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Kōrero: Popular music

'David Lowston'

Audio file

The anonymous ballad 'David Lowston' recalls the real-life travails of a group of sealers led by David Lowrieston (the 'Lowston' of the title), who were stranded on Open Bay Island (pictured here) and the West Coast of New Zealand between 1810 and 1813. It was probably composed in Sydney around 1814. Part of the song is sung here by the Bach Choir of Wellington.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10048349

by Paddy Ryan

Sound file from Bach Choir of Wellington

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Chris Bourke, Popular music – Early settlers, 18th and early 19th centuries, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/music/42568/david-lowston (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Chris Bourke, i tāngia i te 16 September 2013.