There is simply too much good New Zealand music out there.
Earlier this month, RNZ revealed its impressive Waiata 100 list of the most beloved homegrown songs from the last century. Nearly 10,000 New Zealanders cast their votes towards a varied list that featured everyone from Darcy Clay to Dragon, Che Fu to Shihad. The coveted number one spot was awarded to ‘Poi E’ by the Pātea Māori Club, with every region in agreement apart from one Herbs-loving outlier.
But the problem with 100 slots is that there are so many great New Zealand tunes that didn’t even get a look in. Where our state broadcaster spent weeks, perhaps months, conducting a sophisticated nationwide survey consulting with civilians and experts alike, The Spinoff simply opened a Google Doc on Monday morning and went hell-for-leather dumping in every huge local tune that we were shocked hadn’t made the cut.
Here lies, in deeply democratic alphabetic order, 100 MORE great New Zealand songs.
‘1+1+1 (It Ain’t Two)’ by K’Lee
Parts of this song have not aged well (eg: “that ain’t my skanky bra” and rakish fedora) but the chorus is still as hooky as ever. The fact also remains that 2000s pop princess K’Lee taught a whole generation to be acutely aware of both basic arithmetic and infidelity, and I think that’s really beautiful. / Alex Casey
‘80 Down Scenic’ by Home Brew
Tom Scott’s sonic journey through the Waitākere Ranges in his Holden Kingswood is the ultimate sound of West Auckland. The storytelling in this waiata is second to none; squint and you can see the native bush fly pass the car windows and feel the rollie burn your throat as Scott reminisces on friends since passed. A truly beautiful piece of music which perfectly captures a certain generation of emotionally stunted Aucklanders (“I don’t need someone to talk to, just somewhere to drive”). / Lyric Waiwiri-Smith
‘Aku Raukura’ by Patea Māori Club
All love to ‘Poi E’, but this is the best waiata off Patea Māori Club’s seminal 1987 album. / LWS
‘Alcoholic’ by Home Brew
When speaking about his inspiration for the song, Tom Scott said he wanted to “create a national anthem” for New Zealand. Now everyone knows there’s a bottle in the fridge with their name on it. / Liam Rātana
‘Apple Pie Bed’ by Lawrence Arabia
What a chorus, and what a relatable metaphor. Who among us hasn’t decided to lie in an apple pie bed when their body is made of lead? Listening to this dreamy pop song feels like being enveloped in that fruity citrus-infused goop and finally finding rest. / Hayden Donnell
‘A Thing Well Made’ by The Mutton Birds
A sadly slept-on Mutton Birds classic, so hauntingly beautiful in its reflection of a real NZ tragedy. All I can say is to make a thing like that, you’d need to know what you were about. / LWS
‘Bad Politics’ by The Dead C
I’d argue that, in the global scheme of things, New Zealand has been at least as influential in noise music as it has been in jangly indie music, and while it’s one of their poppiest and most accessible songs, The Dead C’s ‘Bad Politics’ is as good a representation of this wondrous export as anything else. / Henry Oliver
‘Beelines to Heaven’ by Garageland
The title of the song alone is such a startle: beelines to heaven! Soaring! Busy! This is a fun, moody ditty that oozes somewhere between angst and nonchalance. / Claire Mabey
‘Blue Monkey’ by Suzanne Paul
Look, some things from the 90s just can’t be explained, and infomercial queen Suzanne Paul’s dance single Blue Monkey is one of them. Loads of fun, very smart, have a word with yourself. / Tara Ward
‘Bring Change’ by Shapeshifter
It’s hard to pick just one track from Shapeshifter’s iconic and extensive soulful electronic discography, but this track inspired the legendary Six60, which says a lot. / LR
‘Broadway Junction’ by Vera Ellen
I will never forget hearing Vera Ellen sing this achingly painful song a cappella to a small crowd at the Lyttelton Coffee Co-op, and feeling like my knees were going to give out. It’s not an easy listen, but songwriting doesn’t get much more honest than this staggering exploration of one’s darkest impulses. / AC
‘Brother’ by Smashproof ft. Gin Wigmore
This undeniable tune spent 11 weeks at number one in 2009, and carried a crucial message in its ripped-from-the-headlines origins. “For me, I’ve got my elbow on the window. I’m just out there,” Young Sid told The Spinoff on the song’s 10th anniversary. “We’re all from South Auckland so I’m wondering why all this shit’s happened.” / AC
‘Buddy’ by Snapper
Plenty of the usual big Flying Nun names made the top 100, and of course I love ’em all, but none make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up the way the opening moments of ‘Buddy’ do. / Calum Henderson
‘Cactus Cat’ by Look Blue Go Purple
LBGP another egregious FN omission! / CH
‘Cheryl Moana Marie’ by John Rowles
I don’t know how this song didn’t make the other top 100 list. It’s an absolute classic by one of the greatest musical performers of his time. There wouldn’t have been many New Zealand artists selling as many records as John Rowles through the 1970s. / LR
‘The Cigarette Duet’ by Princess Chelsea
This charming, back-and-forth sing-song argument between Princess Chelsea and Jonathan Bree has now amassed over 123 million views on YouTube, making it possibly the most viral New Zealand video ever made? It’s just a cigarette! / AC
‘Cold Feet’ by Liam Finn
This song always gets me in my feelings. It feels like it should be sad but actually gets me bopping and feeling hopeful. A perfect singalong. The harmonies are gorgeous! It’s just a good time. The video could also be one of the cutest things. / Eli Rivera
‘Computer Games’ by Mi-Sex
Com-pu-pu-pu-pu-pu-pu
Pu-pu-pu-pu-puter-puter, computer games
Com-pu-pu-pu-pu-puter
Puter-puter-puter, computer games!
Perfection. / CM
‘Crawl’ by Atlas
The lost emo anthem that remains “fallen between the cracks” of all music streaming services, ‘Crawl’ is less about the quality of the song, or the thickness of black eyeliner, and more about what it represented to a generation of sullen, Britomart-lurking teens. / AC
‘Cruel’ by Dane Rumble
There’s so much to be said about Dane Rumble from his Fast Crew era to his 3D-printing celebrity wedding rings era, but instead I will just say this: ‘Cruel’ is one of the catchiest New Zealand pop songs ever made and I will not be COOL ABOUT IT. / AC
‘Culture’ by The Knobz
A shimmering blast of power pop from 1980, ‘Culture’ challenges Rob Muldoon to drop the sales tax on recorded music. “Don’t give me culture, I’m not hearing you Rob,” imploreth the Knobz. “I can buzz around like a Beehive boy, but I’d like to see you do my job.” (The Beehive had only opened the year before.) Comes with monster hook, clarion synth and righteous guitar solo. / Toby Manhire
‘Do I Make You Feel Shy?’ by Connan Mockasin
Tell me that you’ll never leave me
Whip me in style and you squeeze me
With a truth in your heart, we’ll make a fresh start
I’ll be the boy of your dreams
Just a really great, really weird song from a really great, really weird guy. / Alice Neville
‘Dogs Dreaming’ by Tiny Ruins
This is one of my personal favourite Tiny Ruins songs from the album Ceremony. It’s a beautiful, buoyant song about following your instincts and it reminds me of running through long grass. / CM
‘Don’t Stop the Revolution’ by Breathe
I had a CD called Live at Helen’s when I was a teenager (I’m devastated to report that I have no idea where it is now) and this was one of the songs on it. It’s breathless and carries the energy of youthful optimism. / CM
‘Don’t Worry Bout’ It’ by Kings
Absolutely perfect that this utterly carefree anthem from 2016 still remains the longest-standing local number one single in New Zealand history. Run free Kings, run free. / AC
‘Don’t You Know Who I Am’ by Reb Fountain
One of those songs that feels like it was unearthed rather than made. ‘Don’t You Know Who I Am’ is hypnotic, its tinny electric guitar riff, plodding piano and acoustic bass lines providing the canvas for one of Fountain’s most striking vocal tracks. Even though musically, very little happens, it somehow doesn’t feel like it overstays its welcome at nearly six minutes long. / HD
‘Dreams in My Head’ by Anika Moa
Simply gotta have some summery mid-2000s Anika Moa in there. / AC
‘Easy Come Easy Go (Cruisin’ on the Interislander)’ by The Warratahs
TV ads were creative masterpieces in the 1990s, which is how we ended up with The Warratahs smashing out this absolute tune about taking a fun ferry trip. So good, it even featured on their greatest hits album. / TW
‘Emotional Junior Staffer’ by Hayden Donnell
An in-house banger for the ages. / AN
‘Eurovision (Open Up)’ by Two Hearts
No comedy song has any right to be this good, especially not one making an impassioned plea for New Zealand to be included in Eurovision. And yet, here I still am in 2026, singing “we’re ready for an OOooEEEoooEEEEoooEEEE”. / AC
‘Fever’ by Aldous Harding
Aldous Harding is a shapeshifting magician. This song is so catchy and tricky. I love the video, too: it’s ART. She’s the most real artist out. / CM
‘Fish and Chips’ by Claudia Mushin
The preeminent New Zealand children’s song of the last 30 or so years, belted out in classrooms across the motu. The lyrics hit on something real and true about being a New Zealander: fish and chips ARE for me. / CH
‘Fuck My Life’ by Hans Pucket
Opening with the immortal words “Who knocked me out of my comfort? / I’ll shit on your head”, ‘Fuck My Life’ captures a haggard, hungover-on-a-chilly-Wellington-morning pessimism that is all too relatable, despite featuring a toe-tapping indie rock groove (and a baritone sax breakdown at the end that absolutely rips). / Te Aihe Butler
‘Glorafilia’ by Zed
The mythical Glorafilia, with her white dreadlocks and those ribbons in her hair, was the OG manic pixie dream girl years before Zooey Deschanel had even had her first beer. This 1999 Zed classic also contains my single favourite piece of NZ music trivia: Glorafilia was the title of a needlepoint craft book lying around songwriter Ben Campbell’s mum’s place. / AC
‘Gimme Time’ by Ardijah
Beyond featuring on Once Were Warriors, the vocals by the iconic Betty-Anne Morunga on ‘Gimme Time‘ is one of her all-time best performances. Her vocal range and talent is on full display, pulling on the heartstrings and leaving you in awe. / LR
‘Grandma’s Rocket Poem’ by Troy Kingi
Inspired by Bill Withers’ ‘Grandma’s Hands’, Kingi serves regal intergalactic melodic space vibes in this track, transporting listeners to the fifth dimension. / LR
‘Hāngi Tonight’ by Dennis Marsh
Look, I don’t want to make assumptions about demographics at RNZ but there was a suspicious lack of Māori shed music on that long list. Which makes no sense, because is there anything more NZ-coded than a bit of puha with your pork, waipiro while we talk, and having a Māori hāngi tonight? / LWS
‘Harmonic Generator’ by The Datsuns
I have very specific memories of this song blowing up and blowing minds way back in 2002 when I was near the end of high school and ready to rock. The teens from Cambridge had it all: unearthly vocals, psychedelic music video, filthy riffs. So good. / CM
‘Hold Tight’ by Greg Johnson
This song makes the heart pang in a beautiful way. I love Greg Johnson as a songwriter and reckon he fully deserves some recognish. / CM
‘Hold You Close’ by Opensouls
Few New Zealand singers come close to Tyra Hammond. This iconic retro-inspired swing soul and jazz number is the perfect encapsulation of Hammond’s vocal prowess and the band’s musical talents. / LR
‘Hold Your Hand in Mine, Harry Warner’ by James Mustapic
A 2015 romantic ballad dedicated to Shortland Street’s most neglected nepo-baby, which includes the heartfelt line “Chris fell off the flying fox like I fell for you” and rhymes ‘Warner’ with ‘sauna’. / TW
‘Holy Low’ by Nadia Reid
When Reid’s first album – Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs – came out I felt like everyone around me was claiming discovery of this astonishing young songwriter with a voice that didn’t sound like anyone else ever. ‘Holy Low’ is such a tune! Folk roots, rock heart, and Nadia Reid’s otherworldly vocals. The words, too: “holy low” is one of the most interesting pairings in English. / CM
‘Horizon’ by Aldous Harding
A classic from the moment it was soft-launched in the form of a YouTube video of Aldous playing it live at Whammy Bar. The performance is just her on vocals and Jono from The Beths on keys and it’s intense, beautiful and kind of freaky. The final recording isn’t much more adorned. A song has to be good for it to be this sparse and stay compelling. / HD
‘How Great Thou Art’ by Howard Morrison
Referred to simply as “Sir” by a generation of New Zealanders, Howard Morrison delivered one of his most iconic performances in ‘How Great Thou Art’. / LR
‘The Humans are Dead’ by Flight of the Conchords
I can’t think of a more relevant song for our times. Sure it’s funny as. But now it kind of freaks me out, especially seeing the Conchords perform it this year with new AI-related tweaks. I laughed and I also cried. / CM
‘I Love Music’ by Lord Echo and Lisa Tomlins
A hypnotising acid jazz melody accompanied by the soulful vocals of Lisa Tomplins. A treat for the sonic senses. / LR
‘I Need Your Love’ by Golden Harvest
Fun fact: Kevin Kaukau, the guitarist for Golden Harvest, is rumoured to have had a huge influence on guitar icon Slash. His teeth-picking and behind-the-back playing antics were quite revolutionary in the 1970s. / LR
‘It’s Our Time’ by Suzy Cato
The heartwarming anthem for a generation of New Zealanders who grew up watching Queen Suzy Cato every afternoon on You and Me. Simple lyrics that symbolise a rich, emotional connection: it really IS our time, our special time of day. / TW
‘It’s Too Late’ by Evermore
From Feilding all the way to Orange County – this damn song was on The OC! What have you ever done that’s got on The OC? / AC
John Key ‘Trotie’ Dubstep Remix by Peens Allely
Trotie. / AC
‘Jezebel’ by Jon Stevens
A disco soul classic and quite possibly the smoothest song ever recorded by a New Zealander. / CH
‘Jump Rope Gazers’ by The Beths
Find me an opening line that captures our beautifully understated all-good-if-not New Zealand way than this: “I’ve never been the dramatic type, but if I don’t see your face tonight I– I guess I’ll be fine”? Building to that soaring, heart-swellingly romantic chorus, I’m still waiting to hear ‘Jump Rope Gazers’ on a major tear-jerker rom-com trailer. / AC
‘Lalelei’ by Leao
A bit of punk, a bit of surfer rock, with the mana and reo of Samoa. What is not to love? Leao’s ‘Lalelei’ makes me feel like I’m on a beach holiday with friends and family. We’re cooking a seafood feast in the kitchen, kids chasing each other in the yard, picking prickles from your feet after walking back from the beach, cold beer in hand. It’s where I want to be. For the briefest of moments everything feels calmer, simpler. / ER
‘Land of Plenty’ by OMC
Of course ‘How Bizarre’ is great and deserves its spot in the top 10… but real ones know this is OMC’s true magnum opus! / CH
‘Laugh it Off’ by Chelsea Jade
Find me a more euphoric song about a relationship in ruin. / AC
‘The Letting Go’ by The Eastern
‘The Letting Go’ was released in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake and became a kind of anthem for a broken but rebuilding city. Though there’s every chance it’s about a former partner, the song’s mix of sadness and hope felt like the perfect sentiment. / HD
‘Māori Boy’ by JGeeks and the Geeks
You just had to be there. And by there I mean be at the back of the sports field in intermediate school playing this on repeat off your iPod Touch. / LWS
‘Marion Bates Realty’ by Tono and The Finance Company
This early Anthonie Tonnon ditty is a timeless story of gentrification in New Zealand, and truly only gets better with age. It’s a fun middle-finger to the pains of getting kicked out of your Grey Lynn flat as your street turns from “a slum to a snobville” at the hands of fascist mastermind and real estate agent Marion Bates, resulting in the “messiest kind of breakup with the meanest kind of girl”. Many such cases. / LWS
‘Me at the Museum, You at the Wintergardens’ by Tiny Ruins
Folk tunes were few and far between on the RNZ Waiata 100 which is curious given we have such a strong folk culture. Tiny Ruins is one of my favourite Aotearoa artists and this is the song that turned a whole swath of fans onto the genius of Hollie Fullbrook’s songwriting, ethereal voice and wondrous guitar work. / CM
‘Multi-Love’ by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Mind-melding music from insanely talented musicians. I had this song on repeat when it came out: somehow it’s always a surprise, the turns of it, the vocals. Can’t get enough! / CM
‘Nest Egg’ by Phoenix Foundation
RNZ’s list included ‘Buffalo’ from the 2010 album of the same name. It’s a majestic tune. But ‘Nest Egg‘, the final track on the Pegasus album, is, for me, a keystone song. Screaming “It’s a lie!” along with a delirious, sweaty, nostalgic crowd the Phoenix Foundation’s gig for The Others Way last year was pure magic. / CM
‘Own Two Feet’ by The Jean-Paul Sartre Experiment
I had never heard of JPS Experiment until my partner introduced me to them about a decade ago with this song. It’s that Flying Nun sound but it’s something else, too. Cyclical, Kiwi accent, “you don’t even care”, twanging guitar like a character, and a choir boy kind of chorus. / CM
‘Palm Singing’ by Bressa Creeting Cake
Pretty sure I couldn’t stand this song the first time I heard it on the Ice TV compilation CD as a po-faced teen, but time has shown me the error of my ways. If you haven’t heard ‘Palm Singing’ for a few years give it a listen and prepare to be blown away by what a glorious tune it really is. / CH
‘Persuasion’ by Tim Finn
The Finns were pretty well repped in RNZ’s list but I have a real soft spot for this song. I used to hate it. Now I love it and have had it on repeat when the mood calls. It’s so sing-along-able, karaoke-friendly – a proper emo banger. / CM
‘Pō Atarau’ by Turakina Girls Choir
Also a fave of honorary New Zealander Ryan Gosling of course. / AC
‘Politician’ by Kora
I have fond memories of standing in a cloud of weed smoke at an O-Week concert singing along with those incredible Kora brothers and hundreds of other fresh students all communing with the central question, which still is: “Poli, poli, politician, can you make the right decision for all of us?” / CM
‘Pulled Along by Love’ by The Mutton Birds
How being in love actually sounds. / CM
‘Rainbow’s End’ by Purest Form
This may have been a television jingle for Rainbow’s End in Auckland, but this catchy tune played nationwide and deserved to go straight to number one. The beautiful a cappella harmonies! That sweet, sweet melody! It really is where the fun begins. / TW
‘Sailing Away’ by All Of Us
This record-breaking 1986 hit was based on Pōkarekara Ana and marked the beginnings of a nation’s love affair with the America’s Cup. I couldn’t give a shit about yachting, but the chorus gets me every time. / TW
‘Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)’ by Jason Derulo and Jawsh 685
Jawsh 685 became a symbol of the siren-loving Polynesian population of New Zealand after becoming a viral sensation with his beat on this track. Jason Derulo adding his own vocals catapulted the young South Aucklander into Hollywood stardom, unlocking icon status with his very first hit. / LR
‘Shortland Street Theme’ – Tina Cross and Graham Bollard
Scrawled on a piece of scrap paper in a parked car in Mount Eden, 1992, the eternal question “is it you, or is it me?” would soon be asked every weeknight at 7pm on TV2 for over a decade, until the lyrics to the Shortland Street theme song were phased out some time in the late 2000s. Moody, atmospheric, existential and essential. / AC
‘Sierra Leone’ by Mt. Eden Dubstep
Any young New Zealander even remotely interested in the late 2000s/early 2010s dubstep and electronic scene will have fond memories of this absolute banger. It was hard to escape. / LR
‘Singing in my Soul’ by Fly My Pretties
Fly My Pretties gigs were so iconic for a while there. This song by Age Pryor is unassuming but potent, sweet but serious. / CM
‘Southern Man’ by Denis Henderson
Before the 1998 NPC final, a helicopter landed on the hallowed turf of Carisbrook. Off stepped a rugged-looking man cloaked in a Drizabone jacket. He plugged in his guitar and belted out a ditty that encapsulated what it meant to be from the south. Never mind that it was originally written by Auckland ad men to sell Speight’s – it remains one of this country’s most rousing singalongs. Of course Otago went on to win that day. / CH
‘Stop, Drop & Roll’ by Mareko and Deceptikonz
If you were born in New Zealand in the 90s or 2000s, there’s little to no chance that you don’t know this song. The iconic anthem was repeated and remixed across the country, becoming an instantly recognisable classic for a generation of New Zealanders. / LR
‘Stuff and Nonsense’ by Split Enz
But specifically the version on the 7 Worlds Collide live album, which Tim Finn performs with Eddie Vedder. “This is a song from the Frenzy album 1978…” says Finn at the top of the recording, as the live crowd goes wild. I can’t even really explain why I love this song so much other than that it moves me and simultaneously reminds me of very drunken nights out in Dunedin, for reasons. / CM
‘Swing’ by Savage
South Auckland-born-and-bred Savage made history with his hit ‘Swing’. The song gained immense popularity in the notoriously difficult United States market, and his success laid a platform for several New Zealand hip-hop artists to follow in his path. / LR
‘Submarine Bells’ by The Chills
One of the strangest, most wonderful songs from the genius mind of Martin Phillipps. The version I know best is a live recording from that Live at Helen’s CD and I can call it up in my brain and live in it. / CM
‘Suffer and Cry’ by 3B Chafing Cream
Nothing captures our negative, wet, whiny, inward-looking country better than this, a deeply morose ode to the perils of sweat rash. Do we have to suffer and cry, indeed. / AC
‘Sun Goes Down’ by Nesian Mystik
Mystified that Nesian Mystik was missed entirely off the list! There are so many songs that could be listed here but I reckon this is a stone cold classic. The sound of summer! / CM
‘Supalonely’ by Benee
Remember when we were all like “I’m a lonely bitch” in the pandemic and this was the single biggest song on TikTok? Classic. / AC
‘System Virtue’ by Emma Paki
One of the defining New Zealand songs of the 90s had a certain Nature’s Best ubiquity for a while but now seems to have dropped off the radar… sad! Put it back on the radar. / CH
‘Theme from Once Were Warriors’ by Tama Renata
A definite contender for the great New Zealand guitar riff, memorably performed by Tana Renata from Herbs on what is easily New Zealand’s coolest guitar: a hand-carved Fender Strat named Savage. / CH
‘They Don’t Know’ by Savage ft. Aaradhna
Look, I rewatched Sione’s Wedding over the long weekend and this particular needle drop is nothing short of pure perfection. / AC
‘Thin Lizzy TVC Song’ by Thin Lizzy Cosmetics
I’ve said it once and I will say it again: this is the ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ of Y2K womanhood. / AC
‘This is the Moment’ by Chris Thompson
The 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games anthem that made us all athletes. / TW
‘Tonight’ by TrueBliss
It’s the song that changed reality television forever and made New Zealand pop group TrueBliss debut at number one in 1999. Look into my eyes, TrueBliss, I’ll love you till the end of time. / TW
‘Tumeke’ by Mokomokai
Straight up, some of the toughest (and horniest) bars ever spat in Aotearoa. “I’m Hone Heke for the teke” deserves a thousand Silver Scrolls. / LWS
‘Up the Bus’ by Dick Move
As The Spinoff has previously confirmed, there is nothing more New Zealand than thanking the bus driver. / LWS
‘Venus’ by The Feelers
Imagine a publicly voted list of the top 100 British songs that didn’t include ‘Wonderwall’ or ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’… that’s what it’s like not including any Feelers songs on the list! / CH
‘Verona’ by Elemeno P
“When I saw you in Verona… ” How can you not start singing along immediately? This is such a banger and beautifully location-specific (extra poignant these days). / CM
‘Violent’ by Stellar*
I remember going to see Stellar* at the QEII centre in Tauranga when I was a tween and thinking Boh Runga was the single most coolest person alive. She still is. / CM
‘Waiting For Your Love’ by The Reduction Agents
Simply timeless tuneage – should be 1000x more well-known than it is. / CH
‘Waka’ by Che Fu
Again, absolutely befuddled that this song didn’t make the cut. It takes me right back to the best of times. I just love it – love the tinging beginning, love Che Fu’s vocals as ever, love it all. / CM
‘Wake Up Brother’ by Goldenhorse
Goldenhorse’s Riverhead album doesn’t miss a beat. It’s full of surprising shifts in mood and tone – all bangers. If I could I’d probably put every track on this list. ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ did make it to the list but I reckon ‘Wake Up Brother’ deserves some attention, too. So here it is. / CM
‘Water Underground’ by Anthonie Tonnon
I am confident in saying this is the most moving rock song ever written about Nick Smith’s decision to sack Environment Canterbury’s councillors in order to pave the way for intensive farming in the South Island. ‘Water Underground’ is an absolute triumph; so catchy it’ll make you passionately mad about the effects of cow piss and poo on our water tables. / HD
‘We Gon’ Ride’ by Dei Hamo
Big, bombastic, funny, and famously inspiring what was the most expensive music video ever made at the time, 2004 hip hop anthem ‘We Gon’ Ride’ also acts as a siren call for a whole generation of New Zealand millennials. I dare you to walk out onto a busy street and sing “Riiiiiiii-deeeers, come out and play-ay” and see what happens. / AC
‘The World is Looking For You’ by Aldous Harding
Don’t you hate when a long list overlooks that deep-cut favourite that you swear is the artist’s best, just trust me, why does no one else love this like I love this? Anyway, justice for this utterly perfect Aldous ballad. / LWS
‘Years Gone By’ by Avantdale Bowling Club
Imma let you finish, but Avantdale Bowling Club had one of the best jazz rap records of all time with their self-titled 2018 album. Tom Scott’s narrative mastery shines as he watches his life and rap career and the pop culture moments that followed alongside them, from the “bender that went on four years long” (“that was the same year Lebron won”) to welcoming his son in the same neighbourhood he grew up in, Avondale. / LWS
‘You Make the Whole World Smile’ by Hammond Gamble
With all due respect to ‘Slice of Heaven’, this may be the catchiest New Zealand song of all time. Despite that, it’s not annoying. In fact, ‘You Make the Whole World Smile’ is remarkable for being more reliably smile-inducing than the babies it’s actually about. / HD
‘Young Blood’ by Naked and Famous
Yeah, yeah, yeaah, yeeeaahh!! Right as MGMT, M83 and all manner of electro-synth acts starting with M were popping off at the turn of the oughts, along came our own Naked and Famous with this nostalgia-packed youth anthem. Testament to the song’s power is its extremely long tail in popular culture, from the Carrie remake to trending on TikTok. / AC
