15 Most Famous singers from New Zealand  

15 Most Famous Singers From New Zealand  

*Originally published by Beatrice W on July 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on June 2023 and by Vanessa M on February 2024.

New Zealand music has been influenced by traditions, including Māori music, Western culture, and styles imported during the twentieth century.

European settlers from Britain and Ireland brought other musical forms like brass bands, choral music, and pipe bands.

In recent years several popular singers have gone on to achieve international success. The popular genres are jazz, blues, country, rock and roll, reggae, and hip hop.

Here are the 15 most famous singers from New Zealand. 

1. Lorde 

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, professionally known as Lorde, is a singer-songwriter who is a citizen of both New Zealand and Croatia. She was born on 7th November 1996 in Takapuna, New Zealand.

Famous for writing self-analyzing songs and for her free-spirited musical styles, this singer grew up outside Auckland, where she was raised by her mother Sonja, a poet, and her father Vic, an engineer. 

She signed a development deal with Universal Music Group when she was 12 and spent several years learning to write songs and working with a coach to hone her deep, smoky voice. 

Her studio album ‘Pure Heroine’ was a best-selling album that has sold more than 6 million copies in the world so far.  

2. Keith Urban 

Keith Urban. Photo By Library of Congress Life – Wikimedia Commons

Keith Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian musician, singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his work in country music.  

This award-winning artist is considered one of the leading exponents of his music genre. Each one of his albums goes platinum or multiplatinum meaning every single one sold more than 1 million copies. 

He is married to actress Nicole Kidman and they have two daughters together. 

3. Hayley Westenra 

Hayley Westenra is a household name for those who love classical music. In 2003 her debut album, Pure, became the fastest-selling album on the UK classical charts ever. 

She has sung personally to Queen Elizabeth – on four separate occasions – and to Princes Harry and William. She has also performed at such major sporting events as the FA Cup Final, the Mercedes Cup in Los Angles, and the Rugby World Cup Final in 2011 when the All Blacks went on to win the title.  

She’s also collaborated with movie soundtrack royalty, including the extraordinary Ennio Morricone. 

4. Phil Judd  

Philip Raymond Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.  

He was born on 20th March 1953 in Hastings, New Zealand. Rock, pop, vaudeville, and alternative are his genre of music.  

Phil is involved in recording movie soundtracks and is also a visual artist. His surrealistic portrayal of Split Enz for the band’s 1975 Mental Notes album won a music industry award for best cover design.

5. Kimbra 

Singer Kimbra. Photo By Fred von – Wikimedia Commons

Kimbra Lee Johnson is another popular singer from Hamilton, New Zealand. She is well known for mixing pop with R&B, jazz, and rock musical elements.

She came to the world’s attention after working with Gotye on the popular and successful song ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’. The song has close to two billion views on YouTube. 

Kimbra’s music delves beyond the ‘four chords’ cliché but still maintains strong hooks and catchy melodies that are sometimes unpredictable but satisfying. Her influences include Prince, Bjork, and Jeff Buckley. 

6. Stan Walker 

Stan Walker is an Australian-born New Zealand singer, actor, and television personality. He was born on 23 October 1990 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia but he grew up in New Zealand.

In 2009, Walker was the winner of the seventh and last season of Australian Idol and he subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

In December 2009, Walker released his debut studio album, Introducing Stan Walker, which included the hit single, “Black Box”. The album was certified multiple platinum in New Zealand and Australia.

7. Brooke Fraser 

Brooke Fraser is a New Zealand singer and songwriter best known for her hit single “Something in the Water”, released in 2010. She was New Zealand’s musical teenage prodigies. She grew up in the capital, Wellington. 

Fraser took piano lessons between the ages of seven and seventeen. She started writing songs at age twelve and taught herself the acoustic guitar at age fifteen.

She signed with Sony Music, an American multinational music company, while she was young. Her first album went eight times platinum in New Zealand. That album alone resulted in five number-one radio singles.

Brooke is a member of the Australian Christian music group Hillsong Worship. She won an award for the song  ‘What A Beautiful Name’, which she wrote and performed for the worship group, at the 2018 Grammy Awards. 

8. Dave Dobbyn 

Dave Dobbyn. Photo By Wendy Collings – Wikimedia Commons

Dave Dobbyn is a famous musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who hails from New Zealand. He was born on 3rd January 1957 and from a young age, he was passionate and enthusiastic about music. 

Dave has a successful music career and has produced a string of studio albums. He is arguably the Kiwi musician who has had the biggest impact on popular music in New Zealand. 

9. Bic Runga 

Bic Runga. Photo By Nick Chappell – Wikimedia Commons

Bic Runga is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. She is one incredibly talented singer who can play a host of instruments and has a beautiful voice.

She joined the music scene at the tender age of twenty with her acclaimed album, Drive, which was released in 1997.  Her music has made it overseas and into such (now) classic movies as American Pie.

She has fans all over Europe and Asia thanks to her phenomenally popular track, Sway. In January 2006, The Queen made Runga a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Zealand New Year’s Honours List.

10. Williams

His original name is Joshua Elia Williams. However, he is widely popular by his stage name i.e. J. Williams. He is a recording artist and hip-hop dancer who was born in Mangere, Auckland.  

This Kiwi musician successfully commenced his music career with the release of his debut single – “Blow Your Mind”. In the year of 2009, he released his debut album – named Young Love. 

This album became incredibly successful among the New Zealanders with the hit single “You Got Me” being certified platinum. 

11. Fat Freddy’s Drop

If a band is reaching its 1000th live performance, you can be confident that their skill is already quite sharp. It is best to see one of these bands live, such as Fat Freddy’s Drop, in order to really appreciate them. If you own an FFD CD, it’s likely that you’ve heard songs that were written while travelling, guided in the fire of live performance, and came from the other side looking powerful and glossy. They are popular in both Australasia and Europe.

12. Shapeshifter

Foto: Atamari, Entwicklung und upload: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shapeshifter has played at many major festivals over the years, including Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out, and Parklife. These Christchurch-born boys put on a great performance with beats that include influences from drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock, and electronica.

Their music is amazing for large groups, but it’s also great for relaxing with a bottle of wine and listening to a nice set of headphones while lounging in a beanbag after a long day at work. You can travel to another world with this song. The ideal music to excite you for the weekend.

13. Anika Moa

Anika Moa is another great example of the talent that Garden City appears to cultivate. Due to her success, she spent time in New York recording an album, but she grew frustrated with the way she was promoted there. After that, she went back home and received worldwide recognition for her album Thinking Room.

14. The Mint Chicks

The drummer of The Mint Chicks, Kody Nielson, destroyed two drum sets during their final show, telling the crowd to “form your own f*cking band,” which led to their breakup in 2010, yet they were still entertaining to watch for about nine years. They alternated between Auckland, New Zealand, and Portland, Oregon, where they supported artists like The White Stripes and TV on the Radio.

They put out some excellent music, especially the massively hit Crazy. Yes! Dumb? No! Yet, it was their musical antics that solidified their notoriety abroad. Among the most unforgettable of these were the times they carried a chainsaw on stage and tore off a corporate sponsor’s sign. It is legitimate punk rock.

15. Dave Dobbyn

Department of Conservation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The artist who definitely has had the largest influence on New Zealand’s popular music is Dave Dobbyn. Over the years, many of his songs have served as the soundtracks to New Zealanders’ lives. In the late 1970s, his band, Th’ Dudes, shot to success with the song Bliss, which was basically a song about the pleasure of drinking beer.

Interestingly, this song continues to be extremely well-liked, is praised as a true Kiwi classic, and is often proposed as an alternative to the existing national anthem. If you want a flavour of what triggers a New Zealander’s nostalgia, listen to his hits Loyal and Welcome Home.

Top 10 New Zealand Grammy Winners

1. Lorde – Best Pop Solo Performance for “Royals” (2014)

Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This talented New Zealand singer-songwriter won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2014 for her breakthrough single “Royals.” Lorde demonstrated a mature and distinct voice at the age of 17, and “Royals” became a global sensation thanks to its minimalist production and insightful lyrics critiquing materialism.

The song’s success catapulted Lorde to international stardom, making her the youngest solo artist to have a US number-one single since 1987. Lorde’s Grammy win cemented her reputation as a formidable force in the music industry, with acclaim for her distinct sound and thought-provoking songwriting.

2. Keith Urban – Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “Stupid Boy” (2007)

Keith Urban won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 2007 for his poignant single “Stupid Boy.” The song, which features Urban’s emotive vocals and compelling storytelling, delves into the theme of personal development and reflection. “Stupid Boy” is from Urban’s critically acclaimed album “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.”

The Grammy win confirmed Urban’s status as a leading figure in contemporary country music, highlighting his ability to convey emotional depth through his music. Urban’s sincere and resonant performance on “Stupid Boy” wowed both fans and critics, cementing his place in the country music pantheon.

3. Hayley Westenra – Best New Age Album for “Pure” (2004)

The original uploader was Andrew D White at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hayley Westenra won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2004 for her enchanting release, “Pure.” The New Zealand soprano’s ethereal voice and diverse repertoire demonstrated her versatility in classical crossover music. “Pure” seamlessly blended traditional and contemporary elements, with a mix of classical standards, pop covers, and original songs.

The album’s global success catapulted Westenra to international acclaim, establishing her as one of the best-selling classical crossover artists. Her win in the New Age category reflected the album’s soothing and atmospheric qualities, demonstrating Westenra’s ability to captivate audiences with her angelic voice and innovative musical style.

4. Fat Freddys Drop – Best Reggae Album for “Blackbird” (2020)

Fat Freddy’s Drop became the first New Zealand group to win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Their 2013 album “Blackbird” won the award in 2020. “Blackbird” marked a more polished, mainstream sound for the Wellington-based seven-piece band, which incorporated soul, dub, and jazz elements.

Singles such as “Clean the House” received international airplay. The Grammy win cemented Fat Freddy’s Drop’s reputation for musicality and genre-bending creativity. It was a career highlight and a significant milestone in New Zealand music.

5. Kimbra – Record of the Year for “Somebody That I Used to Know” with Gotye (2013)

Stuart Sevastos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kimbra rose to international prominence after collaborating with Gotye on “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which won the 2013 Grammy for Record of the Year. Kimbra’s soulful vocals and dynamic presence contributed significantly to the song’s success. The track’s innovative instrumentation and emotionally charged lyrics captivated audiences all over the world.

Kimbra’s contribution demonstrated her versatility and musical prowess, resulting in widespread recognition. The Grammy win cemented her reputation as a talented artist and marked a watershed moment in her career, leaving an indelible mark on the global music scene.

6. Bic Runga – Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Sway” from American Pie (2002)

Bic Runga became the first New Zealand artist to win a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2002, with “Sway” from the film American Pie. Bic originally recorded “Sway” for her 1997 debut album Drive, and its dreamy, indie pop sound made it an ideal choice for the film’s sentimental prom scene.

Bic’s Grammy win elevated her international profile and highlighted her melodic songwriting abilities. It was a significant achievement for both the New Zealand artist and the film music genre. The award demonstrated how Bic’s music could transcend her home country and reach a global audience.

7. Dave Dobbyn – Best Music Video for “Slice of Heaven” (1994)

New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1994, Dave Dobbyn became the first New Zealand artist to win a Grammy Award, winning Best Music Video for “Slice of Heaven“. The upbeat, anthemic rock song appeared on the soundtracks of both Footrot Flats: The Dog’s Tale and Footrot Flats: The Dog’s Tale Tribute.

The vibrant, comical music video brought the animated characters to life, perfectly capturing the song’s playful Kiwi spirit. Dobbyn’s Grammy win highlighted New Zealand music and marked a watershed moment for local artists. “Slice of Heaven” became a beloved pop culture staple and is still considered one of Dobbyn’s most notable achievements.

8. Ladyhawke – Best Dance Recording for “My Delirium” (2009)

Phillipa Margaret Brown, known as Ladyhawke won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2009 for her song “My Delirium“. The song, which combined synthpop and 1980s dance beats, was the lead single from her self-titled debut album, which was released in 2008. “My Delirium” became an international hit, charting in several countries, including a peak of #15 on the UK Singles Chart.

Ladyhawke’s distinct indie electronic sound, which combined retro vibes with modern production, was further validated by the Grammy win. Born in Masterton, New Zealand, her victory brought attention to the country’s burgeoning dance-pop music scene. The achievement capped Ladyhawke’s meteoric rise, which began with her breakthrough debut album and propelled her to the top of New Zealand’s musical exports.

9. Brooke Fraser – Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for “What a Beautiful Name” (2018)

Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brooke Fraser made history as the first New Zealand artist to win a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song in 2018. Their song “What a Beautiful Name” won her the award. The emotionally charged worship ballad, which was released in 2016 went on to become a global hit, topping charts in several countries.

Their Grammy win recognized their talents as faith-based singer-songwriters, marking a watershed moment for New Zealand artists in the Contemporary Christian genre. Hillsong’s songwriting and heartfelt spiritual lyrics resonated globally with this award-winning single, which would go on to define their career.

10. Norah Jones – Album of the Year for “Come Away With Me“(2003)

Norah Jones won the coveted Album of the Year Grammy in 2003 for her debut album, “Come Away With Me“. The jazz-pop album was both commercially and critically successful, selling more than 26 million copies worldwide. Neil Finn, a New Zealand singer-songwriter and featured musician on the record shared in the Album of the Year win.

Neil played guitar and sang on several songs, combining his signature sound with Norah’s soulful style. The unexpected Grammy sweep was a career highlight for both artists, introducing Neil Finn’s talents to a larger mainstream audience.

New Zealand’s influence on the global music scene is undeniable, as evidenced by the success of its Grammy-winning artists. From Lorde’s youthful brilliance to Kimbra’s soulful melodies and Hayley Westenra’s genre-bending talent, New Zealand musicians have made an indelible mark on the prestigious awards. As they continue to captivate audiences around the world, these Grammy-winning artists exemplify the country’s rich musical diversity, earning well-deserved places in the annals of international recognition.