Greatest Hits FM96

Greatest Hits FM96 (FM96) was a radio station based in Hastings, New Zealand. FM96 went to air for the first time on December 1st 1989. The station, owned by Radio New Zealand, replaced Hit Radio 77ZK (broadcasting on 765AM). FM96 played an adult music mix from the 60's through to the latest Top40 hits. The station's programme Director was Bernard Duncan. FM96 was one of the first Radio New Zealand station's to operate a then 'state of the art' computer automation system called "Systemation". It was later replaced with "Pristine" and "Audisk". FM96 aired a series of catchy ident jingles produced by JAM in America. The station's market leading sound was created via an OMTIMOD 8100 FM Processor, replaced in 2008 by the digital 8300 model.

Announcers during 1989 and 1993 included Mike Page, Graeme Goldsborough (Goldie), Bazza Ross, Cath White, Bernard Duncan, Graeme Parsonage, John Martin, Kev Stanton, Craig Wilson, Jane Reid (Shannon), and James Milner.

Greatest Hits FM96 was rebranded to a slightly more up-tempo music station in 1992 under a new name Better Music 96FM. Radio New Zealand then introduced branding in 1993 and the station was reformated to carry a rock format. Classic Rock 96FM was soon moved to Broadcasting House in Napier. Some years later, a new computer based automation system called "Wizzard" was introduced and trialed in Napier and Classic Rock 96FM was replaced with the popular Radio Hauraki station via Auckland. Radio Hauraki was later relocated to 99.9 FM in Hawke's Bay, and the Top40 pop / CHR station 'ZM' then took up the 95.9 frequency. 'ZM' remains on this frequency to this day.

The above formats and station names were / are repeated in Wairoa (northern Hawke's Bay) on 99.7FM.