via various self-funded groups such as Circadian Rhythms and Club Bizarre both of which are now defunct. They organised events to promote dark arts, music and fashion. In other words, the scene remains underground in the truest sense: most New Zealand dark releases are independent, self-funded or funded by the various support networks of artists and musicians, and following the closing of the last of the darkwave / gothic / industrial clubs in 2008, there are no longer regularly scheduled scene nights in any city in the country. Although in recent years Creative New Zealand (New Zealand's Arts Council) has showed support of some darkwave-experimental artists such as Jordan Reyne, the genre remains largely unacknowledged by the local music industry and many of the bands and musicians survive from overseas sales via internet and the wider reaching darkwave networks.
Electronica
The earliest electronicaElectronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
in New Zealand came out of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in the early 1980s. Wellington's The Body Electric, formed out of the punk band, The Steroids, had a massive hit with Pulsing which, without airplay beyond student stations, spent four months in the national Top 50.
In Auckland there was a rush of activity, much of it centred around Trevor Reekie's labels, Reaction Records (which he A&Red) and Pagan Records. The compilation, We'll Do Our Best, on Propeller Records
Propeller Records
Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
was an early sampler of this. The most prominent act from Auckland in this period was The Car Crash Set, who released several singles and a now sought after album for Reaction in the mid 1980s.
The explosion of the club scene in Auckland in the era led to a surge in the recording related recording activity, and in 1988 Propeller Records released New Zealand's first House
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
record, Jam This Record, produced by James Pinker, Alan Jansson, Dave Bulog (ex Car Crash Set) and Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, radio host, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.-Punk rock:...
.
There were sporadic recordings over the next few years, notably the work of Joost Langeveld, Angus McNaughton, DLT
DLT (musician)
DLT is a New Zealand DJ, music producer, composer & artist. Born Darryl Thompson in Maraenui, New Zealand.DLT was inspired by an article about rap and breakdancing in Life magazine when he was 16 years of age; he moved to Wellington in the '80s and established himself as a graffiti artist known as...
along with Future Jazz (the term was first coined in Auckland in the early 1990s) scene grew up in the urban inner cities centred, in Auckland, around the Cause Celebre nightclub and the work of Nathan Haines
Nathan Haines
Nathan Haines is a New Zealand jazz and adult contemporary saxophonist.-Life and career:Haines was born in 1972. His father, Kevin, played jazz bass, and his brother, Joel, played guitar. Haines played gigs with Joel across New Zealand, before moving to New York in 1991 to study jazz...
, the two notable early releases being Freebass Live At Cause Celebre and Haines' Shift Left.
The later nineties saw a raft of independent labels releasing electronica, including Chris Chetland's Kog Transmissions, Simon Flower's Nurture Records, Loop Recordings, Simon Grigg's huh!, and, importantly, Joost Langeveld's Reliable Records. Other artists, like Roger Perry, Soane, Greg Churchill, Stephen Hill and Rob Salmon have found success with offshore labels.
In recent times Salmonella Dub
Salmonella Dub
Salmonella Dub are a Dub/Drum n Bass/Reggae/Roots band from Kaikoura, New Zealand. They were formed in 1991 by Andrew Penman, David Deakins and Mark Tyler...
, Concord Dawn
Concord Dawn
Concord Dawn, is a New Zealand drum and bass group, active since mid 1999. It consists of Matt Harvey and Evan Short...
, Tiki Taane
Tiki Taane
Tiki Taane is a New Zealand musician and former member of leading New Zealand band Salmonella Dub. Taane left Salmonella Dub on 1 January 2007 to pursue a solo career...
, Shapeshifter
Shapeshifter (band)
Shapeshifter are a live Drum & Bass act from New Zealand. They have been heralded as a musical phenomenon for their ground breaking live shows and unique blend of heavy soul with drum and bass...
, Truth
Truth (Dubstep Artist)
Tristan Roake and Andre Fernandez, better known as Truth are a dubstep production duo from Christchurch, New Zealand. They first rose to prominence in 2008 when Mala of Digital Mystikz signed their debut single The Fatman / Stolen Children for his Deep Medi Musik label...
, Neon Knights
Neon Knights (band)
Neon Knights is a former Bosnian progressive metal band from Tuzla. The band was formed in Tuzla 1994 and disbanded 1999. It's one of the most successful Bosnian heavy metal bands. They recorded one album Deserted Land in Italy 1998. Band was influenced by Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Rainbow,...
, Pitch Black
Pitch Black (band)
Pitch Black is a New Zealand electronica band that was formed in 1997.-Discography:* 1999: Futureproof* 2000: Electronomicon* 2001: Electric Earth and Other Elements - Remixes* 2003: Flex* 2004: Ape to Angel...
, TRei, The Upbeats
The Upbeats
The Upbeats are a drum and bass production duo consisting of Jeremy Glenn and Dylan Jones from Wellington, New Zealand. They have also produced various other genres of music including dubstep and breaks.-Biography:...
, Antiform, State of Mind
State of Mind (band)
Founded in 2002, State of Mind is the drum and bass duo from New Zealand of Patrick Hawkins and Stuart Maxwell.The State of Mind discography includes labels such as Teebee's Subtitles Recordings, Total Science's CIA Recordings, DJ Friction's Shogun Audio, Concord Dawn's Uprising Records, Doc...
, Bulletproof, Optimus Gryme have all had success.
Roots/reggae like Katchafire
Katchafire
Katchafire is a New Zealand roots reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand.Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band and later began writing and performing their own songs...
, Kora
Kora (band)
Kora is a New Zealand five-piece music group, which consists of four brothers from the Kora family. The band, which originally began in Whakatane, New Zealand fuses elements of reggae, rock, dub, roots, funk, and more recently space funk and dub step elements.-Early years: 1991–2002:Kora brothers...
, Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop is a seven-piece band from Wellington, New Zealand, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by musicians from other bands in Wellington, Fat Freddy’s Drop...
, The Black Seeds
The Black Seeds
The Black Seeds are a musical group from Wellington, New Zealand. Their music is a fusion of dub, funk, afrobeat and soul.The Black Seeds have two double-platinum selling albums at home, and successful European album releases through the German-based Sonar Kollektiv label...
, Breaks Co-op
Breaks Co-Op
Breaks Co-op is a New Zealand band, formed in 1997, first through music company FMR and more recently with EMI.The band members are Andy Lovegrove, Zane Lowe, and Hamish Clark....
or Trinity Roots, are very popular. Many of New Zealand's electronic artists are attempting, often successfully, to bridge the gap between diverse genres by including musical influences such as rock, jazz, soul and hip hop. This fusion is commonly referred to as dub.
Folk music
Māori music
In summary, pre-European Māori singing was micro-tonal, with a repeated melodic line that did not stray far from a central note. Group singing was in unison or at the octave. Instrumental music was played on Taonga pūoroTaonga pūoro
Taonga pūoro are the traditional musical instruments of the Māori people of New Zealand.Taonga pūoro were revived over the past thirty years by Hirini Melbourne, Richard Nunns and Brian Flintoff. The instruments previously fulfilled many functions within Māori society including a call to arms,...
, a variety of blown, struck and twirled instruments. Missionaries brought harmony, a wider compass and their instruments which were gradually adopted in new compositions. The action song (waiata-ā-ringa) was largely developed in the early 20th century. Since colonisation, Māori music has developed in parallel and in interaction with styles from overseas, generating a rich brew of new styles.
Pioneer folk music
The early European (PākehāPakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
) settlers had folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
similar to, and shared with Australia
Music of Australia
The music of Australia is the music produced in the area of, on the subject of, or by the people of modern Australia, including its preceding Indigenous and colonial societies. Indigenous Australian music is a part of the unique heritage of a 40–60,000 year history which produced the iconic...
's. The tradition is invigorated with several festivals, especially the annual Tahora
Tahora
The place name Tahora may refer to:*Tahora, Manawatu-Wanganui*Tahora, Otago...
gathering, and musicians like Mike Harding
Mike Harding (New Zealand)
Mike Harding is a well-known New Zealand folk musician born in 16 July 1952, now living in New Plymouth, Taranaki.- Musician :Growing up in Eketahuna, Harding practised his music in "the streets, markets and clubs of Auckland in the early 1980s", before he describes himself as having spent a "Time...
have won some fame for performing old and original New Zealand folks music.
Brass bands
http://www.nznationalband.com/
Highland pipe bands
New Zealand is said to have more pipebands than ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; historical links are maintained by Caledonian Societies throughout the country. The nation is often reminded of its colonial heritage by the stirring sounds of bagpipes
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
at military commemorations and parades.
Classical composers
The formal traditions of European classical music took a long time to develop in New Zealand, due to its geographical isolation. Composers such as Alfred HillAlfred Hill
Alfred Francis Hill CMG OBE was an Australian/New Zealand composer, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Alfred Hill was born in Melbourne in 1869. His year of birth is shown in many sources as 1870, but this has now been disproven. He spent most of his early life in New Zealand...
were educated in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and brought late Romantic Music
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
traditions to New Zealand. He attempted to graft them on to New Zealand themes with one notable success, the popular "Waiata Poi". However, before 1960 New Zealand did not have a distinct classical style of its own, having "a tendency to over-criticize home-produced goods".
Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Gordon Lilburn ONZ FRCM was a New Zealand composer.-Early life:Lilburn was born in Wanganui. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School from 1930 to 1933, before moving to Christchurch to study journalism and music at Canterbury University College...
, working predominantly in the third quarter of the 20th century, is often credited with being the first composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
to 'speak' with a truly New Zealand voice and gain international recognition for it. Lilburn's Second Piano Sonatina was described as "a work which seems to draw on the best of Lilburn's past...specially suited to New Zealand." He also pioneered electronic music. Lilburn and other composers working during the late 1950s and 60s, including Edwin Carr
Edwin Carr (composer)
Edwin Carr was a composer of classical music from New Zealand.-Biography:Edwin Carr was born in Auckland and was educated at Otago Boys' High School from 1940 to 1943. He studied music at Otago University from 1944-5 and Auckland University College from 1946, then left with his degree unfinished...
, developed a new direction in New Zealand music that was distinctly separate from its influences.
With significant acceleration New Zealanders have found their own style and place, with people such as Larry Pruden, David Griffiths
David Griffiths (composer)
David Griffiths is a composer, baritone and convener of the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Waikato. Griffiths has gained national and international recognition as a composer, opera singer and recital soloist...
, David Farquhar, Jenny McLeod
Jenny McLeod
Jenny Helen McLeod ONZM is a composer and former Professor of Music at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.-Education:McLeod graduated BMus from Victoria University in 1964, and the same year a New Zealand government bursary enabled her to study for two years in Europe with Messiaen,...
, Jack Body
Jack Body
Jack Body is a New Zealand composer, photographer, artist and ethnomusicologist.He studied at Auckland University from 1963–67. With a QEII Arts Council grant he attended the Ferien Kurse fur Neue Musik, Cologne and Institute of Sonology, Utrecht, Netherlands...
, Gillian Whitehead
Gillian Whitehead
Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead, DNZM is a New Zealand composer.She studied at the University of Auckland from 1959–62, and Victoria University of Wellington in 1963, graduating BMus Hons in 1964. She then studied composition at the University of Sydney with Peter Sculthorpe from...
, Dorothy Buchanan
Dorothy Quita Buchanan
-Life:Buchanan was born in Christchurch, the second of six daughters in a musical family, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Canterbury University in 1967 and a teaching degree from Christchurch Teachers College in 1975....
, Anthony Ritchie
Anthony Ritchie
Anthony Ritchie is one of New Zealand's most prolific composers. His works number over a hundred, and include three symphonies, two operas, seven concertos, choral works, chamber music and solo works....
, Ivan Zagni, Martin Lodge, Nigel Keay
Nigel Keay
Nigel Keay was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1955. He has been a freelance musician since 1983 working as a composer, violist, and violin teacher...
and Ross Harris leading the way.
Diverse musical currents in the world from the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
have influenced particular New Zealand composers to varying degrees. Increasingly, there are more cross-over composers fusing Pacific, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an influences along with electronic instruments and techniques into a new sound, Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr
Gareth Vincent Farr ONZM is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet...
, Phil Dadson and composer co-operative Plan9 among them. The latter provided much of the ambient music used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
.
In 2004, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
composer John Psathas
John Psathas
John Psathas is a New Zealand composer, son of Greek immigrant parents.He has works in the repertoire of such high profile musicians as Evelyn Glennie, Michael Houstoun, Michael Brecker and the New Juilliard Ensemble, and is one of New Zealand's most frequently performed composers...
achieved the largest audience for New Zealand-composed music when his fanfares and other music were heard by billions at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. In the same year, he took the Tui Award for Best Classical Recording at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards and the SOUNZ Contemporary Award at the APRA
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
Silver Scrolls.
There are several twelve-month Composer-in-Residence positions available in New Zealand, notably with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
and at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
(Mozart Fellowship
Mozart Fellowship
The Mozart Fellowship is a 12-month composer residency attached to the Music Department of the University of Otago. It may be awarded for a second time only to any one composer...
).
Orchestras and choirs
New Zealand has a number of world-class orchestras and choirs, notably the New Zealand Symphony OrchestraNew Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
(NZSO), the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
(APO), the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), the New Zealand Youth Choir
New Zealand Youth Choir
The New Zealand Youth Choir was formed in 1979 by Guy Jansen and has subsequently been conducted by Professor Peter Godfrey and Dr Karen Grylls . As at March 2009, Dr Grylls is an associate professor at the University of Auckland...
, and Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir
Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir
Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir was formed in 1998.It is a semi-professional mixed chamber choir consisting of a core of 16 to 24 members with additional singers who can be engaged should they be required for specific repertoire...
.
There are also a number of semi-professional regional orchestras presenting their own concert series each year. These include the Opus Chamber Orchestra in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, the Vector Wellington Orchestra, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is the professional orchestra of Christchurch, New Zealand...
(CSO) and the Southern Sinfonia in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
.
Chamber music and other ensembles
New Zealand has one full-time professional string quartet, the New Zealand String QuartetNew Zealand String Quartet
The New Zealand String Quartet is New Zealand’s only full time string quartet. The current formation of musicians consisting of Helene Pohl , Douglas Beilman , Gillian Ansell and Rolf Gjelsten was established in 1994.The Quartet performs more than eighty concerts a year in New Zealand and...
and two professional trios, the NZTrio and the New Zealand Chamber Soloists
New Zealand Chamber Soloists
The New Zealand Chamber Soloists , are a New Zealand based chamber music ensemble. The NZCS consists of prominent concerto soloists with national and international careers and extensive chamber music experience...
. Other string quartets include the Nevine String Quartet
Nevine String Quartet
String Quartet in Wellington formed in 1995 from the ranks of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The players are: Liz Patchett & Janet Armstrong - violins, Peter Barber - viola, & Robert Ibell - cello. The group performs a varied repertoire and has included in their programmes works by New Zealand...
and the Jade String Quartet. There are several groups performing new music from local and overseas composers. These include the Karlheinz Company
Karlheinz Company
The Karlheinz Company is a music ensemble based at the University of Auckland School of Music. The ensemble was founded by composer, John Rimmer and the first programme included works by Berio, Stockhausen and Rimmer...
, Stroma, 175 East, Strike and Okta.
Chamber Music New Zealand is an organisation that promotes concerts throughout New Zealand providing a performing platform for local and international artists.
Soloists
Prominent New Zealand musicians performing at home and abroad include Dame Kiri Te KanawaKiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
, Sir Donald McIntyre
Donald McIntyre
This page is about the singer. For others of similar name see Donald MacIntyreSir Donald McIntyre, CBE is a celebrated operatic bass-baritone. He made his formal debut as Zaccaria in Nabucco, at the Welsh National Opera, in 1959...
, Simon O'Neill
Simon O'Neill
Simon O'Neill is a New Zealand-born operatic tenor.-Biography:O'Neill was born in Ashburton, New Zealand and received his musical training at the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with an honours degree in music, before receiving scholarships to the Manhattan...
, Jonathan Lemalu
Jonathan Lemalu
Jonathan Fa'afetai Lemalu is a New Zealand opera singer, of Samoan descent. Born in Dunedin, he sings in the bass baritone register....
, Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Teddy Tahu Rhodes
-Early life:Teddy Tahu Rhodes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 30 August 1966, to a British mother and a New Zealand father. The Maori word "Tahu", which means "to set on fire", was added to the family name soon after they settled in New Zealand...
, Anna Leese
Anna Leese
Anna Leese is a New Zealand born soprano opera singer. She made her debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 2006, as understudy for the part of Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème...
, Dame Malvina Major
Malvina Major
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major, GNZM, DBE is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955,...
, Michael Houstoun
Michael Houstoun
Michael Houstoun is a concert pianist from New Zealand.Born and educated in Timaru, Houstoun studied piano under Sister Mary Eulalie and Maurice Till in Dunedin and Christchurch...
, David Guerin, Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
, Jeffrey Grice
Jeffrey Grice
Jeffrey Grice is a New Zealand musician. Born in Christchurch, Jeffrey Grice studied languages and music at University of Auckland. He then continued his piano studies in Paris, obtaining the Licence de Concert de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure de Musique.Resident in France, Jeffrey Grice has...
, John Chen
John Chen
John Chen is a Malaysian-born New Zealand concert pianist.In 2004 he became the youngest-ever winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. He has a Master of Music from the University of Auckland, where he studied with Rae de Lisle...
and recently, Elliot Brown
Elliot Brown
Elliot Ulysses Brown is a singer/ songwriter from New Zealand. Until recently, Brown has been playing with Jackson Hobbs in two piece band...
. Those of earlier times included Oscar Natzka
Oscar Natzka
-Early life:Born as Franz Oscar Natzke at Wharepuhunga, North Island, New Zealand, he was the son of August Natzke , who had emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Otorohanga, and Emma Carter Natzke, of Christchurch, New Zealand, who was a singer.As a boy, the young Natzke worked...
, Richard Farrell
Richard Farrell
Richard Farrell was a gifted New Zealand classical pianist who achieved almost legendary status, but whose flourishing career was cut short in a road accident at the age of 31...
and Dame Heather Begg
Heather Begg
Dame Heather Begg, DNZM,OBE was a New Zealand-born operatic mezzo-soprano who spent most of her career in the United Kingdom and Australia. She was renowned in roles such as the title role in Bizet's Carmen, Amneris in Verdi's Aida and in lighter operas such as The Gondoliers...
.
See also
- New Zealand music festivalsNew Zealand music festivalsMusic festivals have a long and chequered history in New Zealand. The first large outdoor rock music festival was The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in 1973...
- New Zealand Music AwardsNew Zealand Music AwardsThe New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
- Nature's BestNature's BestNature's Best is a two-disc compilation album of thirty New Zealand popular music songs, selected by a panel as the top thirty New Zealand songs of all time.-Selection:...
, a two-disc compilation album of thirty New Zealand popular music songs - Blues in New ZealandBlues in New ZealandThe history of blues in New Zealand dates from the 1960s. The earliest blues influences on New Zealand musicians were indirect — not from the United States but from white British blues musicians: first the R&B styles of The Animals and The Rolling Stones, and later the blues-tinged rock of...
- List of bands from New Zealand