New Zealand’s singles charts took a while to arrive. The first chart based on sales didn’t arrive until 1975.
Wikipedia lists NZ #1 singles starting in mid-1960, but between 1960 and 1975, these were based on:
- 1960-1964: The Lever Hit Parade. Hit songs were selected by the show’s producer
- 1965-March 1966: there was no recorded chart during this time
- March 1966-May 1975: hit songs were determined by votes. The voting was run by the magazine NZ Listener.
New Zealand has always been influenced culturally by the UK and the USA. Over time, the UK influence has faded, while the US influence has grown.
Due to geographic proximity, Australian music is often popular in New Zealand. At times, there’s been a cultural cringe about homegrown music. Nevertheless, many NZ singles have topped the charts over the years.
I’m planning to (eventually) cover every NZ #1 single on this blog. As you can see, I’ve barely started:
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We Found Love by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
Barbadian singer Rihanna and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris found love in a hopeless place … judging by the music video,…
I Don’t Wanna Dance by Eddy Grant
Guyana’s Eddy Grant was nearly 35 when he hit the big time with 1982’s Killer on the Rampage. Eddy Grant…
Flowers in the Rain by The Move
The first song played on BBC Radio 1 provoked a lawsuit from UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The Move There…
Airplanes by B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
‘Airplanes’ was just the beginning of B.o.B.’s interest in aeronautics. He later attempted to raise $1,000,000 for satellites and weather…
Poison by Bardot
New Zealand number-one hits don’t get much worse than this Australian reality-TV show product. Bardot Around the turn of the…
Love Shack by The B-52’s
If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says fifteen miles to the …. Looove…
Everybody Plays The Fool by Aaron Neville
Predictably, Aaron Neville sings the heck out of this smooth 1970s cover. Aaron Neville Aaron Neville is from New Orleans,…
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by Marmalade
‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ is one of The Beatles’ biggest earworms. Sensibly, they didn’t release it as a single, creating an opportunity…
Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Mark Ronson is the stepson of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones. He continues the family hit-making tradition with ‘Uptown Funk’. Mark…
Whenever, Wherever by Shakira
Luckily, her breasts are small and humble so you don’t confuse them with mountains. Shakira Shakira Ripoll was born in Barranquilla,…
The Newcastle Song by Bob Hudson
Bob Hudson’s acoustic comedy ‘The Newcastle Song’ spawned an answer song … also written by Bob Hudson. Bob Hudson Sydney’s…
Dance Monkey by Tones and I
An Australian busker hit the big time with ‘Dance Monkey’. Tones and I Toni Watson grew up in Melbourne. She…
Penny Lane by The Beatles
I agree with George Martin – “I’ve got three tracks – and two of them are the best tracks they’ve…
Low by Flo Rida (featuring T-Pain)
It’s become popular to rework classic songs with the lyrics to ‘Low’: “apple bottom jeans” and “boots with the fur”.…
Homeward Bound by Simon and Garfunkel
My tenth favourite Simon and Garfunkel song topped the charts in New Zealand, but nowhere else. Simon and Garfunkel Paul…
Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex
Time for a Euro-dance hoedown! Where did you come from? Where did you go? Rednex Inspired by Ricky Skaggs, Swedish…
Golden by Huntrix
Impossibly long legs and a three-octave range made fictional K-pop band Huntrix the biggest pop-culture phenomenon of 2025. KPop Demon…
Saint Paul by Shane
This Beatles pastiche is fun… once. But mostly it will remind you of much better Beatles songs that you’ll want…
The Sign by Ace of Base
Three Swedish siblings enjoyed international success with this breezy hit. Ace of Base Jonas, Linn, and Jenny Berggren grew up…
Gangnam Style by Psy
K-pop is now a well-established cultural phenomenon. But the first South Korean artist to break out in the West was…
Positions by Ariana Grande
In which we learn that Ariana Grande’s mom is an engineer, like the most fierce badass in the world. Ariana…
The Look by Roxette
Don’t bore us, get to the chorus! Roxette Roxette are a Swedish supergroup. Marie Fredriksson was already a solo star…
Love the Way You Lie by Eminem featuring Rihanna
Two superstars duet, portraying two lovers who refuse to leave an abusive relationship. Eminem Missouri-born rapper Eminem broke through to…
The Ketchup Song (Aserejé) by Las Ketchup
‘The Ketchup Song’ was rumoured to have Satanic undertones, as the gibberish Spanish title ‘Aserejé’ sounds like “let’s be heretical”.…
I Shot the Sheriff by Warren G
Bob Marley and Eric Clapton already shot the sheriff (but not the deputy). Now it’s Warren G’s turn. Warren G…
Chapel of Love by The Dixie Cups
Today’s the day we’ll say “I do” and we’ll never be lonely anymore. The Dixie Cups The Dixie Cups are…
Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
“The minute you’re in a car and you turn to five different radio stations and they’re all playing “Thrift Shop,”…
Footloose by Kenny Loggins
Every New Zealand #1 single… Kenny Loggins Loggins was born in Everett, Washington, 40 km north of Seattle. He started his…
Have I The Right? by The Honeycombs
History remembers The Honeycombs for one song. ‘Have I The Right?’ was a worldwide hit, and female drummer Honey Lantree…
Easy On Me by Adele
‘Easy On Me’ is the lead single from Adele’s fourth album, 30. A gentle piano ballad, it addresses her relationship…
I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) by Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf was 46 years old when he scored his only number-one hit. 1993 Looking back, it’s interesting how conservative…
I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
Hard song to rate – it’s better than most of its chart competition in 1963, but pales next to The…
Mississippi by Pussycat
Only one thing I did wrong, listened to Mississippi a minute too long. Bigger than Bohemian Rhapsody ‘Mississippi’ is a…
Here Comes the Hotstepper by Ini Kamoze
Ini Kamoze recorded ‘Here Comes the Hotstepper’ in early 1992, but it wasn’t released until late 1994. Ini Kamoze Kamoze…
Crawl by Atlas
After nu-metal and alt-rock were largely extinct from the singles chart, ‘Crawl’ topped the NZ charts for seven weeks in…
The Twist by Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, largely because of a handful of dance-themed…
Would I Lie To You? by Charles and Eddie
At 12, Eddie Chacon was playing in a band with future Metallica bassist Cliff Burton and future Faith No More…
Yummy by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has released some top-notch singles. ‘Yummy’ isn’t one of them. Justin Bieber Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber was…
Rain and Tears by The Hi-Revving Tongues
Hi-Revving Tongues topped the New Zealand charts with a cover of Aphrodite’s Child’s ‘Rain and Tears’. New Zealand pop Grows…
Down Under by Luude featuring Colin Hay
Christian Benson (Luude) is one half of the Australian electronic dance music duo Choomba. The other member is his cousin,…
Faith by George Michael
George Michael’s second post-Wham! single was a worldwide smash. Wham! Wham! evolved from a partnership into a vehicle for George…
Locomotion by Ritz
Sometimes it’s embarrassing to be a New Zealander. We’ve held the world record for the lowest test cricket score since…
Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
According to Gary Barlow, Leona Lewis was probably fifty times better than any other contestant Simon Cowell ever had. Leona…
Travelin’ Man by Ricky Nelson
‘Travelin’ Man’ was played at Seattle SuperSonics home games whenever a visiting player committed a travelling foul. Ricky Nelson Ricky…
I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men
“This is basically just “End of the Road” with new lyrics – and blimmin’ presumptuous lyrics at that.” Boyz II…
Mull of Kintyre by Wings
Want a horse, want a sheep, want a Mull of Kintyre. Paul McCartney Sir Paul McCartney endured a rollercoaster 1970s…
Somethin’ Stupid by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
New Zealand’s 2001 Christmas number one was a cover of a 1960s chestnut, recorded by a famous actress and a…
Wind It Up by Gwen Stefani
From No Doubt to Rodgers and Hammerstein … Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani was already an established star before she went…
Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
These two descendants of Motown founder Berry Gordy aren’t actually sorry for party rocking. LMFAO The two members of LMFAO…
Into the Groove by Madonna
One of the 1980s’ most dependable and accomplished hitmakers moved onto the dancefloor. Madonna Madonna was one of the best…
Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars established his popularity in New Zealand with his very first single. Bruno Mars Peter Hernandez was born in…
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Producer Danger Mouse and vocalist CeeLo Green create magic on their first single as Gnarls Barkley. Gnarls Barkley Producer Danger…
A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
They enthralled John Lennon and Paul McCartney with their “Chaucerian wordplay and heavenly Baroque accompaniment”. Procol Harum Gary Brooker sang with The Paramounts,…
Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) by Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo
The siren beats of Pasifika communities in Auckland made it to the top of the American charts, with some help…
Black or White by Michael Jackson
Jackson topped the NZ charts eight times as a solo artist. Surprisingly, six of these were during the 1990s. Michael…
Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton
Tony Bennett, David Lynch, and Alannah Myles are all involved in the Blue Velvet story. Bobby Vinton Bobby Vinton was…
19 by Paul Hardcastle
Paul Hardcastle was out having fun in pubs and clubs when he was 19, not being shoved into jungles and…
I Swear by All-4-One
An insipid ballad from the bargain-basement Boyz II Men. I Swear The third quarter of 1994 may be the most…
Just Lose It by Eminem
Eminem’s reign started to crack with ‘Just Lose It’. “Chubba-chubba-chubba-chubba-chubba-chubba-chubby/I don’t have any lines to go right here, so chubba-Teletubby.”…
Killing Me Softly by Fugees
The Fugees’ cover of Robert Flack’s cover was a massive, deserved hit worldwide. Killing Me Softly With His Song The…
Freaks by Timmy Trumpet and Savage
The bass and the tweeters make the speakers go to war! Ah, the mighty trumpet brings the freaks out to…
Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) by Billy Ocean
It was a flop as ‘European Queen’ in the UK, but ‘Caribbean Queen’ took off for Billy Ocean in targeted…
Paloma Blanca by George Baker Selection
Easy-listening schmaltz about a poor South American farmer who works hard all day, and then sits by a tree and…
Is It Over Now? by Taylor Swift
Swift is such a megastar that even her outtakes top the NZ singles charts. Taylor Swift It’s a little perverse…
Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes
‘Where Did Our Love Go’ marked the start of The Supremes’ mid-1960s excellence. The Supremes The Supremes were massively successful…
In The Shadows by The Rasmus
In The Shadows’ broke the record for performance royalties earned overseas by a Finnish composition. Composer Jean Sibelius was the…
Fernando by ABBA
ABBA dominated the NZ charts in 1976, and this non-album single is charming. ABBA 1976 was the year of ABBA…
Beautiful Liar by Beyoncé and Shakira
‘Beautiful Liar’ squanders the powers of two charismatic stars with a mediocre song. Beyoncé and Shakira were two of New…
Chains by DLT (featuring Che Fu)
‘Chains’ is New Zealand hip-hop and soul’s equivalent to Queen and Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’. Two musicians from different bands jammed…
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Tony Orlando and Dawn
The past is a foreign country. ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree’ sounds irredeemably corny now, but…
I’m Your Man by Wham!
‘I’m Your Man’ was Wham’s only number one hit in New Zealand during the 1980s. ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Wake…
With You by Chris Brown
Before some personal issues emerged, Chris Brown was a promising and charming young R&B star. Chris Brown Chris Brown was…
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! by Vengaboys
Maybe I’m no fun. But I have an intolerance to the Eurodance of The Vengaboys. The Vengaboys Danski and Delmundo…
Star Crossed Lovers by Craig Scott
Heartthrob Craig Scott crooned his way to the top of the NZ charts for four weeks in 1970. Craig Scott…
Joanne by Michael Nesmith and The First National Band
The most talented Monkee released New Zealand’s most surprising Christmas #1 in 1970. Michael Nesmith One of the more surprising…
The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck is best known in New Zealand for his deep cut ‘Ten Guitars’. But he hit the top of…
Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber dominated the NZ charts during the final quarter of 2015. This Ed Sheeran-written song took the top spot…
End of the Road by Boyz II Men
Philadelphia vocal harmony group Boyz II Men unleashed this epic breakup tearjerker in 1992. Boyz II Men Philadelphia vocal harmony…
Axel F by Crazy Frog
2005 was a particularly dire year for #1 hits in New Zealand, and this reckless amphibian is right at the…
Lovesick Blues by Frank Ifield
In the years between Elvis’s drafting and The Beatles’ emergence, the charts were often a little sedate. Frank Ifield took…
Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn and Herbs
After success with Th’ Dudes and DD Smash, Dave Dobbyn’s reputation took a hit with his involvement in the Queen…
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