Waiata 100 2026: New Zealand counts down its top 100 songs

We invited audiences to join Waiata 100: our search for Aotearoa’s favourite New Zealand song from a list of about 1000 New Zealand songs (and 200 waiata Māori). Here's what people loved the most.

Caption:Stan Walker in his music video for 'Māori Ki Te Ao' (Māori to the world).Photo credit:RNZ

More than 65,000 votes have been tallied and the results are in. Each day, we will release the artists and songs that claimed the most votes in Waiata 100, starting from 100 and counting down until Friday, with the reveal of the top 50 and number one song.

Here are your favourite New Zealand songs from the past 100 years.

"Proud to be a Māori" is how this reggae-inspired song made one voter feel. Written by Stan Walker with his uncle Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, it has "great sound, depth, reo, and feeling" and manages to be fierce and powerful at the same time, others said.

"Strong, proud message positively promoting Māori culture to the world," was one verdict.

"You can just get swept away by it and the feeling it conjures so easily," says one voter of this rock song by Wellington band Phoenix Foundation. The "rousing and fun" track, which could hold its own anywhere in the world, argued another, is from the band's essential NZ album of the same name and also made a 2020 RNZ listener's playlist of songs that floor people on first listen.

"This song fully transports my entire being to another realm every time I hear it. Absolutely magic. Every moment, perfection."

Originally written on a beer mat, this yearning sea shanty by Dave Dobbyn is as good as anything by UK band The Waterboys, one voter alleged. Another declared it a "perfectly simple anthem of an antipodal soul".

"This is an awesome song that invokes the spirit of early NZ and the ocean. We're surrounded by it, after all," was one summary.

Written by late frontman Graham Brazier in a matter of minutes, 'Blue Lady' was the second single from Hello Sailor's gold-selling self-titled debut - an essential NZ album. One voter praised this "catchy" Kiwi classic as being great to sing along to.

"Fabulous melody and his voice is perfect for the song's sound and meaning," said another.

Penned by Neil Finn in a Perth motel room, 'History Never Repeats' was the second single from the Split Enz album Waiata. The song's "great tempo" and "excellent keyboard part" won over voters.

"When Split Enz sang this at the Forever Enz tour, it took me back to my first Split Enz concert in 1973, and I screamed! At 66 years old!" enthused one.

With Tiki Taane on vocals, 'Love Your Ways' helped push drum and bass act Salmonella Dub's album Inside the Dub Plates to number one on the NZ charts. Voters praised the track's "rocking beats", lyrics, and upbeat vibe as "pure gold".

"Nostalgia from my youth, but this song has carried through my whole life to still be a fave!" enthused one.

Released on the seminal Proud compilation, this landmark hip-hop track was written by Ōtara teenagers Brenda Makamoeafi and Hassanah Iroegbu with producer Alan Jansson. Voters paid tribute to the song as a "South Auckland anthem" with a " fantastic positive Pacific vibe".

"In those days, I didn't always listen to song lyrics, but the 'Alright….', well, I felt alright," mused one.

Inspired by a faulty clock at songwriter Gary Curtis's workplace (Radio New Zealand), 'Forever Tuesday Morning' is a "perfect pop song" that would have been a global smash if it had been recorded in the UK, voters said. The single from The Culprit and the King is "an all-time banger that you can't help jumping up and singing along to," one declared.

"The opening bars remind me of The Kinks. Very edgy, cool, exciting. unmistakably Kiwi and just gets a dance floor pumping - every single time!" gushed another.

"A dang bop" was one voter's verdict on the track that helped launch Auckland band The Beths onto the international indie music scene and was a finalist for a Silver Scroll. Others praised 'Future Me Hates Me' for its killer intro, catchy melody, punchy riffs and "cute lyrics focusing on love and time and regret and pain".

"'Future Me Hates Me' has no fear," read one tribute.

'Cool Me Down' was a breakthrough single for Wellington reggae/roots band The Black Seeds from their double platinum-selling album Into The Dojo. Voters praised it as an "iconic Kiwi song" that's perfectly arranged and ideal to groove to in the summertime.

"As soon as I hear this song, I’m back in the good ole Kiwi summer days!" one shared.

Stay tuned to this article page tomorrow to find out who else made the Waiata 100 list.

Get more out of Life

Coverage

Our editors pick the best of food, arts, culture and lifestyle. Delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday.

More from Music

What makes a song great?

Musician and producer Rick Beato's YouTube channel takes a deep dive into the songs we know, love and keep coming back to.