Awesome Kiwi Music

See Also Kiwi National Anthems and Music Awards

New Zealand has a thriving music industry with a reputation that is growing internationally. Bands such as Split Enz and Crowded House proved that Kiwi music could travel in the 1980s-1990s and since then, a succession of New Zealand bands have taken their music to the world.

To celebrate the new millennium, members of APRA (the body that represents local songwriters) voted to identify the most popular New Zealand songs of all time. The top 30 were then recorded for a best-selling twin CD called Nature's Best.

Its success led to follow-up CD sets called Nature's Best 2 and Nature's Best 3.

The collections cover many decades of hits, and many genres of music, but they help provide a showcase for New Zealand music. If you want to find out what Kiwi music is all about, these are the albums to start with.

For live music, make the most of Kiwi Music Month which is usually held every May. During the month, there are tours and gigs aplenty as local bands take their music to the people.

The top 10 New Zealand songs of all time (as voted by APRA):

1. Nature, Fourmyula (1969)

2. Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House (1986)

3. Loyal, Dave Dobbyn (1988)

4. Counting The Beat, Swingers (1981)

5. Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Split Enz (1982)

6. Sway, Bic Runga (1997)

7. Slice Of Heaven, Dave Dobbyn with Herbs (1986)

8. Victoria, Dance Exponents (1982)

9. She Speeds, Straitjacket Fits (1987)

10. April Sun In Cuba, Dragon (1978)

See Also Kiwi National Anthems and Music Awards