A Traveller’s Guide to Music in New Zealand
The first European to set foot in New Zealand, Captain James Cook, famously said that the New Zealand music was, “harmonious enough but very doleful to a European ear.” Ask travellers to New Zealand about the music today and it’s more likely that it will be one of the most captivating experiences of the trip. New Zealand music has Western and Polynesian influences with popular genres being jazz, blues, country, rock and hip hop. While travelling around New Zealand, you’ll get the opportunity to hear New Zealand music through music festivals and Maori cultural attractions. Find out more about music in New Zealand and how to incorporate it into your trip in this guide to New Zealand music.
5 Fun Facts About New Zealand Music
Let’s get this New Zealand music guide started with a few fun facts!
- Early Maori instruments called “taonga puroro” were made out of hollowed-out wood, stone, whale ivory, albatross bone and human bone
- In 2013, New Zealand singer Lorde became the youngest solo artist to reach number one in the US at 16 years old
- The best-selling New Zealand pop song of all time is “How Bizarre” by OMC
- In 2011, Kimbra collaborated with Belgian-Australian singer Gotye on “Somebody That I Used to Know” topping the charts in around 25 countries and selling more than 13 million copies worldwide
- May is New Zealand Music Month, so it’s a good time to look out for local gigs.
And for the best places to listen to New Zealand music, check out What are the Radio Stations in New Zealand?
© Annette Geneva on FlickrNew Zealand Musicians Who Have Had International Success
If you have heard songs from any New Zealand musicians, it’s likely to be the musicians who have had international success. Famous music artists from New Zealand include:
- Lorde
- Ladyhawke
- Flight of the Conchords
- Split Enz
- OMC
- Six60
- Bic Runga
- Kimbra
- Fat Freddy’s Drop
- Brooke Fraser
- Savage
- Gin Wigmore
- Keith Urban.
See more famous Kiwis in our 15 Celebrities from New Zealand.
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand also has a national orchestra, the New Zealand Symonphy Orchestra, based in the country’s capital, Wellington. The orchestra tours around New Zealand, mostly performing in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, and less frequently Hamilton and Dunedin. Internationally, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has performed at the BBC Proms in the UK, the Concertgebouw in the Netherlands, and the World Expo in Japan.
© NZPocketGuide.comMaori Music
While travelling around New Zealand, the music you’re most likely to hear through live performances is Maori music. There are several forms of Maori music that have developed over time. Some notable music forms include:
- Waiata – songs are sung solo or in unison, usually lullabies, love songs or laments
- Karanga – performed during a welcome ceremony known as a powhiri. It is the ceremonial call performed by the women of the welcoming tribe
- Moteatea – traditional chanting performed even before the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand
- Kapa haka – a type of Maori performing arts where groups showcase their cultural heritage through song and dance.
Aspects of each music form can be seen in Maori cultural attractions around New Zealand. See Maori performances at the following attractions:
- Te Pa Tu (formerly Tamaki Maori Village – more info on Viator and Klook)
- Mitai Maori Village
- Te Puia
- Whakarewarewa: The Living Maori Village (on Viator and Klook)
- Auckland Museum
- Footprints Waipoua
- Tu Tika Tours
- WanaHaka.
See the 10 Best Maori Tours in New Zealand for more attractions with musical performances.
© NZPocketGuide.comMusic Festivals in New Zealand
A great way to experience local music from New Zealand is through New Zealand music festivals. New Zealand has a lively schedule of festivals each year, most of which occur from December to March.
Annual Music Festivals in New Zealand
- Rhythm & Vines, Gisborne (29-31 December)
- Rhythm & Alps, Cardrona Valley (30-31 December)
- Soundsplash, Raglan (mid-January)
- Splore, Auckland (late-February)
- WOMAD, New Plymouth (mid-March)
- St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Auckland (late-January).
For more festivals, see our 10 Summer Festivals in New Zealand, as well as our New Zealand Events Calendar.
More About New Zealand Music and Culture
That’s it for our quick guide to New Zealand music and what music is from New Zealand. For more about New Zealand music and culture, check out more of our guides:
- 10 Things You Did Not Know About the Maori Culture
- What are the Radio Stations in New Zealand?
- What are the TV Channels in New Zealand?
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in our guide, What is Kiwiana?
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
