Singing is a fun and stress-relieving pastime for many, and singing classic songs is a great way to improve your vocal talents while enjoying some good tunes!
Patriotic songs, classic songs, and fun songs are always a good way to never get bored while practising singing skills. There’s a practical reason to learn these songs, too: you never know when you’ll need to have something prepared for karaoke!
Here are some of the best New Zealand-based songs for you to use in your singing lessons or solo practise.
Patriotic Songs of New Zealand
Sometimes, a resounding patriotic song is just what you feel like singing. Patriotic songs tend to be bold, have an interesting a memorable tune, and generally be singable by anyone no matter their skill level.
What’s your favourite to sing when you want to belt out a tune?
God Defend New Zealand
It’s no surprise that the first song on this list would be one of the national anthems. It’s fortunate that the New Zealand national anthem is actually a really good song!
The anthem was originally a poem in the 1870s by Thomas Bracken of Dunedin. It must have been extremely popular because 6 years later a contest was held for the best music composition to accompany the poem. John Joseph Woods of Lawrence, Otago wrote the winning submission in one sitting, which became the original (English-only) version.
The Māori version was written in 1878 by Thomas Henry Smith of Auckland. The song gained popularity domestically and internationally and was used in the 1952 Olympics along with God Save the Queen, after the New Zealand government bought the rights and made it the ‘national hymn.’
In 1977, God Defend New Zealand was declared co-national anthem along with God Save the Queen (nowadays called God Save the King). The conventional way of singing the anthem – first the Māori verse and then the English – became standard practice after 1999.
Rolling Wheels
A forgotten song of the Māori battalion in WWII, they sing of leading the advance through northern Africa and Italy. While not much more can easily be found about the Patriotic marching tune, there’s no doubt that it creates a meaningful and haunting beat meant for soldiers persisting in the war effort.
Pōkarekare Ana
Published in 1919, this song claims no known composers because it was likely a group effort of the Māori soldiers training together for WWI near Auckland. It was likely composed around 1914 by multiple soldiers as they grew in camaraderie and worked together to boost their morale.
It’s still one of the most popular love songs borne of New Zealand.
Ten Guitars
While not strictly an anthem, this pop song by British singer Engelbert Humperdinck is widely considered the official “unofficial national anthem” of New Zealand. It became popular upon its release in 1967 due to its style which is very similar to the “Māori strum” style of playing.
Its upbeat sound and familiar music style appealed to both Māori people and others in New Zealand, and its popularly skyrocketed.
Now, it’s one of the most beloved songs in the country, meaning it’s a good idea to practice singing with it!
New Zealand Classic Songs
Every country has their classic hits that everyone still knows, even though they might have come out decades ago, and the sound helped shape a generation.
You can’t go wrong with using these songs to practise singing because they are fun and since they’re well-known and loved, people will perk up when they hear you singing!
Slice of Heaven
The original release of this song was back in 1986, where it reached No. 1 on the New Zealand Singles Chart for eight weeks. Since it was used in the trailer and film “Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale” it received a lot of attention from the public and was an instant hit.
It was even widely used in tourism ads for New Zealand in the 80s and 90s, solidifying it as yet another unofficial anthem for the country!
In September of 2023, a new version of this classic hit was released, performed by COTERIE and featuring the original singer, Dave Dobbyn (but not Herbs, the original band).
Maybe you thought the old version had a certain charm but sounded a bit dated; well now you can check out this modern version for some new singing inspiration!
Nature
This 1969 hit may be a surprising entry to this list if you’re not familiar with the popularity of the song (remember – the 60s and 70s were a very different time). Overall, this hit by The Foumyula has been voted time and time again as the absolute best song that has ever been released in Aotearoa.
It was voted as the top song by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 2001 due to its chart-topping state in 1970 as well as its having won the APRA Silver Scroll also in 1970. And, the song was popularised again in 1992 when the band The Mutton Birds recorded a cover, which went on to chart at #4 and win Single of the Year in the 1993 New Zealand Music Awards.
This folksy tune (reminiscent of The Beatles) will surely have you jamming along!
Why Does Love Do This To Me
In the time of the 90s grunge, The Exponents released this extremely fun and catchy song that was immediately popular, charting in New Zealand for 29 weeks and peaking at number 3. It was so catchy and singalong-worthy that it helped make the band popular live since everyone loved singing their hearts out together with this jam.
To this day, many people have fond memories of singing this song with friends and strangers alike.
It was voted number 47 on the aforementioned APRA list in 2001, and was awarded Single of the Year in 1992.
Belt to your heart’s desire with this passionate and emotional song!
New Zealand Top Hit Songs
Of course, New Zealand is known in the international music scene for a few major hit songs that you simply cannot overlook.
Since these songs are well-known all over the world, you can be sure to find fast friends on any trip abroad when you bond over your shared experience hearing these songs on the radio at one point or another!
How Bizarre
Who can forget this international hit song by OMC? Released in 1995, this hit song topped the charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. While they had other successful tracks in New Zealand, their international fame was never replicated, so they are considered a one-hit wonder on the global stage.
It won the New Zealand Music Awards Single of the Year award in 1996 and was voted the 34th greatest New Zealand song of all time by the APRA in 2001, and was deemed the 71st greatest one-hit wonder by VH1 in 2002.
The “Polynesian pop” song’s combination of instrumentals and vocals made it stand out, quickly becoming a popular ear worm and prevalent in pop culture even up to today, where it has been used as part of a TikTok trend!
The rap-centric lead paired with the gentle back-up singers allows you to practice a myriad of singing styles.
Sway
This 1997 hit from Bic Runga peaked at number 7 in New Zealand, 10 in Australia, and even charted in Ireland, Scotland, and the UK. It won Single of the Year, Best Songwriter, and Best Engineer (Simon Sheridan) at the 32nd New Zealand Music Awards, and was dubbed the 6th best song of all time on the APRA list in 2001.
In 2019, Runga re-recorded a version in te reo called Haere Mai Rā / Sway for a collection of translated pop songs called Waiata / Anthems for te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week).
The mesmerising melody and fluttering vocals of the track are a fun challenge for budding singers to practise their range and vocal techniques.
This folk / indie / pop / rock song talks of love and how it can make you illogical at times; a sentiment most people can resonate with, making it a perfect song for a long-lasting influence. It has even been covered by artists like Dean Martin, Michael Bublé, and The Pussycat Dolls!
Don’t Dream It’s Over
Released in 1986, this “majestic ballad,” written by Neil Finn of Crowded House, was a quick hit internationally, charting in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and West Germany. The music video won the 1986 Best Video award at the Countdown Australian Music Awards. It quickly became known as “the ‘Hey Now Hey Now’ song.”
In 2001, it was determined to be the 2nd best New Zealand song of all time by the APRA, and 7th in the Australian list.
This hit song has been covered by artists like Paul Young, Sixpence None the Richer, and New Zealand artist Stan Walker, who produced a Māori version called Moemoeā ("Dream").
Finn still writes and produces music as of 2023, which surprises many people. He even performed Don’t Dream It’s Over with Eddie Vedder during the One World: Together at Home benefit concert in 2020.
The track evokes the feeling of yearning for belonging while experiencing homesickness, since Finn wrote it while he was in Los Angeles, missing his home country. It’s a perfect opportunity to practise infusing your singing with deep and specific emotion.
Māori Songs to Practise Singing
One of the wonderful things about Aotearoa is the meshing of peoples and therefore the prevalence of indigenous culture in the modern day. Because of this, there are also many popular te reo Māori waiata and non-traditional songs available for everyone to enjoy and sing along with!
Poi E
Poi E was written by Maui Dalvanius Prime and Ngoi Peiwhairangi and was recorded by the Pātea Māori Club in 1982 in response to the closure of the Pātea Freezing Works factory. The factory closure threatened the livelihood of the Ngāti Ruanui community in Taranaki, and as a result, the iwi needed to disband and find jobs elsewhere.
It was a way for the community to create something together before everything changed.
In 1984, it became a hit, allowing the Pātea Māori Club to tour the UK and give a Royal Command Performance. The song was at the number 1 spot in the New Zealand charts for 4 weeks and spent 22 weeks in the charts in total.
The track currently has a triple Platinum status and even saw a resurgence of popularity in 2010. It’s been called "the anthem of a new generation" and remains deeply important in modern Māori culture.
Hoki Mai
Originally written as “Tomo Mai e Tama Mā” by Hēnare Waitoa in 1946 as a welcome-home song for WWII soldiers, Hoki Mai was later adapted by The Howard Morrison Quartet into the popular version still known today.
While this new version of the song did cause some controversy at the time because of its original meaning and some people felt the Quartet didn’t honour the lamenting nature of the song, it was nevertheless a breakthrough hit, earning international recognition.
It popularised the “Māori strum” guitar styling and is still an iconic sound in Māori music today.
The upbeat Quartet version of this song is great for practising your vocal techniques!
The Bridge
The Bridge set the record of being the first Māori language record to hit the #1 spot in New Zealand, surpassing John Lennon, in 1981. It was also the first Māori track to achieve Gold status! Written, recorded, and released by Deane Waretini and the Rising Stars, this tune is essentially a reworking of an Italian jazz song called Il Silencio by Nini Rosso.
Waretini ensured the popularity of the song by producing a batch of singles and selling them for 50 cents on the street, sending them to local radio stations and then calling in to request the song be played, and getting it played at The Civic during intermission.
Warentini is quoted as saying, after his cousin and business/music partner George Tait passed, “I'm a bit of a taker, but I think giving is much better, and that song [Tait] gave me, well, I think it brings out a sense of pride in the people of New Zealand. It really did bridge the cultural gap."
No matter your song preference, you can style any of these classic New Zealand tunes to suit your skill level and practise your vocal talents.
Learn these songs and more with a qualified singing tutor here on Superprof! They can help you master your breath and voice so you can hit the high notes and belt out a melody to your heart’s content.
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