Opera legend Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is one of the most recognisable names in modern classical music.
And at age 70, she's had a career that's spanned over four decades.
The only living New Zealander with an Order of Australia has spoken to SBS.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa just turned 70.
But her enthusiasm for singing is as fresh as ever.
"I've never found another job, or another life that I want more than I am experiencing right now. No regrets. It's mostly things, if I could have corrected things I would have, but you can't change fate or history."
Dame Kiri first performed live aged just six at a local radio station in Gisborne on New Zealand's North Island.
She shot to fame in 1971 and just over a decade later sang at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
With a decades-long career that's taken her all over the world, Dame Kiri is ready to give back to the next generation of singers.
In 2004 she established the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to nurture new talent.
Her key to sustaining long-term success is simple - work hard and set goals, although she admits to occasionally questioning herself.
"You know, there's a point where you suddenly think, do I want to do this any more? I sometimes get to that. Today might be the day because I feel so bad with a cold. But tomorrow it will be another day and I'll mostly feel better and sing the concert. But I just think it's a love of working, to proving to young students that I'm mentoring that you can have a long career if you look after yourself. It's all about looking after yourself."
Dame Kiri has fans all over the world, including at least one in the federal parliament.
Speaker of the House Bronwyn Bishop issued the septuagenarian a personal invitation to Question Time.
"I have to say, I am a big fan. And I think her glorious voice has given so much joy to so many people, that we are very privileged to have her here today."
The opera singer is touring Australia before heading to her native New Zealand.
She credits the close relationship between the nations in part to cultural links.
"I think we're so close. This is the bigger country, we're the smaller country. But I'm evidently the only living New Zealander with an Order of Australia, as far as I know. I'm hoping they might remedy that one after I'm gone! but that's really nice to be given something like that."
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