Music / Waiata

Channel Northland Te Raki TV is a champion of NZ Music. We support organizations like APRA, RMNZ,NZ MUSIC HALL OF FAME and MUSICHELPS in their quest to improve the quality of life for our music makers and to take their music to the world.

Te Tai Tokerau is a catalyst for song, with a rich history of musicians, song-writers and performers. For decades, many of our best known and loved performers started their careers here. Songs like OPO, about the famed Opononi dolphin (see NZ House Of Song) were putting Northland on the map in 1955.

Legendary promoters like Pete Murray, Paul Newberry and Monty Knight provided venues like Club 46, The Skylounge and Sgt Pepper’s Club in Kaitaia for local musicians to hone their skills.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, such promoters brought top kiwi acts to our region to wow crowds of teens. Semenoff Stadium (Okara Park) saw it’s first pop concert in February 1967. Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, pop festivals flourished, Bay of Islands Jazz Festival and Fritterfest are now a staple of our summer entertainment.

Today, music thrives with bars and clubs like The Butter Factory, Tipsy Oyster, The Old Parakao Store and Kamo Club. And the larger venues, Forum North and Turner Centre.

MUSIC EMPOWERS, HEALS, INSPIRES AND UNITES. Feel free to compose and send us your waiata. You’ll be seeing plenty here.