This is another album that could’ve made it on the Australian side of my site if I wanted to expand my list for albums of the 2010’s, as is, it was more of a success in NZ due to J Cole being quite popular on Spotify with this release.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
KOD #10
POPULAR IN 2018
I would’ve been surprised if Jack Johnson didn’t make an appearance on this list given how he dominated the 00’s in NZ like he did in Australia, again he found no further success after this album anywhere in the world.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
You and your heart #30
POPULAR IN 2010
This was so much less successful in NZ for Eminem than it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis weren’t as forgiving with this critically panned album as we Aussies were upon its release.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Walk on water #18
River #3
POPULAR IN 2017
While this wasn’t as big a success for 5SOS in NZ as it was here in Australia, at least it made up for that by having the singles in general being more popular over there than they were over here likely through the strength of streaming.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
She looks so perfect #1
Don’t stop #1
Good girls #15
Kiss me kiss me #10
Everything I didn’t say #8
Amnesia #5
POPULAR IN 2014
I guess the kiwis had a ton of nostalgia for Foster and Allen this decade if this was able to become a huge hit for the duo, as it turns out, they had quite a lengthy career after their 1983 effort “Maggie” from the album of the same name.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2015
Much like here in Australia, this was also a decent success for Andrea Bocelli in NZ even if it somewhat got lost in the shuffle over there due to everyone’s amazement that he was still popular by this point in time.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2018
This is the first of three collaborations that Slash had with Myles Kennedy and his band the Conspirators, it was a decent success in NZ as well as a minor success here in Australia due to how well received his earlier entry on this list was.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2012
This was more popular for RPO in NZ than it was here in Australia or indeed their first album where they dug up Elvis’s back catalogue to turn into classical works.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2016
Jackie Thomas may have won the first season of X Factor NZ in 2013, however it was Whenua Patuwai who was the fan favourite as evidence by his album being more successful over there than Jackie’s was (which is still to come on this list.)
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2013
Following the demise of his group Fast Crew, Dane Rumble embarked on a solo career that began and ended with this album which was more pop rock than the hip hop his older fans were used to. It spawned quite a number of hits for him, making his lack of a follow up all the more confusing.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Always be here #13
Don’t know what to do #10
Cruel #3
Everything #20
POPULAR IN 2010
Here’s the expansion pack from Ellie Goulding’s album from earlier on this list, it lasted much longer on the RIANZ charts even though it didn’t last as long on the upper echelons of their charts. I get the feeling her nonfans consider this her true second album as this is where she scored her biggest international hit singles.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Burn #7
How long will I love you #6
POPULAR IN 2013
For whatever reason, this album from the Beatles managed to become a huge success for them fifteen years after its release exclusively in NZ. I have no idea why as the rest of the world only has it on the lower half of their charts albeit perpetually.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2015
Well, this was a bit of a disappointment for Opshop coming into the new decade, so much so that this is their final album to date despite still being together as of this writing. Even so, you’d think they’d at least try to replicate the success of their second album even if this was a bit of a stumble for them.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Pins and needles #20
Madness and other allergies #29
Love will always win #11
POPULAR IN 2010
From what I can gather, Peter Posa was a popular instrumentalist from NZ that must have been rather popular in the 60’s given how this greatest hits album managed to be a huge success for him fifty years after his relevancy had faded over there.
Peak position #1×6
POPULAR IN 2012
This was so much more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia or Bruce Springsteen, that said, it still remains his only 2010’s album to appear on this site of mine.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 2014
It’s interesting that this was still a massive success for P!nk in NZ given how the lead single was only barely a sleeper hit over there, who knows how big her next album will be (whenever she gets around to releasing it that is.)
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Walk me home #16
POPULAR IN 2019
This is the band that Eddie Low was a part of that I mentioned earlier on this list, their greatest hits package was also a success this decade proving how much love there was for NZ nostalgia this decade.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 2015
Although each of her albums proved to be less popular than the last for Susan Boyle, it appears the kiwis were still willing to keep her around as this isn’t even her final appearance on this list.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2012
We looked at Lee Kernaghan’s tribute to the ANZACS on the Australian side of this site, so let’s look at Dennis Marsh’s tribute that he made around the same time which proved to be equally as successful in NZ as Lee’s album was here in Australia.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2015
While the kiwis didn’t take to the soundtrack as much as we Aussies did, they made up for that by having the singles on the album be more popular over there than they were over here back in the day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Earned it #7
Love me like you do #1
POPULAR IN 2015
This barely missed the cut in appearing on the Australian side of my site as this album was released to exclusively in the southern hemisphere due to the popularity of the Madden Brothers on the Voice Australia, for some reason, it was much more of a success in NZ.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
We are done #1
POPULAR IN 2014
We have another greatest hits album from the Seekers to make it big in NZ, in fact I’m surprised one of these albums didn’t dominate the album charts when Judith Durham recently passed away.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2012
I did feature a hit single from Patsy Riggir on my 1981 list for this side of my site, apparently the kiwis had enough nostalgia for that one hit that the country singer saw massive success with this greatest hits album she released thirty years later.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2014
I’m not sure why this album released in the late 90’s became a success at the start of the decade in NZ, I’m guessing it was an anniversary package as it does line up with its release schedule of that was the case.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2010
This was released six years after Howard Morrison’s death, as you can tell, this was an excellent decade when it came to honouring the music of some of the greatest entertainers from NZ in their homeland.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2015
This will be the only album from Frank Ocean to appear on this site, mainly because his debut album was too much of a sleeper hit in the southern hemisphere to rack up the points to do so and that this album was only big due to Frank’s infamous feud with Chris Brown this decade.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2016
This was a hit twice for Seal in NZ this decade, the first time was upon its initial release where it was only a decent success for him. The second time was two years later when he appeared on the Voice Australia, proving that the kiwis were indeed following the series just like we Aussies were.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2010
I guess the kiwis were more forgiving of Linkin Park’s musical experimentation this decade than we Aussies were given how they managed to score two entries on this list as opposed to just the one (which is still to come on this list.)
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Burn it down #13
POPULAR IN 2012
Well, how about this? Richard Clayderman managed to score a massive hit this decade with this album despite him being MIA on the NZ charts since the 80’s. I’m willing to bet most people don’t even realise who he is anymore, so this would’ve come as a complete shock to the average kiwi when it came out.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2013
It’s odd that this greatest hits album from Dragon would find success in their homeland and not here in Australia given how much more popular they were over here than they were over there during their heyday.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2010
Well, this is a surprise, specifically that Engelbert Humperdinck of all people managed to achieve a hit with this greatest hits album in NZ this decade. I guess he was very popular over there (at least according to the RIANZ charts when he was at his peak) so it makes sense this was a hit when it was with the kiwis.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2010
We have one more album to look at from Enya, this album being her final album to date which did decently well in NZ just like it did here in Australia for the Irish new age singer.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 2015
Isla grant was on a roll from the start of the decade in NZ as this was the album that helped her greatest hits package from 2009 become a massive success over there, I’m guessing these two albums took off due to a successful tour over there given their failure internationally.
Peak position #7
POPULAR IN 2010
Well at least this was more of a mainstream success over in NZ than it was here in Australia, even so, it had a similar chart trajectory over there as it did here as it rebounded on their charts whenever one of the singles was released as such.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Problem #1
Break free #5
Bang bang #4
Best mistake #29
Love me harder #28
One last time #22
POPULAR IN 2014
This proved to be more popular for Camilla Cabello in NZ than I was here in Australia, this is despite the fact this did far better on our digital storefront down under than it did as a physical release or through streaming, suggesting the kiwis still had strong digital sales this late in the decade.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Havana #2
Never be the same #8
POPULAR IN 2018
It turns out the kiwis had some love for Gotye after all as his breakthrough album managed to be a decent success over there, although it’s obvious that were it not for Kimbra from earlier on this list, he likely would’ve gone largely unnoticed given how much more prominent she was around this time.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Somebody that I used to know #1
POPULAR IN 2011
It’s little surprise this didn’t even see the light of day in NZ until the surprise success it had here in Australia a year after its initial release, that said it was more of a sleeper hit over there than it was over here, hence its lower placement on this list.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Let her go #1
POPULAR IN 2013
This is the third and final entry to come from Sol Mio, once again proving that the kiwis really did love their local classical music scene even if it meant that their international equivalent didn’t receive as much love over there as it did here in Australia.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 2017
I really wasn’t expecting to feature a solo album from Dire straits frontman Mark Knopfler, especially not one of his more recent entries given how hard it is for anyone in the rock sphere to find success in the streaming era.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2012
This is the soundtrack to a movie that judging by its title, is about the short lived 80’s band Patea Maori club. I’m guessing the film was a success in their homeland given how this managed to appear on this list of mine.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2015
I guess the kiwis wanted to hear more AC/DC over us Aussies, either that or they really liked the second entry in the Iron man trilogy as this was more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2010
This is another album that could’ve made the cut on the Australian list but didn’t because of how short I made it; it was more of a success in NZ for RHCP even if it was still a fraction of what Stadium arcadium achieved.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
The adventures of rain dance Maggie #30
POPULAR IN 2011
We have further evidence that the kiwis were in tune with reality TV from around the world with this entry as Karise Eden did take the Australian music scene by storm with this album once she won on her season of the Voice Australia.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2012
Much like here in Australia, this was also a decent success for the Twilight saga in NZ proving just how inescapable the franchise was throughout the world during the first stretch of the decade. Even so, it’s easy to forget how critically panned the films were despite their commercial success.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 2010
This is the other big album that Lady A had over in NZ that was once again too much of a sleeper hit to appear on the Australian equivalent of this site, I guess the kiwis really loved the trio during the first stretch of the decade.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2011
I guess Shihad was still a thing this decade as not only did they score an appearance with this 2014 effort, but their 2010 effort only barely missed the cut from appearing on this list.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Think you’re so fine #40
POPULAR IN 2014
I guess the kiwis really loved this adaptation of the Broadway musical (despite its many faults in filmmaking and arguably human rights) that they allowed its soundtrack to be equally as popular over there as it was here in Australia. I guess it was due to the film having both Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the cast.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 2013
I told you this third album from the Foo fighters was more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, not but much mind you, but certainly more so that it’s worth pointing out on this list.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 2017
I told you this was more of a success for Lana Del Rey in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess the kiwis wanted to further reward the person who inspired Lorde given how the younger NZ star had taken the world by storm by the time this was released.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
West coast #31
Brooklyn baby #19
POPULAR IN 2014
I wasn’t expecting to feature another album from Hayley Westenra on this site, however she did well enough with this album that’s a tribute to Ennio Morricone at the start of the decade to qualify for this list.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2011
We looked at the Maoris songbook from Dennis Marsh from earlier on this list, time now to look at a similar album that goes over NZ country artists that he made. It wasn’t as successful among his fellow kiwis, presumably because NZ country was never that big over the years.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2014
It appears the kiwis weren’t as big a fan of Burlesque as we Aussies were given how the soundtrack proved to be far less popular over there than it was over here for its stars Cher and Christina Aguilera.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Show me how you burlesque #8
POPULAR IN 2011
This didn’t make the cut for the Australian side of my site as it appears this was a success through streaming despite Lukas Graham finding success with digital sales down under, the streaming angle allowed it to be a success in NZ as the kiwis incorporated that onto their main charts by this point.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
7 years #1
Mama said #29
POPULAR IN 2016
Even though the kiwis used his earlier entry to convey their love and respect for Prince’s passing, they didn’t pass up on making this a success over there just like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2016
This is the other entry from Avalanche city on this list, it was slightly less popular likely due to the lead single not being as big over there as the lead single to his earlier entry was.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Inside out #1
POPULAR IN 2015
This was even less popular for JT in NZ than it was here in Australia, I’m really shocked here as he managed to achieve far greatest success over there than he did over here throughout the 00’s.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Suit and tie #14
Mirrors #7
POPULAR IN 2013
The last time Tracy Chapman troubled the charts anywhere in the world was with her previous greatest hits album from 2001, even then this was only a success in NZ likely as their penance for making the (in my opinion) awful EDM cover of her signature track as success around the time it was released.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2015
It appears the kiwis had some love for AC/DC this decade as well as this managed to be equally as popular over there upon its initial release as it was over here for the legendary band.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2014
This was slightly more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, mainly because barring their debut single “Creep,” the critically acclaimed band always had more success over there than they did over here.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2016
Daniel O’Donnell was an Irish singer who supposedly saw massive worldwide success, but I can’t find any chart data to back that up. I bring this up because he had a surprise hit at the start of the decade with this greatest hits/live album combo in NZ and nowhere else in the world.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2010
Much like the first film, this second entry in the Frozen franchise divides audiences due to perceived “wokeness” affiliated with it. Again, I’m not an “anti-woke” moron by any means, which means I don’t buy that the film or its soundtrack is indoctrinating kids like so many others do.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 2019
It looks like Andrea Bocelli managed to score another hit this decade in NZ, we Aussies were well and truly done with this guy by this point in time, so much so that this barely even charted over here.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 2013
This entry just stuns me given how it only barely managed to make the cut for this list, I guess the kiwis weren’t as into Kendrick Lamar as we Aussies were initially which obviously changed with his earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
I #31
King kunta #24
POPULAR IN 2015
I guess Shihad were able to score a second entry on this list after all as their first album of the decade did decently well in their homeland, they would of course rebound with their earlier entry, however this was the true extent of their popularity throughout the 2010’s in their homeland.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Sleepeater #36
POPULAR IN 2010
If you looked at the singles equivalent of this list, you’ll know Jason Derulo didn’t have the same level of success in NZ as he did here in Australia. This is especially the case for his albums as this is the only entry of his to reappear on this side of my site given how he did initially have a stronger start to his career over there than he did over here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Whatcha say #1
In my head #2
Riding solo #12
What if #27
The sky’s the limit #31
POPULAR IN 2011
I wasn’t expecting to feature a Migos album on this site, although admittedly they did seem far more lucrative on streaming services which would explain why their second Culture album was a massive success in NZ albeit as a sleeper hit.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Stir fry #18
Walk it talk it #36
POPULAR IN 2018
Once again, this is Michael Bublé’s final appearance on this list, who knows if he’ll release a new album that will rise to the ranks in popularity he had throughout the 00’s and 2010’s.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2018
It turns out the kiwis were a little late to the Glee party as this was only released in the early months of the decade over there, this tardy release allowed it to be more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2010
Following the success of Pink Floyd’s comeback album from earlier on this list, David Gilmour decided to cash in off the bands popularity by releasing a solo album which proved to be quite popular with the kiwis during the midpoint of the decade.
Peak position #1×3
POPULAR IN 2015
From what I can gather, Blacklistt is just Blindspott but with a slightly different line-up. As such this would be their third album which did decently well for them in their homeland even though they’ve yet to release a new album under either name since its release.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2013
Unlike in Australia where this is the only success Dr Dre had throughout his career, his 1999 effort 2001 made the cut on this side of my site, which does surprise me in realising this wasn’t more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2015
This was more of a mainstream success in NZ for Beyonce which is how it manages to have a higher appearance on this side of my site compared to the Australian side, it even spawned a huge hit for her over there as opposed to only minor hits over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Run the world #9
Best thing I never had #5
Love on top #14
POPULAR IN 2011
We looked at the runner up of the first season of X factor NZ already on this list, so let’s look at the album which came from the winner of that season that at least made up for its lack of success by spawning a moderate hit.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
It’s worth it #1
Skinny love #23
POPULAR IN 2013
I guess Leonard’s earlier entry on this list wasn’t that much of a surprise for the kiwis given how they managed to allow him to have a hit with his penultimate album a few years prior to his untimely death.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 2012
Given how Katchafire was able to score a massive hit in the first stretch of the decade, it only makes sense that another reggae band from NZ would follow suit which is what House of Shem did with their second album.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2011
Suzanne Prentice had one charting single in 1981 with “When I dream,” apparently that was enough for this greatest hits package form over thirty years later to become a hit for her among her fellow kiwis.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2013
This proved to be a more mainstream success for Disturbed over in NZ likely due to the kiwis not having as big an issue with rock becoming a success over there this decade as we Aussies did. That said, we Aussies did have the last laugh when we gave them a genuine hit when they reformed later in the decade with their comeback album from earlier on this list.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2010
This recharted throughout the decade for some reason, perhaps this was the world’s way of trying to cleanse its palate from Chinese democracy given how poorly received that album was in the late 00’s.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2016
It looks like RPO were able to achieve a second appearance on this list after all, although it’s with their reworking of Roy Orbison’s catalogue given how this was a decent hit over there just like it was here in Australia for the orchestral group.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 2017
I wasn’t expecting to feature two albums from former Dire straits frontman Mark Knopfler on this list, evidently the kiwis were so impressed with his earlier entry on this list that they made its follow up a success as well.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2015
Given how he had a surprise chart topper in NZ with a rerelease of “In the air tonight” in 2008, it only makes sense that this release from Phil Collins would be a moderate success for him over there at the start of the decade.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2010
This was a lot less popular in NZ for Hollie Smith than her previous album was, although that’s to be expected given how her last album was such a runaway hit that came out of nowhere that this more or less confirmed that success to be a fluke.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2010
From what I can gather, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was a Polynesian artist who unfortunately died in 1997 without seeing much success in his career. I’m guessing there was a nostalgia bug for his back catalogue at the start of the decade which resulted in this greatest hits album of his to become a hit upon its initial release over there.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 2011
The kiwis seemed to be more divided on this album from Linkin Park than we Aussies were, so much so that you can argue their earlier entry on this list was seen as a return to form over there for the band.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
The catalyst #27
POPULAR IN 2012
It looks like the kiwis were kinder towards Macklemore and his departure with Ryan Lewis like we Aussies were than his fellow Americans, in fact this proved to be more successful than their second album together This unruly mess I’ve made as that album won’t be appearing in this list.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Glorious #1
Good old days #14
POPULAR IN 2017
This was initially a flop for David Bowie upon its initial release in 2002; however, it was given a second chance when he passed away due to how well publicised his death was in 2016. As such, it became a decent success in NZ even though it bombed here in Australia.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2016
It looks like the Black keys were able to find success with the follow up to their earlier entry on this list in NZ, this was a bit of a minor hit here in Australia, hence why it failed to appear on that side of my site.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2014
We have another entry on this list that proves how much the kiwis were in tune with Australian reality TV, although naturally this wasn’t as popular over there as it was over here for Altiyan Childs.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Somewhere in the world #5
POPULAR IN 2010
It’s easy to forget that Lil Nas X was already poised for big things prior to the “Old town road” controversy, as such it leaves you wondering just how big his debut E.P would’ve done had Billboard allowed it to chart on the country charts as intended given how this will forever be tied to that blunder of theirs.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Old town road #1
Panini #14
POPULAR IN 2019
If you’re wondering who the Phoenix foundation was, they were a NZ indie band who scored a moderate hit with this breakthrough of theirs at the start of the decade despite its failure in spawning a hit for them.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2010
We’re now starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel for entries on this list, mainly because this entry from Dennis Marsh was technically a Christmas entry as it plummeted from the RIANZ charts when the new year rolled around.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2012
Glenn miller was another Hollywood legend who saw a ton of success with his music during the height of his career (or at least according to the history books as he died conveniently before many countries began charting what was popular.) I’m guessing the kiwis had enough nostalgic love for his music to make this a success twice throughout the decade, although this only accounts for its initial release and not its 2015 rerelease.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2010
Given how Cold chisel wasn’t anywhere near as popular in NZ as they were here in Australia, it makes sense that this wouldn’t see the same dizzying levels of success over there as it did over here throughout the decade.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 2011
From what I can gather, Empire was a show that incorporated hip hop into its storylines which seemed to have connected exclusively with the kiwis and no one else as its soundtrack was only a success in NZ and not even in its native America.
Peak position #7
POPULAR IN 2015
This entry really struggled to make an appearance on this list of mine given how quickly it fell off the NZ charts as opposed to it sticking around here in Australia. I guess it’s safe to say they benefitted from sales rather than streaming even though you’d swear the opposite would be the case.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2017
It looks like KD lang was able to achieve one more successful album in her career in NZ even though this greatest hits album of hers saw pitiful success compared to what it achieved here in Australia, indeed this feels more like a last hurrah on this list than anything else.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2010
This was another sleeper hit here in Australia that would’ve appeared on that side of my site had it stuck around the top half of our charts for a little longer, as such we have to make do with its appearance on this list for Flo Rida which benefited from not being released at the height of a reality show craze over there like it was over here.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Good feeling #5
Wild ones #1
Whistle #1
Let it roll #18
I cry #4
POPULAR IN 2012
