Hailing from the Waikato, the now Wellington-based band ‘Pineja’ are one of Aotearoa NZ’s most compelling emerging acts, rapidly carving out a space in the local scene with their signature reggae-rock fusion. The band recently cemented their place in the capital’s music scene with a standout debut headline show at the iconic San Fran.
Pineja’s sound is an eclectic blend of dub, rock and funk, drawing comparisons to the funk fueled energy of Talking Heads and the soulful, genre-bending mastery of Strangely Arousing and Fat Freddy’s Drop. The evolution of Pineja’s sound is captured in their self-titled debut EP, featuring standout tracks like the heavy skanking waltz of Grey Days, and the hit single Drop Dead Girl. Their full discography has attracted a loyal fanbase who keep coming back for more. To support the EP release, Pineja completed a four-centre summer tour, playing headline shows in Raglan (The Yard - sold-out), Tauranga (Totara Street), Auckland (Neck of the Woods) and Hamilton (Nivara Lounge - sold-out).
Fresh off a massive set at San Fran for CubaDupa 2026, Pineja proved exactly why their profile keeps building. Playing to a packed house with lines out onto the street, the band delivered a high-energy, engaging performance that blended deep dub grooves with their signature rock energy.
With the energy of CubaDupa still ringing, the band is heading back into the studio to work on new material. With fans reaching out for more, Pineja are planning more gigs to support their upcoming releases.
Pineja have played nine headline shows across the North Island of New Zealand and most recently featuring their huge San Fran show in Wellington “Pineja in Pōneke”. Pineja have also supported acts such as: Borderline, Coast Arcade, Strangely Arousing, Kurilpa Reach (AUS) and OdESSA on their New Zealand tours.