New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Photo / Supplied by Maria Robinson
The final countdown of the top 100 moments in Kiwi music from C4's Rocked the Nation
10. NZ-born British-raised Daniel Bedingfield scored three number ones in Britain, starting with Gotta Get Thru This in 2001. And he was never heard of again, though sister Natasha is still doing
nicely.
9. Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over made it to number two in the US charts in 1986 finally waking us up to the charms of Neil Finn's post-Split Enz band.
8. Comin' straight outta Otara was Pauly Fuemana who hooked up with producer Alan Jansson for worldwide hit How Bizarre. We haven't had a bigger song.
7. Since the 80s, the proportion of local music played on radio has gone from two to 20 per cent, thanks in large part to the work of Brendan Smythe from NZ On Air.
6: Scribe's catchphrase "How many dudes you know roll like this... not many, if any", along with the song Stand Up was a catalyst for a local hip-hop explosion.
5. On December 7, 1984, the Thank God It's Over concert in Aotea Square, turned from end-of-school-year festivities to the Queen St Riots which Dave Dobbyn was charged - and cleared - of inciting.
4. In 1981 Roger Shepherd started up record label Flying Nun because no one was releasing the music of the new Dunedin and Christchurch bands he liked. It would go on to be one of the country's most iconic record labels.
3. It's odd to think TrueBliss were ahead of their time but the made-for-TV format of Popstars sold around the world.
2. Poi E sung by the Patea Maori Club and written by Dalvanius Prime was a chart-topper and a groundbreaker with its mix of te reo, kapa haka, hip-hop, breakdancing and pop. No Maori-sung song has been to the top spot since.
1. Surprise, surprise. It had to be Split Enz considering the band's impact and their enduring legacy. During the 70s their oddball style made them one of the most intriguing and innovative bands around. They got their commercial breakthrough on fifth album, 1980's True Colours, and called it a day four years later.
