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New Zealand Music

Explore the culture, history and uses of music in New Zealand along with famous singers (traditional and contemporary), music awards, bands and the styles of music unique to New Zealand. SCIS number. 1913344

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Punk rock poster, 1978

Punk rock poster, 1978

The poster for this concert at the State Theatre in Auckland in October 1978 featured the two bands who introduced punk rock to Auckland, the Scavengers and the Suburban Reptiles. Both had formed t...

Rock concert, Christchurch

Rock concert, Christchurch

All frames show scenes of spectators at a Christchurch rock concert in 1971. Unless otherwise stated, all persons are unidentified. Photographs taken by Ans Westra. Source of descriptive informati...

Rock concert Ref: 35mm-18183-9-F

Rock concert Ref: 35mm-18183-9-F

Security guard restraining fan during Rolling Stones concert in Wellington.

Popular music: Origins of New Zealand popular music

Emerging from a nation of immigrants, New Zealand’s popular music has developed from outside influences. Music respects no borders, and popular music is rarely pure. Due to the creativity of New Ze...

Waiata hōu – contemporary Māori songs

In the 20th century Māori waiata were increasingly influenced by European melodies, with some prominent composers borrowing tunes. Many waiata were written and performed during the world wars as fu...

Making Music - Moana Maniapoto

Making Music - Moana Maniapoto

Singer Moana Maniapoto discusses her evolution as a Māori musician in this episode from a series for high school music students. After first singing in public on the marae and learning to harmonise...

Dave Dobbyn and 'Loyal'

Dave Dobbyn is one of the most significant New Zealand musicians of the past 30 years. He's enjoyed success as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Th'Dudes and DD Smash.

New Zealand Music Groups

New Zealand Music Groups

Famous New Zealand music groups

Music Nation - First Episode

Music Nation - First Episode

Kiwi music show Music Nation introduced young presenter Bic Runga to the nation, shortly before she took her microphone skills in another direction. In this debut episode, the show's 'field reporte...

Lorde Review

Kate Robertson reviews the new Lorde album.

NZ Music Commission's Simon Wood on Music Month 2016

NZ Music Commission's Simon Wood on Music Month 2016

NZ Music Month is back for its sixteenth year - Simon Wood from the NZ Music Commission talks about what it means, and why it's still needed.

2018 Pacific Music Award finalists announced

The finalists for the 2018 Vodafone Music Awards celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

Famous people are people who are well known throughout the world for what they have done. They come from all areas of life, including music, sport, politics, art, science and technology. In this en...

‘God defend New Zealand’

New Zealand is unusual in having two national anthems of equal standing – ‘God save the queen’ (or king), and the more recent ‘God defend New Zealand’. When a member of the royal family is present ...

Studio One

Studio One belongs to a long line of talent shows stretching back to the earliest days of NZ television. In two parts, it featured an original song competition which attracted leading songwriters; ...

Recording companies and studios

The story of New Zealand music recording is one of small, independent labels constantly vying with large international companies for the resources to survive. In the 21st century digital recording ...

Story: Alda, Frances -

Fanny Jane Davis, who rose to international prominence under the stage name Frances Alda, was one of the first of a long line of New Zealand opera singers to achieve such fame. She came from a stro...

The Beatles

The Beatles in New Zealand, 1964.

The birth of Kiwi rock 'n' roll

The birth of Kiwi rock 'n' roll

New Zealand music wouldn't have been the same without Wanganui. It was at a pie cart in this North Island town in 1957 that New Zealand rock 'n' roll was born.

MUSICIAN CARICATURES BY MURRAY WEBB

MUSICIAN CARICATURES BY MURRAY WEBB

Phillipps, Martin, fl 1986 :At last! The Chills. "Kaleidoscope world", the singles compilation album, out now on Flying Nun Records. COLD 005 / M Phillipps. 20.7.[19]86.

Phillipps, Martin, fl 1986 :At last! The Chills. "Kaleidoscope world", the singles compilation album, out now on Flying Nun Records. COLD 005 / M Phillipps. 20.7.[19]86.

Shows a tin humanoid robot walking through streets between tall buildings. Other Titles - Featuring superior remixes of "Kaleidoscope World" and "Satin doll" for the discerning listener. Quantity...

Horrible Songs for Children: a primer

Horrible Songs for Children: a primer

An introduction to 10 New Zealand musicians who produce music for older children. Fatcat & Fishface hail themselves as “the outlaws of New Zealand children’s music”. Their style is cheeky and irrev...

Māori waiata to be celebrated at music awards

The Waiata Māori Music awards will celebrate the creators and performers of te reo Māori music in a Hastings tonight.

Rock chicks

Women who rock, through the ages.

Musical theatre

Rotorua Musical Theatre performed Chicago, directed by Richard Marshall (pictured), at the local Casa Blanca Theatre in early 2013. While provincial cities and large towns did not have the capacity...

Music Festivals

Music Festivals

Māori composers – ngā kaitito waiata: Composing Māori music

Music, in one form or another, is a ubiquitous feature of human life. Where there are people, there is music. And where there is music, there are composers – people who are able to create new music...

Te Taha Tū – Moteatea

Te Taha Tū – Moteatea

The uncut version of the Moteatea performed in the New Zealand Wars documentary by Te Taha Tū.

APRA silver scrolls

The APRA Silver Scroll Awards celebrate New Zealand’s songwriters and composers.

New Zealanders and the arts

Funding by Creative New Zealand on New Zealanders’ participation in the arts.

New Zealand Music Commission

Government organisation for promotion and growth of music in New Zealand.

Official top 20 NZ albums

The 20 best-selling and most-streamed New Zealand albums.

From the mid-1920s until her death in 1953, Ana Hato was one of this country's most loved singers.

Vodaphone New Zealand Music awards

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards is produced annually by Recorded Music New Zealand Limited.

Smokefreerockquest

Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event.

Māori heavy metal band Alien Weaponry takes out Rockquest and Pacifica Beats.

Popular music in New Zealand from 1900 to today

Details of major milestones in New Zealand music.

Poi E – Patea Māori Club

A famous music video from the 80s.

On the ball : New Zealand rugby song

Ted Secker’s rugby song to boost his team’s morale.

Early radio recordings and archiving in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Music in New Zealand

Stories about the history and types of music in New Zealand.

Pixie Williams sings Blue Smoke written by Ruru Karaitiana.

New Zealand folk song

Folksongs about life in New Zealand.

Upper Hutt Posse released New Zealand’s first hip hop single.

Video interview with John Psathas

John Psathas discusses the performance of 'Pounamu.'

Opera treasures at the Alexander Turnbull Library

Treasures found in the Library's Archive of New Zealand Music, established in 1974 to preserve New Zealand's musical heritage.

Māori musical instruments

Taonga puoro and what their original purpose was.

Music education and stress

Music education can help children cope with stress.

Music copyright in New Zealand

A pdf guide to music copyright in New Zealand.

Teaching tips to make sharing music with children fun and easy.

Emerging and established Māori artists perform and talk about their music.

Hei Waiata, Hei Whakakoakoa

Waiata lyrics, song sheets, curriculum achievement objectives, and suggestions for activities.

2018 Waiata Māori Music Awards winners

List of singers, songwriters and albums of the 2018 Waiata Māori Music Awards.

New Zealand Music Month

APRA votes on New Zealand’s top songs of all time.

Stan Walker in disguise pranks Panmure Idol.

From Athens to Zeibekiko

Merryn McAulay on processing the collection of music composer John Psathas.

The people’s music

Peter Clayworth on the birth and growth of New Zealand’s brass band music.

Indian musicians work with Auckland musicians

Auckland musicians to improvise with prominent Indian classical artists.

Making musical connections

Music therapy in special education.

The noisy library of New Zealand music.

Music related gems from Archives New Zealand.

New Zealand String Quartet

Biography of the New Zealand String Quartet.

Devils' rock 'n' roll shirt

A shirt made for the rock and roll group, Johnny Devlin and the Devils, by a fan from Whanganui.

Portrait of Kiri Te Kanawa in traditional Maori attire

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

New Zealand opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa began her professional international career with a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council bursary. This assisted with her study at the London Opera Centre. Her fir...

Winter, Mark 1958- :'..the answers my friends are blowin' in the WINZ..' 17 October 2012

New Zealand Music Week was initially launched in 1997 and went on to become New Zealand Month in May 2001. From then on many media broadcasting organisations have made it a goal to showcase and pro...

MUSIC FESTIVAL. (Otago Daily Times 3-7-1911)

The Sheffield Choir

This article is about the 200 strong British Sheffield Choir’s tour of New Zealand in 1911. In Wellington (at the Wellington Town Hall) the choir was reinforced by 250 local singers and was conduct...

Johnny Devlin, rock singer

John Lockett Devlin popularly known as Johnny Develin was once considered New Zealand’s answer to Elvis Presley. Born in 1938 in Raetihi, Johnny’s passion for music began when he was given a guitar...

New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation :Inia Te Wiata. An evening with Inia Te Wiata, Thursday 24 October, Invercargill Civic Theatre. Bookings Beggs; direction NZBC [1963]

This poster is an invitation to listen to opera singer Inia Te Wiata at the Invercargill Civic Theatre. Born in Otaki on 10 June 1915, Inia or Happy Davidson as he chose to call himself, was a bass...

Ruru Karaitiana and Gary Mutton

Ruru Karaitiana and Gary Mutton

A love for music has brought these two New Zealand musicians together. The man with the hat is Ruru Karaitiana and seated beside him is Gary Mutton. Ruru is the composer of the song Blue Smoke whic...

Photographs of WOMAD festival 2013, New Plymouth

WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance. It is an international arts festival initially created through a shared enthusiasm and passion for world music. The musician Peter Gabriel was one o...

MAORI MUSIC IN LONDON. (Clutha Leader 22-3-1910)

Māori music in London

This article from 1910 is about Rangiuia, a young Māori who had been studying music in Europe. At the time he had become quite popular in London society and was reported by one newspaper to be lord...

Music in the Community

Music in the Community

Imagine a world where sound could not be produced at the push of a button, where music could be experienced only through live performance. The text and images in this story look at (largely) 20-cen...

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

Where can I find information about New Zealand singers and musicians?

Rip it Up: 1977-1985

Now available online, Rip It Up was a free NZ music magazine that it gave both overseas and New Zealand music equal space and importance.