Songs from 2010-2022


2022 Summertime

Hugo (13) and Finn Clark (11) are from the Hawkes Bay and are homeschooled.

Finn is currently studying for his ATCL on the piano. He also plays guitar and sings in a band. He’s part of a cathedral choir and also plays the drums, cello and ukulele. 

Hugo plays the drums and is working towards his grade 5 exam this year. He plays the snare drum in the Hawkes Bay Batacada group. He also plays the trumpet and is a member of the Napier Technical Memorial band. 

Other than music the boys enjoy skateboarding, scootering, art, cooking and fishing. 

They were mentored by Jeremy Redmore in the recording studio.

2022 Summertime HLS22 uke chart

2022 Summertime HLS2022 Lead sheet


2021 Aroha I Aotearoa

Instrumental play-along with sign language (YouTube)

Anna Feillet is 13 years old and is in Year 9. Born in Dunedin, Anna’s family originate from France and she is very proud of her bi-lingual, dual heritage. Her interests include dance, drawing, reading and baking as well as everything musical. As well as ‘ukulele and guitar Anna is a capable pianist and is now also learning drums. Her song writing commenced last year, as a wellness taonga for a young cancer sufferer.

Anna’s intermediate school enjoyed learning and singing last year’s winning song, and she made the decision to enter Hook Line and Sing-a-long in 2021. During the summer holidays Anna took a trip around the South Island and her song started to take shape, with her ‘ukulele in the car. Her success this year and the recording experience mean that Anna intends to write and record more.

2021 Aroha I Aotearoa uke chart

2021 Aroha I Aotearoa lead sheet


2020 We Are One

Congratulations to Sophie Brown, Year 12 from Epsom Girls’ Grammar School as this year’s winner of Hook, Line and Sing-a-long.  Sophie is a prolific song writer who came to the craft just a couple of years ago when she gained enough confidence to show a friend her first efforts.  Performing originals to her wider family came next and then it was full steam ahead.  Unbeknownst to our Hook, Line and Sing-a-long judges Sophie, who uses the artist name “girl.”, had successes in the 2019 Play It Strange Competition and in School of Rock – The Musical song writing competition. Clearly her songwriting talents are significant.

Even though we were under lockdown during late March and through April, Sophie managed to produce and record all of the tracks for the song herself, in her bedroom at home. These were polished by the masterful hands of Paddy Hill, known to many students for his work at Roundhead Studios.  Our special thanks go to Natalia Kay for the NZ Sign Language video rendition, using a translation realised by her mum, Elizabeth.

Teachers wishing to use ‘We Are One’ in their classrooms will find the NZ Sign Language video and other resources below.

Schools can also choose to play along with Sophie Brown in a streamed performance at 12:00 midday sharp on Friday 29 May, 2020.

2020 Instrumental Video with sign language (YouTube)

2020 We are one Uke

2020 We are one projector friendly

2020 We Are One leadsheet A4


2019 Aotearoa, nō te katoa

Congratulations to Lucy Summerfield from Motueka High School for her song “Aotearoa, nō te katoa” (New Zealand, belonging to all). Lucy is in Year 10 and is active in the Music Department at Motueka High School, run by energetic and unstoppable music teacher, Hilary Sinclair. In addition to her ‘ukulele and singing Lucy plays the saxophone in the school Senior Band is developing towards Jazz combo.

The song has been professionally recorded at Roundhead Studios, under the guidance of NZ Music Commission Mentor Jane de Jong (Ruby Frost) and engineer Paddy Hill.

2019 Aotearoa no te katoa chords and lyrics

2019 ‘Aotearoa, nō te katoa’ notation


2018 The Smell of Sunscreen

James is a Year 10 student at Rangiora High School in Christchurch who has a range of musical influences including Crowded House, Split Enz, The Beach Boys and The Smiths but his winning entry shows strong influences of The Beatles. “I am generally a 60’s / Jangle Pop kind of guy”, says James, who’s interests growing up have included soccer. Now it’s music all the way for James.

Ben King, NZ Music Commission Mentor, James Constable, winner

2018 The smell of sunscreen ukulele

2018 TheSmell Of Sunscreen notation


2018 NZ’s Silly Song (bonus song)

Here is one of our Highly Commended entries.

“NZ’s Silly Song” was the judges’ favourite song from our primary and intermediate entrants and was written by Josie Brownlie, Lucia Marshall and Stella McCombie from Waimairi School in Christchurch.

The writers really show their spirit of fun and humour, and requires imagination! 

2018 NZ’s Silly Song single sheet

2018 NZ’s Silly Song ukulele

2018 NZ’s Silly Song lead sheet


2017 Cape Reinga

On April 8, the winning song of Hook, Line and Sing-a-long 2017 ” Cape Reinga” was recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland.

Singer-songwriter Anouk van Dijk from Onewhero Area School, was joined by NZ Music Commission mentor Possum Plows (Openside)

2017 Cape Reinga Chart by Anouk van Dijk

2017 Cape_Reinga_Lead sheet


2017 Colours of New Zealand (runner up)

Carmel College Year 10 students Deborah Peter and Grace Smith had never written a song before they entered Hook, Line & Sing-a-long.

The Brooke Fraser and Taylor Swift fans, who became fast friends in Year 8, are the Overall Runners-up in the 2017 contest for their song “The Colours of New Zealand” and winners of a $250 prize from MusicWorks. 

With the help of their music teacher Glen Child – who set writing an entry as a task for their class – the songwriters chose a winning formula to craft their song: 

“We listened to all of the previous Hook, Line & Sing-a-long winners, how many chords were involved, if it was catchy or not. If you could play it on a ‘ukulele and if a primary school could sing it. And we tried to base it off of those.”

However, the duo didn’t feel restricted by the song guidelines. “We didn’t notice all the rules – we just kept it simple. Because we had to write a song, we said, let’s write about something we want to write about. Not just do it because we have to.” Grace told us. And the song’s theme? “I just sort of thought of it, and we brainstormed about each colour and put the verses together.”

The pair described writing a song together as “fun, and we got to learn a lot from each other… We had a lot of laughs doing it as well!”

It won’t be the last time Deborah and Grace write together. “You can go anywhere with it. You can do anything, any chords, any words you want to express, it’s a big place you can look around and just have fun.”

2017 The Colours of NZ – chord chart

2017 The Colours of New Zealand score


2016 We Are Aotearoa

Winning Song for Hook Line and Singalong 2016 by Hanna Milo and Ella Dale from Ellerslie Primary School. 

Songwriters Hannah Milo and Ella Dale from Ellerslie School were joined by NZ Music Commission mentor Natalia Sheppard (who performs as Tali), their teacher Maria Winder, and supporting musicians Ina, Jackson and Olivia from the NZ Ukulele Development Squad.

2016 We Are Aotearoa Kiwileles

2016 We_are_Aotearoa_lead sheet

We are Aotearoa – Webinar (YouTube)

We are Aotearoa Q and A


2015 Stickytarday

“Stickytarday” by Year 10 Bethlehem College students Joshua Dondaduwa, Samuel Tanner, Jethro Wall, Mackenzie Lines and Daniel Cossey was a hands-down winner with its catchy hook, interesting harmonic structure, memorable chorus and overall “sing-along” qualities.

Produced by Ben King (Grand RapidsGoldenhorse,) the instrumental tracks are 100% by these hard working students!

Take yourself back to summer any time of year with this fun and catchy tune that is sure to become a Kiwi school classic.

2015 Stickytarday-Lyrics-and-Chords

2015 Stickytarday-Lead-Sheet


2014 Islands

“Islands” celebrates the beauty of our neighbouring Pacific islands and the vibrant Pacific cultures that are part of what makes Aotearoa so special!

The catchy ‘ukulele riff, cheeky rap and poppy vocal line make this song a real winner.

Composed by Year 8 students Maxine Vaihu, Julia Tu’uga and Meleseini Puletau from St Pius X School in Auckland and produced by Matthew Faiumu Salapu (Anonymouz), this tune will be a hit with students of all ages.

Teaching video

2014 Islands Uke

2014 Islands-lead and uke


2013 Paradise

“Paradise” by Kerikeri native Waimarie Smith was composed while a boarding student at St Peter’s School in Cambridge, and since then has become a true Kiwi school classic. The NZ Sign Language version of this beautiful waiata has over 120,000 hits on YouTube!

Waimarie was mentored by taonga puoro artist Horomona Horo and Three Houses Down keyboardist Tonga Vaea.

The plaintive melody and descriptive lyrics make “Paradise” a song to fall in love with over and over again.

2013 Paradise Booklet (includes lead sheet and uke sheets for Paradise, and lyrics and chords for “Good Friends”)

2013 Paradise-Lyrics-chords


2012 “21 Degrees”

Hook, Line and Sing-a-long 2012 winner “21 Degrees” by Bruce Taiapa from Gisborne Boys High School is an instant favourite, with its easygoing reggae beat, Te Reo lyrics, cool backing vocals and reminder to “slip, slop, slap and wrap!”

Bruce was Mentored by Three Houses Down keyboardist Tonga Vaea.

This tune will bring you and your students back to summer – no matter what time of year!

2012 21_Degrees-Booklet (lyrics, chords, lead sheet..)


2011 Things to Remember (Huarahi Tika)

Hook, Line and Sing-a-long 2011 Winner “Things to Remember – Huarahi Tika” by students from Te Rumaki O Te Uru Karaka (Newton Central Primary School) is an uplifting song about always moving forward – no matter the difficulties faced along the way.

The students were Mentored by singer-songwriter Tama Waipara.

The Te Reo lyrics and call and response make this a unique tune to challenge and inspire your students.

2011 HLS_Things to Remember Booklet


2010 Made in New Zealand

2010 Hook, Line and Sing-a-long winners “Made in New Zealand”, composed by Katherine Muir, Nikki Taylor and Amber Le Compte while students at Gisborne Girls High School is all about what makes Kiwis one of a kind! The infectious rhythm, clever lyrics and creative harmonic structure will make this song a fast favourite.

The students were mentored by kiwi legend Shona Laing.

2010 Made_In_New_Zealand_Guitar_Sheet (in E)

2010 Made_in_New_Zealand_ukulele_in_F

Audio track – E major:

Audio track – F major backing track: