A community-driven legacy

This timeline is for the community, by the community. We invite past, present, and future B-boys and B-girls to contribute their memories, photos, and insights. Your stories are crucial in painting a complete picture of New Zealand's breaking heritage, ensuring every key date and detail is preserved for future generations.

To add to this timeline contact us at.

thebreaksnz@live.com

1979 - US film. The Warriors released.  The film featured graffiti artists. The first exposure for most kiwisto the artform and hip-hop culture.

1980 - Sugarhill Gang 'Rappers delight' enters the NZ top 50. Having been released in the US in 1979. The first commercial Rap song. It stays in the NZ chart for 30 weeks. Leaking at no.18.

16 year old Darryl Thompson DLT. Is inspired by an article about rap and breakdancing in Life magazine.

1981 - release of the album 'off the wall' by Michael Jackson TV show 'thats incredible' shows a battle between Dynamic rockers and Floor Masters.

1983 - DJ Rhys B spins hip-hop live on radio 'uncut funk show' breaking is the first element of hip-hop culture to manifest itself in NZ.  By late 83' local youth City and rural had organized themselves into Crews including. kinetic Energy. Juice Groove breakers. Chain reaction crew. Porirua Street rockers. Smurfs. And Ez rock. 

The term 'Bopping' is derived apparently a misinterpretation of the term 'body popping'

grandmaster Flash and the furious 5 'the message's is released. The sing sounds 17 weeks in the NZ top 50 peaking at no2. The video receives extensive airplay on chart show 'ready to roll' DLT says it was the first time he'd heard of oppression that was similar to ours on the other side of the world. Malcom mclarens 'buffalo gals' released. It peaks at no3 staying in the NZ top 50 for 18 weeks.

1984 - BOP Olympics held at Mt smart stadium in Auckland. With a $2000 prize organiser by Nick D'Angelo. Draws approx 7000 people including Dean Hapeta and Darryl Thompson DLT who met there.

Movie 'beat street' released. Phil Bell DJ Sirvere says it was the soundtrack to this and 'krush groove' which began his hip-hop record collection.

Maori producer and composer Daivanius Prime creates the song 'Poi E' a hip-hop style number sung in Maori by the Patea Maori club. The video features Joe Moana popping. Poi E topped the NZ top 50 charts for 4 weeks. Spending 22 weeks in the charts.

Friday night Bop night 'breakdancing comp'  held at Lower Hutt town hall featuring G-force Rockers. Porirua Street rockers.

1985 - the movie 'krush groove' released. TV show Shazam features the first roadcast of the National breakdancing champs.

1986  - Run DMC 'walk this way' is the countries no1 single for a month. 12 weeks in the chart.

Smooth crew and The Megazoids form.

1988 - the Semi mc's from James Cook highschool are the opening act for Run DMC who played Aucklands Powerstation.

House quake is held in Auckland considered the first Auckland dance party of the New hip-hop era.

Romanovs is the first Chch bar to feature hip-hop on a regular basis 

1989 - NZ Numark DJ finals held in Auckland at Siren. Win by DJ Ned Roy

1994 - Kik squad formed. Misc,Swerv,kerb got acquainted.

1995 - Burn Time video released by Dam Native featuring the Dam Breakers.

1996 - Jason Nevins vs Run DMC 'thats the way it is' is released 

1997 - Justin Jandel J Haiu, Josh Williams and Kent Step1 Christensen meet for the first time at Faith City Church. Manukau. Auckland. Start practicing in the back Cafe room on Sundays. Meet graffiti writer Ben Dyle52. Later create the crew Faith City Rockers. 

Arataki Breakers formed. Mt Maunganui/Tauranga members Gilgetta,Matt Bennett,Antz,Clint Scott, Luke Bishana,Terry Moeau,Jake Mokomoko.

1998 - breakn jams at Dekux PU office in Chch.

Breakn jams at YCD Lichfield st

Weekly Monday jams at Faith city rockers 

Timebandits hold Bboy workshops at Crawshaw primary in Nawton.

Fubu Phatjams held at Papatoetoe Rec by Zerial. New skool breakers.

Jams held at Michael Fowler centre. Wellington.

Pram city breakers and Da Squad formed

Rockafella and Rocklyn Squad Chch form 

1999 - Rawstyles Bboy event held at youth town. Auckland city. Hosted by Stormin Norman. Instance movement crew wins over Timebandits.

RockersGetReady event held by faithcity Rockers. Manukau. QuiknEzy crew wins over instance movement 

NZ hip-hop website/forums launched by Tama Wise.

First BodyRock event held in Levin by bgirl Twerk and Swerv1

Wellington practice spot at youth centre in Newton 'the workshop's'

Keith Haring Bboy battles at Wellington City art gallery. Timebandits vs everyone.

Unity event held at Bats theatre Wellington. Showcasing hip-hop culture hosted by Apex & Kerb

2000 August. First Aotearoa Hip-hop Summit organized by Alistar Toto. held in Christchurch. Timebandits battle Blitz Crew

Bboy summit held in Whanganui.

Ewoks. Rush & Defy enter a battle at Ratana Pa with Whetu & Ranui mcQueen under the name Blackout crew. Battle Ewoks in the final. Arataki breakers rename themselves to be called Blackout Crew.

August . Rawstyles 2 held at the Auckland town hall. Jandel J wins against Step1 in the 1vs1 battles. Blackout wins the crew battles. international guest Peter Pan. Zork One.

Taupo hip-hop throwdown. Liquid lakes crew.

Respect event held in lower Hutt.

2001 Aotearoa Hip-hop Summit held in Auckland. town Hall and Aotea Square. With Ken Swift.

Back2basics local hip-hop magazine launched at the summit by Sen.

Converse Nationals held at ASB stadium Faith City Rockers win over Quik n Ezy.

Battleoftheyear NZ crew battle event held at the St James theatre. Auckland hosted by Stormin Norman. Quik n Ezy crew wins over Faithcity Rockers. screened throughout NZ on Pukana TV show. NZ team Blackattack represent NZ at the battleoftheyear world finals held in Germany. Samson. Soli. Dany (QnE) Sa (WickedWizards) Matmatix (soxup)

fubu phat Jam held at Papatoetoe rec. auckland. Hosted by Zuiriel.

Bodyrock held in Wellington hosted by Twerk & Swerv. Won by Peter Pan & Zork One. 

Lokomotion formed in Auckland by Jose combined with fly Rice led by Nik90.

Bboys Delight event at Viva with Kent Swift hosted by Tweek.

2002 - Aotearoa Hip-hop Summit held in Aotea Square Auckland. Quik n Ezy. Soli.Steez.Shaun win over Coming round. Jarod.Kbigs.Jono

Bodyrock held in Wellington 13th Jan. Host Twerk n Swerv. Quik n Ezy. Soli.Jacob.Samson win over Faithcity Rockers. JandelJ.Steelow.4orm.  bgirl Marley wins the 1vs1 bgirl battles

Vodafone Planet X Games held in Wellington. Hosted by Twerk. Quik n ezy. Soli.Steez.Shaun win over CommonGround. Jarod.Jono.Kbigs.Indo

Fleshmaze crew forms in Auckland by Samuel

Aotearoas premiere National female hip-hop showcase 'Rhapsody' event held.

Battleoftheyear NZ final held  27th July st James Theatre. Auckland hosted by Stormin Norman. international judges Patrick.Hawk. freshattack. Germany. Thomas Hergenother. BOTY director. Quik n Ezy. instance movement. Faithcity rockers. Fleshmaze. Breakamon. Rokafella. Fresh styles. In in out. Blackout. Y2E styles all enter. Quik n Ezy wins over Faithcity Rockers.

2003 -Vodafone XAir games held in Wellington. blackout. Chester.Rush win over QuiknEzy. soli.Doc

Aotearoa Hip-hop Summit held in Auckland. short Ewok wins over Mayhem.

Battleoftheyear International event held in Germany. QwiknEzy crew represents New Zealand.

Bodyrock held in Wellington 18th Jan Shed6. Hosted by Twerk n Swerv. Solo wins over Kouta $7crew. Showcase battles. Solo vs Ktel. Danny vs Strike. Twerk vs Sheeq. 4orm vs Creka. Jono vs Haini. Dashrock vs Mackie. Swerv vs Carlito. Step1 vs Steez. 6 round battles.

International guests. Bboy Wicket. Bgril A-bgirl

Bboys delight held in Wellington town hall. June.

2004. - Bodyrock held in Wellington 9th Jan

5th anniversary. Rush wins over Pepito. Freshsox. Oz.

Floorplans Bboy event held at faithcity.Auckland 11 Sept. Hosted by Step1.

Beatstreet. Hamilton held 30th April.

2005 - Battlecry Crew vs Crew event started by Sheeq.Pest5 and Step1.

Beatstreet Hamilton held in May

Bodyrock6 hosted by Twerk n Swerv held 14/15Jan

International guests Alieness. Steelow. Bgirl Citrus 1vs1 battles

BreaktheHabit 3on3 held at Destiny Church

2007 - Easystreet run by Cisco funk held in Wellington. Boogiehood connection represents.

Beatstreet Hamilton March 23rd

2008 - beatstreet Hamilton June 9th 3vs3

2009 - X-Air becomes Homegrown music festival with Bboy stage run by Twerk and graffiti wall by triple S Crew.

Beatstreet by Beatzcollective 10 July Hamilton at the Meteor.

Battlecry crew vs crew held in Auckland 

2010 - Beatstreet Hamilton celebrates it's 10th anniversary July 17th

NZ 3on3 Bboy champs held in Auckland by SDNZ

Battlecry crew vs crew held in Auckland 

2011 - Homegrown Bboy stage held in Wellington 

Battlecry Crew vs Crew held in Auckland 

2012 - Korean Breakers 'Gorilla Crew's perform at Bruce Mason Theatre. Auckland.

- Easy Street2 held at Zeal. Henderson Akl.

Hosted by Dianamite. Winner Jack (Sydney)

Runnerup Mace Boog (Welly) Toprock Winner Bboy Stretchmark (U knights) Hamilton.

- Redbull Asia Pacific Final. held at Vector Area Auckland. (Sold out) Sept 1st. host /NZ coordinator Bboy Step1. With Redbull Bcone Allstars. Roxrite. Pelezinho. Ronnie. Taiske. - --  National workshop Tour. Chch. Wellington. Auckland.

-Bcone NZ qualifier held at Zeal in Auckland & Wellington. Host Bboy Step1. With Bboy Akorn & Grub-D reppin NZ

-Challenge Cup. July 20th hosted by Lady Snow. Held at Mt Roskill Youth Centre. Akl. Bboy Akorn wins against Stretchmark to rep NZ in Taiwan.

-Battlecry Crew vs Crew event. Otara Music & Arts Centre. Akl. Host. Bboy Step1. Winners Fleshmaze Crew

2013 - Homegrown 2nd March Wellington. 2on2 winners Akorn.Grub-D CommonGround.Chch

Redbull Bcone NZ qualifier June 22 held at Redbull head quarters. Auckland. Hosted by Step1 with international guest Roxrite. Workshop tour in Auckland. Chch. Wellington  Bboy Akorn wins and reps at he Asia Pacific finals.

Battleoftheyear NZ 2on2 bgirl. Soo Bboy battles. August 3rd held at Mangere arts centre. Hosted by Step1. Winners bgirl H. Voltron.blackout. and Deemite. U-knights. And Bboy Akorn rep at BOTY Germany.

Battlecry Nov 23rd held at Omac Auckland. Hosted by Step1. Winners Fleshmaze. Bgirl7to smoke won by Deemite.

2014 - Step correct. jan 11. Held in Mt Maunganui by Critter and Faybes 3on3. Fleshmaze crew wins Nate.Mayhem.Hugga

Homegrown Feb 5th held in Wellington 2on2

Mid city street jams were being held every Friday night in Auckland city. Hosted by Taups and Dianamite.

Battleoftheyear NZ solo Bboy and 2on2 bgirl final. 19 July held at the Q theatre. Auckland. Hosted by Step1. Winners Hugga. And bgirls Nossy and Legend go to Boty Germany.

Madtag event held in Auckland. Bboy battles

5 October. Ambury Farm day performance by Bgirl Nossy and kids called 'Nossy's Posse'

Battlecry crew vs crew battles hosted by Step1 held in Onehunga. Akl.  

2015.  Step Correct. Mt Maunganui. Hosted by Faybes & Critter. 3on3 battles Winner. YT. Bray.Ty (Lokomotion Crew)

- AUSA Auckland Uni 2on2 Jam Host. Bboy Step1. Thebreaksnz Winners. Solomon & Booda

- Breaks on Queens. Auckland Host Bboy Step1.1vs1 Winner YT (Lokomotion Crew)

- Block party. Queens Wharf. Akl

- GotSkills. NZ Redbull Bcone Qualifier host. Bboy Step1. ThebreaksnzMay 30th. Winner Akorn.                       (Common Ground) Chch

 - Battleoftheyear NZ qualifier. Solo Bboy 2on2 Bgirl. host Bboy Step1. Thebreaksnz June 13th. Winners. Bboy Akorn. Bgirls. Juanita (Voltron) Awatea. (Bgirllife)

2016 - Battleoftheyear NZ qualifier held at Te huga Waka Marae. auckland. 30th July

Battleoftheyear Pacific Qualifier. 13 Aug. Mangere arts centre. Dancers from Australia. New Caledonia. NZ. Guest judges. Choco. Taiwan. Astro. New Caledonia. Winner Akorn goes to Germany.

2017. November. Hip-hop summit. Akl otahuhu rec. Hosted by Queen Shirley

2018. November. Street talk . Akl. Hosted by Taups and Dianamite.

2019. May. Reebok gig. Akl bboys perform

October. Ambury park jam. Akl hosted by bgirl Nossy. Bridge breakers.

2020. February. City vs City competition held in Rotorua. Hosted by Booda

2022 - Parley City vs City event hosted by Booda

2023 -Christchurch hip-hop summit held.bboy battles

Parley City vs City event hosted by Booda

Goodfoot Breakn event hosted by Simon. Commonground held in Wellington. Bboy Bones wins 1vs1. Molly from Bridgebreakers Crew wins kids battles 

2024 - Goodfoot breakn event hosted by Simon. Commonground. held in Wellington.  Bboy Andy wins 1vs1. Greta from Bridgebreakers Crew wins kids battles

Feb 28. Event Pop,Lock and Break it. Streetdance battles hosted by Streettalk. Dianamite & Taups. 3vs3 battles held at Aotea Square 

Breaking Limits breakn event held in Wellington hosted by Keza. Common ground crew.

Bridgebreakers Classic breakn event held in Auckland hosted by Bgirl Nossy. Andy.Gabe win 2vs2 battles

2025. July5th . Zero to Break. Bboy event held at Movementum studios. Akl. Hosted by bboy Andy Choi. 1vs1 winner. Simba. 1vs1 rookie. Jim (China

Sept 27th. Thekidznextdoor vol1. Bboy event held at Te oro. GI auckland. Hosted by Daniel. bboy Simba. Winners. Adults 1vs1. Batroc. Kids. 1vs1. Theo.

24 Nov. Streettalk issue2 Magazine launch party at Koru lounge. Editer. Dianamite.

6th Dec. Avondale street sessions. 2vs2 Breakn battles. Live graffiti art. Workshops. Stalls. Dance stage Hosted by Streettalk. Dianamite. Taups.

2026. 21 Feb. TheArtofWar open styles crew battles hosted by Streettalk. Dianamite. Taups. Khartorn place. Akl.

11th April. Avondale street sessions event. 1vs1. Breakn. Popping.locking battles. Avondale art park. Dance stage hosted by Streettalk. Dianamite. Taups.

14 March. Homegrown music event. Held at Claudelands. hamilton. Dance stage hosted by U-knights crew.

Month of March. 7.15.21.28. Bboy / bgirl bootcamp. Hosted by Streettalk. Dianamite. Taups. Potters park. Wesley community centre. Akl. 

Thekidznextdoor vol2. Bboy event held at Kinetic Studio. Akl. April 24th. Hosted by bboy Simba. Winners. Adults 1vs1 Niro. Kids 1vs1 Leon

This is a 'living' timeline and will constantly be updated and revised as more and more people add their knowledge and stories to it.

It is in noway complete or limited to what is documented a lot of this info has been gathered and collected from a wide variety of sources so may even be inaccurate. So we need your help to keep this record up today date and accurate.

Thanks to those who are constantly passing on their knowledge and history of New Zealands Breaking Scene.