Music of New Zealand

Popular New Zealand music has been influenced by blues, jazz, country, rock and roll and hip hop, with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation. A number of popular artists have gone on to achieve international success including Split Enz, Crowded House, OMC, Bic Runga, Ladyhawke, The Naked and Famous, Fat Freddy's Drop, Flight of the Conchords, Brooke Fraser, Broods and Lorde.
Pre-colonial Māori music was based around a form of micro-tonal chanting, and instruments called taonga pūoro: a variety of blown, struck and twirled instruments made out of hollowed-out wood, stone, whale ivory, albatross bone, and human bone. In the nineteenth century, European settlers brought musical forms to New Zealand including brass bands and choral music, and musicians began touring New Zealand in the 1860s. Pipe bands became widespread during the early 20th century.
New Zealand has a national orchestra and many regional orchestras. A number of New Zealand composers...