Archive

Category: Pacific

RNZ marks 75 years of broadcasting shortwave into the Pacific

It has been 75 years since Radio New Zealand commenced broadcasting on shortwave frequencies into the Pacific region.

RNZ goes live with new Pacific shortwave transmitter

Shortwave transmission to the Pacific is “more important now” than in 1990 when RNZ Pacific first broadcast into the region, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister says. RNZ went live on Thursday with its new Pacific shortwave transmitter, replacing its old one that dates to 1989.

Sugarloaf: Inside the concrete eyrie high above Christchurch in the Port Hills

Published on the Stuff website in 2018, this story takes an interesting look at the Sugarloaf transmitter site located on the Port Hills above Christchurch, New Zealand.

Radio Hauraki co-founder David Gapes has died

One of the founders of New Zealand’s pirate radio station and then commercial radio station Radio Hauraki, David Gapes, has died.

Palmerston North radio station powered by John Ward turns 25

For the last 25 years John Ward has shared his love of classical music through his radio station The Gramophone Room.

NZ On Screen: The Radio Collection

Timed to celebrate World Radio Day, NZ On Screen launches a new collection that highlights the impact, achievements (and some shock-jock antics) of the radio industry in Aotearoa.

Radio, someone still loves you

On August 1, 1981, video killed the radio star. Or so new wave band, The Buggles, yelled to the world the day MTV was launched in New York, USA. In Fiji, families gathered around the radio together for at least a decade more. Some still do.

PNG’s NGI Region Gets a Boost with New 10kW MW Transmitter

A 10kw MW transmitter for the NGI region was officially commissioned at the Kurakakaul Transmitter Farm, East New Britain Province by Minister for ICT, Hon. Timothy Masiu, and ENB Governor Hon. Michael Marum.

PNG’s NBC Celebrates 50 Years of Broadcasting Excellence

The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of Papua New Guinea kicked off its 50th Anniversary celebrations today with a vibrant city-wide float, showcasing the corporation’s rich history and commitment to serving the nation. The celebrations, themed “One Voice, One NBC, One Future,” will continue for five days, culminating in spectacular fireworks display and dinner at Ela Beach.

Remembering Radio Pioneers 100 Years On

One hundred years ago Gisborne became the home of one New Zealand’s first radio broadcasting stations. Station 2YM was started by three Gisborne amateur radio operators — Percy Stevens, Ivan O’Meara and Bob Patty. They obtained one of the first broadcasting licences on October 27, 1923.

Remembering the Tiri

On the Eastern shores of Matakohe-Limestone Island lie the derelict remains of a once-famous floating pirate radio studio. Scattered skeletal piles of rusting metal is all that remains of the shipwrecked Tiri, once the beating heart of Radio Hauraki and the centre of a political and media storm of the swinging sixties. From her cockpit on the Hauraki Coast, she debuted to the carefree tune of Matt Monro’s Born Free, defiantly blasting through wireless into the homes of thousands of 1960s young Kiwi fans.

Souvenir Programme: Official Opening of 2ZB

On Wednesday, 28th of April, 1937 the Hon. F. Jones, M.P., Postmaster-General and Acting Minister for Broadcasting, officially opened Station 2ZB in Wellington, New Zealand….

The Samoan Earthquakes and the Early Radio Scene in American Samoa

American Samoa is a small group of small islands in the exotic South Pacific with a total land area of only 76.8 square miles, a little more than the area of Washington DC.  There are five main islands, and two coral atolls, with a population of 45,000, most of whom are bilingual in both Samoan and English. 

Centre renamed in honour of advocate

A community centre in Invercargill for people with visual disabilities has been renamed to honour the advocacy of a passionate Southland man. He was also called “the world’s only professional DX-er [DX-ing is the hobby of receiving and identifying distant radio or television signals],” after he asked the stations for which he had already been doing monitoring if he could be put on their payroll as a regular staff member.

Early Music Recordings from ZJV Suva

Some early recordings of Fijian music made by station ZJV Suva.

‘A beacon for the future’: Inside the world of Radio Ngāti Porou

Radio Ngāti Porou’s headquarters in small-town Ruatōria may not look like your typical radio station, and that’s probably because it isn’t.

Radio Woodville turns 25

When Radio Woodville started, they were broadcasting out of a house in Vogel St. Twenty-five years later and the station continues to be the voice of Woodville, celebrating its birthday earlier this month.

NZ’s Last Original Private Commercial Radio Station, To Stay Locally Owned

New Zealand’s last original private commercial radio station remains locally owned under a new media company. Iconic community station, Radio 1XX is changing hands following the establishment of a new media company.

MediaWorks Launches Channel X

New Zealand’s MediaWorks has launched a new music-only network “Channel X” to replace the former talk-format “Today FM”

Ocean Island

Back in the year 1908, just eight years after Marconi inaugurated his first permanent wireless station in England, the Pacific Phosphate Company announced that they hoped a wireless station could be installed on Ocean Island. During the following year (1909), another announcement indicated that the wireless station would be capable of long distant transmission.  In addition, the specific location on Ocean Island for the projected station would need to be approved by a Wireless Engineer, they said.