Kiwi DJs: Twenty One Years Behind the Decks, Still Led by the Guy Who Started It

Vendor Spotlight: DJs

There's a certain kind of trust that builds when a business is still run by the person who founded it. Kiwi DJs started in 2004 with Paul Marr, a crate of records, and a simple standard: turn up early, read the actual room, take the requests. Twenty one years on, Paul still leads the company and still plays himself, splitting his year between Auckland and Queenstown. We've always liked that combination, a founder who still gets behind the decks personally, backed by a proper team so your date is never left exposed.

Kiwi DJs' branded turntable set against the Auckland skyline

From One DJ to a National Team

Kiwi DJs was one of the first DJ hire companies in New Zealand, and it's grown from Paul working solo in Auckland into a roster of professional DJs based in Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington and Tauranga. Every booking is still played by a profiled Kiwi DJs professional rather than subcontracted out to someone unknown, which is a detail worth appreciating when you're trusting someone with your entire reception. Paul himself has taken the decks internationally too, with bookings in Australia, Cyprus, Japan, the UK and the USA alongside two decades of New Zealand weddings, corporate events and school balls.

Paul is also a skilled FPV drone pilot, and it's become something of a signature touch. Couples regularly receive a highlight video of their night filmed alongside the music, drone footage woven in with the reception itself. It's the kind of extra that photographers notice, because it means there's another set of eyes (quite literally, airborne ones) capturing the day from angles we can't get to ourselves.

Founder Paul Marr DJing at sunset, with his FPV drone in the air behind him

What Every Booking Includes

Kiwi DJs keeps their inclusions consistent across every price tier: an experienced DJ from their own team, sound sized properly to the venue, lighting, wireless microphones for speeches, and setup finished well before guests arrive. Couples can also send through a Spotify playlist ahead of time so their DJ has the list before anyone even walks in the door. With more than 700 reviews across Google, their website and social channels, and corporate clients including ASB, Deloitte, Pfizer and Toyota, it's clearly a formula that holds up under a lot of repeat scrutiny.

Pricing

Kiwi DJs doesn't publish a flat rate, and honestly that makes sense once you see how differently they price a backyard 21st versus a 400-guest CBD hotel dinner. What moves the number is hours booked, venue logistics (CBD lift bookings and loading docks add setup time, Waiheke weddings carry ferry and cartage costs), day-of coverage, and the gear a room actually needs. A booking fee holds your date, with the balance due around the event and terms spelled out in a written quote before you commit. Since this is entirely quote-based, treat any number you might guess here as just that, a guess, and get their actual firm figure for your date and venue.

Kiwi DJs at a Glance

Founded: 2004, by Paul Marr, who still leads the company and DJs personally

Coverage: Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington, Tauranga, and nationwide bookings

Phone: 021 550 348

Hours: Bookings and enquiries Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

Included in every price: Experienced DJ, sound sized to the venue, lighting, wireless mics for speeches, setup finished before guests arrive

Reviews: 700+ across Google, website, and social channels

Pricing: Not published; firm quote based on date, venue, and hours

Website: kiwidjs.co.nz

Why We Like a Founder Still on the Decks

There's something reassuring about booking a company where the person who started it is still personally invested in how the night goes, not just running the business from a distance. From behind our cameras, that tends to translate into a calmer room, since Paul and his team have genuinely seen it all across two decades of New Zealand dance floors. If you're locking in Popin Wedding for your photography and still need music sorted, Kiwi DJs is a solid, well-reviewed option to have on your shortlist.

Planning Your Own Wedding?

Planning your Auckland wedding? Explore our photography and film packages or get in touch with your date and venue. We can help you build a relaxed team and coverage plan around your day.