Historical local radio in New Zealand

Forums › Off topic › Historical local radio in New Zealand

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2961301 30-Aug-2022 20:39

wally22:
Fowler represented all the student stations at the hearings, arguing that student radio was a progressive broadcast outlet

They certainly were progressive. Having the late-night DJ broadcast an on-air appeal for anyone nearby to bring some weed into the studio (BFM) wasn't something that 1YA would have done.

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13953

ID Verified

#2961303 30-Aug-2022 20:45

PolicyGuy:

The smaller of the two masts is still there, and it's still from where at least 567AM and 576AM are broadcast AFAIK:

(screenshot from Google Maps)

The old transmitter was 300kVA and the radiated field was strong enough even twenty to fifty meters away to strike the arc in a 900mm fluorescent tube and cause it to shine

I think it's 567 (National Radio) and 1035 (ZB).

The tech I met there at the time told me apparently they had to paint it twice a year to prevent rush from the sea spray.

He also said they couldn't just walk right up to it and climb it, as the techs would act as an Earth and sent the current through them. They had to back a truck up and jump on it to paint it.

They had views all the way up the Kapiti Coast and to the South Island from the top of the original transmitter (just over 200m in height).

thermonuclear

744 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 599

#2961320 30-Aug-2022 21:30

Growing up in Hawke's Bay the two stations I remember were 2ZC-Bay City Radio in Napier and 2ZK-Apple Radio in Hastings, both on AM.

When I got shipped off to uni in Auckland, the big stations I remember from then were the previously mentioned 89FM, which I think was more rock orientated, and you had the rival Magic-91FM which I remember playing more of the pop hits of the day.

Good times.

Technofreak

6656 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3474

Trusted

#2961321 30-Aug-2022 21:31

2YA when it was operating at 100Kw was the most powerful AM transmitter in Australasia.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

Technofreak

6656 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3474

Trusted

#2961327 30-Aug-2022 21:41

allan:

2XP in New Plymouth, became 2ZP. I'm talking 1960's/1970's here. On AM of course back in the day - I think 1053 or thereabouts. Frequency decommissioned as far as I know. It's successor would have been a NewstalkZB station on FM.

As a side note, the wonderful Marama Martin (Koea) began her broadcasting career there and later became a TV continuity announcer and was the first live person to be broadcast in colour in NZ when colour TV arrived.

Don't forget 2ZH, 1557 Khz in Hawera which was a sister station to 2ZP. When the 2ZH transmitter was still located on the Austin Road (old SH3) just north of Normanby it was also used as an NDB for the Hawera airfield. The aerial is now located further north beside SH 3 on Mountain Road a few k's south of Eltham. Broadcast stations are no longer used in New Zealand as NDB's.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

alasta

6888 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3362

Trusted

Subscriber

#2961376 31-Aug-2022 08:41

I spent a couple of years living in Plimmerton, directly across the water from the Titahi Bay AM transmitter. I'm starting to worry what such a powerful transmitter might have done to me!

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Groucho

542 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 216

#2961599 31-Aug-2022 16:05

thermonuclear:

Growing up in Hawke's Bay the two stations I remember were 2ZC-Bay City Radio in Napier and 2ZK-Apple Radio in Hastings, both on AM.

Bay City Radio 1278kHz got transferred to FM and renamed a few times over but essentially stayed the same e.g. Classic Hits Bay City Radio, Classic Hits and currently The Hits. Apple Radio 77kHz when I remembered it but moved frequencies a few times in quick succession and essentially became 'the' classic rock station eventually becoming Radio Hauraki.

I seem to recall the powers that be tried to merge Bay City Radio and Apple Radio together in Napier but Hastings didn't like sharing. Fast forward years later and is now all broadcast from Auckland.

Interestingly The Hits HB breakfast show is one of very few breakfast shows The Hits still broadcast from a local studio. Most other centres (including Wellington and Christchurch) just get a feed from Auckland! Tells you something about their continued market share in HB to still keep the breakfast show local given commercial and cost pressures to centralise?

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13953

ID Verified

#2961605 31-Aug-2022 16:09

Yes, unfortunately - I think networking was the death knell of good, local radio in this country. It was quite sad (and depressing) when all the independent stations were unceremoniously rebranded as More FM's back in December 2004, all in the order of cost cutting. I don't even listen to them now.

Groucho

542 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 216

#2961606 31-Aug-2022 16:10

Lias:

2XS FM in Palmy with Mike and Baldrick

Before the airwaves got so congested we used to be able to tune into 2XS FM on the south facing side of the hill in Napier. The signal was even strong enough to be in stereo with minimal static but was weather dependent. Still have their jingle in my head!

alasta

6888 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3362

Trusted

Subscriber

#2961616 31-Aug-2022 16:29

The Manawatu FM broadcasts certainly had great coverage. As I recall a lot of people in Masterton listened to 2XS and 2QQ, although eventually Hitz 89FM launched to provide a local offering in the Wairarapa.

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13953

ID Verified

#2961735 1-Sep-2022 00:09

Yes indeed, 2XS boomed into Wanganui and was heard on the Kapiti Coast, as well as Wairarapa.

The former 1ZH in Hamilton I picked up on the elevated parts of the North Shore with little difficulty, and I know the signal almost made it to Taupo, where Lakeland FM came in. 1ZH was also receivable on the road to Hawkes Bay, almost to Eskdale/Bay View.

What is the most distant signal anyone ever received?

I (for a very brief period) picked up Northland radio stations - in the South Island! The signal was very patchy, fading in and out, but for a few minutes it was strong enough for stereo to pick up KCC FM and Radio Pacific from Northland. Blew me away when I checked the distance!

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

DjShadow

4222 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1322

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2961748 1-Sep-2022 07:57

KCC FM in Whangarei

2XS, 2QQ (and ZMFM prior) in the Manawatu

93.2 Energy FM in Taranaki

If you go onto Youtube, search for "The Radio Vault", it contains a lot of sound clips from stations in the past

DonH

231 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 158

Lifetime subscriber

#2961797 1-Sep-2022 09:45

Growing up in Whanganui, 2YD (later 2ZM) was a life saver. I also have fond memories of "The Sunset Show" with Justin Du Fresne, and his usage of The Nice's "Diamond Hard Apples Of The Moon" as the opening and closing theme music. He would often let the closing theme fade to dead air for a couple of seconds, underscoring the gulf between popular music and the blandness of the rest of the programming.

In later years I used to wait for a station in the South Island to shut down its transmitter for the evening at 11 pm so that I could listen to 2JJ Sydney.

People hear what they see. - Doris Day

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#2961800 1-Sep-2022 09:49

quickymart:

Yes indeed, 2XS boomed into Wanganui and was heard on the Kapiti Coast, as well as Wairarapa.

The former 1ZH in Hamilton I picked up on the elevated parts of the North Shore with little difficulty, and I know the signal almost made it to Taupo, where Lakeland FM came in. 1ZH was also receivable on the road to Hawkes Bay, almost to Eskdale/Bay View.

What is the most distant signal anyone ever received?

I (for a very brief period) picked up Northland radio stations - in the South Island! The signal was very patchy, fading in and out, but for a few minutes it was strong enough for stereo to pick up KCC FM and Radio Pacific from Northland. Blew me away when I checked the distance!

The Hits Waikato frequency goes a long way (98.6?). I can listen in the car from the Bombays to about Taupo (and probably further if I tried hard).

DjShadow

4222 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1322

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2961805 1-Sep-2022 10:02

The Hits still uses Mt Te Aroha, the rest use Ruru Hill (nearish to Cambridge).

1 | 2 | 3 | 4