Sweet Dreams

I like the words that accompany music, I like the stories — that does it for me. I like to sing songs that say something.

– Contestant Matt Smith on country music

I have noticed over the years, a rather sad attitude from radio and television etc towards country and western music. I've never understood that, I don't find that it's offensive at all. It does upset me that the industry has this rather preconceived idea towards western music whereas they don't have any of that attitude towards rastafarian music...

– Kiwi country legend Patsy Riggir on the perception of country music

Each year four Kiwis and four Australians battle it out under a giant marquee on Norfolk Island for the title of Trans-Tasman Entertainer of The Year — this is the Bledisloe Cup of country music.

– Narrator Stephen Papps, at the start of this documentary

New Zealand country music is in some ways a little cabaret-ish, and they are much stronger on the vocal quality I think, which is a good thing.

– Previous Trans-Tasman Entertainer winner Nyree Klip on New Zealand country music

People have a stereotype of the boots and the horse and the hat, that they don't realise that just like everything else, country music has progressed.

– Contestant Lesley Niania on the stereotypes of country music, early in this documentary

From the 60s through to the 80s, country music was never far from the public eye, thanks to Country FM radio and television shows like 'That's Country'.

– Narrator Stephen Papps on the history of country music in New Zealand

Norfolk Island's hosting the Aussie vs Kiwis contest because of its location — plonked in the middle of the Tasman, between the two competing countries, and while it may be tiny, up here they love their country music.

– Narrator Stephen Papps