Wikipedia

List of best-selling albums in New Zealand

An album is defined by Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ) as being a type of music release comprising at least five songs or a total playing time of over 25 minutes.[nb 1] Currently, Platinum certifications denote the shipment of 15,000 copies. When RMNZ (then known as the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand) introduced certifications in 1978, to reach Platinum status an album had to ship 20,000 copies. This was reduced to its current level in 1992.[2]

The best-selling albums in New Zealand, as judged by certifications, are ABBA's greatest hits album, The Best of ABBA (1975) and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms (1985); both have been certified 24-times Platinum. ABBA's album ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) is also one of New Zealand's best-selling albums. Pink Floyd, Ed Sheeran and Adele are the only other artists with two entries on the list. Hayley Westenra, Six60 and Fat Freddy's Drop the only artists of New Zealand origin with an album on this list.

Best-selling albums

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Rank Album Artist Year of release Number of times
certified platinum		 Shipments
1 The Best of ABBA ABBA 1975 24[2] 360,000
Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 1985 24[2] 360,000
3 Come On Over Shania Twain 1997 21[3] 315,000
4 Legend Bob Marley and the Wailers 1984 20[2] 300,000
5 ÷ Ed Sheeran 2017 18[4] 270,000‡
6 Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf 1977 17[2] 255,000
Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 1984 17[5] 255,000
21 Adele 2011 17[4] 255,000‡
× Ed Sheeran 2014 17[4] 255,000‡
10 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 1992 16[6] 240,000
The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd 1973 16[2] 240,000
25 Adele 2015 16[4] 240,000‡
13 1 The Beatles 2000 15[3] 225,000
14 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 1995 14[2] 210,000
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds Jeff Wayne 1978 14[2] 210,000
The Joshua Tree U2 1987 14[2] 210,000
The Wall Pink Floyd 1979 14[2] 210,000
Rumours Fleetwood Mac 1977 14[7] 210,000
Christmas Michael Bublé 2011 14[3] 210,000
20 In the Lonely Hour Sam Smith 2014 13[4] 195,000‡
Six60 (1) Six60 2011 13[4] 195,000‡
Doo-Wops & Hooligans Bruno Mars 2010 13[4] 195,000‡
23 Come Away with Me Norah Jones 2002 12[2] 180,000
Falling into You Celine Dion 1996 12[2] 180,000
The Phantom of the Opera Various Artists 1987 12[2] 180,000
Pure Hayley Westenra 2003 12[3] 180,000
Thriller Michael Jackson 1982 12[3] 180,000
Unplugged Eric Clapton 1992 12[4] 180,000
Based on a True Story Fat Freddy's Drop 2005 12[4] 180,000‡

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ If a release contains multiple mixes of a single song, then only the longest track counts toward the 25-minute limit. If the playing time of different songs is less than 25 minutes and the total playing time of all tracks (including multiple mixes) is less than 40 minutes, then the release is defined as a single. In any case, if the total playing time is greater than 40 minutes, it is an album.[1]

References

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  1. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Charts – Chart Rules" (PDF). Recorded Music NZ. August 2010. p. 9–10. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. p. 12. ISBN 978-1877443-00-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". RadioScope. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "New Zealand album certifications". Radioscope. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  7. ↑ "Official Catalogue Albums 15–21 November 2024". aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
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