Offbeat originals

Although late-70s punk invigorated New Zealand music like an angry defibrillator, its most significant legacy – not to disparage the great bands and singles – was the do-it-yourself ethic that handed control to musicians.

Independent artists and record labels in the early 80s confronted the complacency of a music establishment that relied on international artists and groomed local acts to meet its bottom line. Indie labels challenged that corporate culture, the most visible and durable being Flying Nun, this year celebrating its 40th anniversary.