On September 27, the Dominion Day holiday in 1948, a short-wave service was launched by Prime Minister, Peter Fraser. It took the name 'Radio New Zealand' and was part of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service (NZBS).
Until 1990, the station broadcast on two 7.5kW transmitters from Titahi Bay which had been left behind by the US military after World War II. The service was aimed at listeners in the South Pacific and Australia but was also heard DX (short-wave) listeners across the world.
Regular programmes included 'This Radio Age' by Cleve Costello from 1948; 'Arthur Cushen's CS World'; 'Mailbox' with Christine Cole Catley answering listeners letters; 'Hymns for Sunday' and 'On The March' by Rudi Hill; and 'Song and Story of the Māori'.
In 1976 the station was closed down but reopened just a month later following strong protest from the Pacfic region. However funding cuts in 1982 down-graded the service to just a relay of the domestic National Radio service.
Following the Fiji coup of 1987 and growing political pressure to take a more active role in the Pacific area, the government decided to upgrade New Zealand's shortwave service.
A new 100 kW transmitter was purchased and installed at Rangitaiki, just off the Napier-Taupo Road. On January 24, 1990 - the same the Commonwealth Games opened in Auckland - the station was relaunched under the name 'Radio New Zealand International' (RNZI), with its own staff and news and programming designed specifically for Pacific listeners.
So while Radio New Zealand International has only been in existence since 1990, New Zealand's public broadcaster has included a shortwave service since 1948 and it's this anniversary that we mark this week.
A special programme presented by David Ricquish of the New Zealand Heritage Foundation and produced by RNZI's Adrian Sainsbury will play on RNZ National and will also be broadcast on RNZI throughout the week. It includes the opening announcement by the Prime Minister of day, excerpts from early programmes and interviews with former and current staff.
[The above background information was supplied by Linden Clark, RNZI manager in 2008.]
The programme opens with an archival recording of Radio New Zealand's opening broadcast in 1948, including a message from Prime Minister Peter Fraser.
Tony Marr, a former employee describes the first transmitters at Titahi Bay and upgrading in 1990 to a 100kW transmitter.
An excerpt is heard of a RNZI news bulletin from its opening day January 24, 1990, with news reader Susan Leia'taua and station manager Ian Johnstone and coverage of the opening of the Auckland Commonwealth Games. Ian Johnstone is interviewed by Myra Oh about his memories of the opening broadcast, which featured Elma Maua and Hugh Young commentating on the Games. He says the station was determined to be a "Kiwi" voice and also to reflect the voices of New Zealand's Pacific and multi-racial population.
The station was run on a shoestring by Rudi Hill during the 1980s. A recording is played of manager Linden Clark speaking on the 50th anniversary of the service in 1998. She comments about recent funding cuts and support from Pacific leaders and listeners. Sir Geoffrey Henry of the Cook Islands comments by telephone about how much his country values the station.
The station's news programmes are under the guidance of Walter Zweifel and he comments about the growth of news staff and the development of the "Dateline Pacific" programme and a network of stringers around the Pacific. Some Pacific stations then relay some of RNZI's bulletins to local listeners and programmes are exchanged with other shortwave broadcasters such as Radio Australia and the BBC World Service.
In 2002 a special programme for New Zealand Defence Force personnel stationed around the world was started, New Zealand Forces Radio, hosted by Katrina Batten. John Seward, public relations for the NZDF recalls how the programme was heard and received around the world.
RNZI technical manager Adrian Sainsbury talks about his time with the station. He says one of the biggest changes has been the growing demand by Pacific stations to re-broadcast RNZI programming and the development of other platforms such as DRM broadcasting and internet downloads. He talks about the role of RNZI's remote monitoring stations in the Pacific in Fiji, American Samoa and Vanuatu, replacing the need for listeners to report in on reception. He says he can see the role of shortwave continuing in the Pacific for at least another 15 years, until internet is more widely available in the region.
Linden Clark talks about the original vision for the station in 1948 and how she sees its role developing into the future. She says in some countries of the Pacific, local stations are constrained from commenting critically about local issues, which is a role RNZI can fill. It also has an important role in times of crisis such as during bad weather or other disasters when local stations cannot broadcast.