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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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Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

New Zealand's singers and musicians have been influenced by music brought in by the early settlers, Māori music tradition and popular music trends over the years. In this entry, we will show you wh...

This page from TKI is full of ideas and activities to help celebrate this national event in class and in communities around Aotearoa.

Music related gems from Archives New Zealand.

New Zealand Music Month

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

A showcase of New Zealand music.

NZ MUSIC MONTH | TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA 2022

The theme for NZ Music Month 2022 is ‘Level Up’ — it relates to any artist at any stage in their career looking for that next step to take, and onto the next level.

Aotearoa Music Awards

The Aotearoa Music Awards is the annual showcase event for the music industry, celebrating artists and music from Aotearoa.

Playback – Te Rongotuaruatanga

Scroll Through Our Favourite Music Videos – Tirohia Ā Mātou Tino Kiriata Waiata from 1965.

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.

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

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 discusses singing Māori songs

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...

Musician 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.

Music Nation - First Episode

Music Nation - First Episode focuses on winners of NZ Music Awards

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 singer Lorde's album.

Alda, Frances

Story: Alda, Frances - New Zealand opera singer

‘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

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 ...

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...

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.

Musical theatre

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...

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.

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.

Ana Hato - New Zealand's famous folk singer of Māori decent

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

Smokefreerockquest

Smokefreerockquest — New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music event to motivate young musicians.

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 : popular 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 New Zealand top hit 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 Orchestra Wellington performance of 'Pounamu.'

Hei Waiata, Hei Whakakoakoa

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

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 guide to music licensing in New Zealand.

Iconic musical artists from around Aotearoa record their songs in te reo Māori. Following on from the 2019 Waiata/Anthems album, these new stories celebrate te reo Māori through the power of waiata.

Singer 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.

The noisy library of New Zealand music.

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

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

Musicians 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 festival of Music, Arts and Dance

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...

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.

MUSICIAN CARICATURES BY MURRAY WEBB

MUSICIAN CARICATURES BY MURRAY WEBB

Celebrating Pacific music

This website covers finalists, news, and images from the crème of Pacific music.

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...

APRA ensure music creators get paid for their work and give music users ways to legally play and copy what they like.

Waiata Māori music awards

A prestigious music award to acknowledge Māori composers.

Kiwi women songwriters and singers that have become all time favorites.

Aotearoa hip hop

A hip hop star writes about the evolution of Kiwi hip hop.

Archive of New Zealand Music

The Archive of New Zealand Music is the world's largest archive of unpublished material relating to New Zealand music and musicians.

A gateway to stories, programmes, concerts and recordings of New Zealand music.

Lemon and Paeroa

Advertisement for Lemon & Paeroa soft drink – famous in New Zealand.

Jackie’s Song

Don McGlashan’s journey of composing his song based on Titokowaru’s war of 1868-1869.

Starting with strings. August 2015

Children in Otara learn how to play an instrument and to be part of an orchestra.

Turnbull Mixtape

A compilation of favourite music put together by National Library of New Zealand to celebrate New Zealand Music Month each year.

Richard Nunns plays traditional Māori instruments from his collection.

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...

Sea shanty about NZ settlers resurfaces about 190 years later

A sea shanty called Wellerman is rising up the UK record charts about 190 years after the Weller family settled in Aotearoa.

Māori Composers of Waiata and Haka

Māori Composers of Waiata and Haka

This story provides links to resources about some of Aotearoa New Zealand's Māori composers of waiata and haka.

Māori musicians, songwriters and performers

Māori musicians, songwriters and performers

This story provides links to resources about some of New Zealand's Māori musicians, songwriters and performers.

Bill Sevesi and His Islanders at The Orange Ballroom

The Orange Coronation Ballroom on Newton Road in Auckland was Pacific music central in Auckland from 1954 to the mid-1970s. Bill Sevesi and his Islanders played night after night to audiences.

Beatles arrive in NZ, June 1964

Beatles arrive in NZ, June 1964

Memories of the Beatles arriving in NZ on 21 June 1964 for an 8-day tour with 12 concerts in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch.

Music festivals

Music festivals

WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance and its festivals celebrate the cultures of different countries. The photograph shows people enjoying themselves at WOMAD New Zealand, held at New Pl...

Top results for New Zealand Music from AnyQuestions

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

Singers and musicians (New Zealand)

New Zealand's singers and musicians have been influenced by music brought in by the early settlers, Māori music...

Senior Primary

Classical music

Classical music

Classical music has developed and changed over hundreds of years. Music from each of the four main eras has a...

Senior Secondary

Festivals and celebrations (New Zealand)

Festivals and celebrations (New Zealand)

New Zealand observes many different festivals and celebrations throughout the year. These include arts, music and...

Senior Primary

Music

Music

Music is the pattern of sounds produced by people singing or playing instruments. It is also the art of creating or...

Senior Primary

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