Thanks to Slow Boat Records, Wellington musicians can still chat while browsing vinyl
Slow Boat Records in Wellington remains a cultural hub for musicians and fans, continuing its legacy as an independent record store since 1985. The shop recently hosted live broadcasts and events, highlighting the enduring value of physical music spaces.
Why it matters
The store serves as a case study for the survival of independent retail and community-focused cultural spaces in the digital age.
After years of reviewing music on RNZ, Jeremy Thomas takes a "perverse pleasure" in spinning some of his own eclectic favourites.
RNZ Life reporters 5 September 2026 7 min read Caption: Musician, record store owner and RNZ album reviewer Jeremy Taylor. Photo credit: RNZ As a young musician in '90s Christchurch, Jeremy Taylor, who reviews new music on RNZ’s Nine to Noon , loved hanging out at record stores. He's profoundly grateful that people still want to come to places like Slow Boat Records , which he's worked at since 2001 and now owns.
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