Radio Hauraki

Radio station


name = Radio Hauraki
airdate = 1966
area = 14 markets in New Zealand
frequency =
format = Classic rock
owner = The Radio Network| slogan = "Classic Rock That Rocks"
website = http://www.hauraki.co.nz

Radio Hauraki is a New Zealand radio network, specialising in AOR and classic rock. It was the first commercial radio station in NZ and operated illegally to break the monopoly held by the government. It was originally formed as a pirate station in the Hauraki Gulf in a famous and historic story that saw the loss of one life.

History

In late 1966, the "Tiri", the boat chosen to carry the transmitter, anchored in the Hauraki Gulf outside the 3-mile territorial waters limit, despite government efforts to stop it from sailing. The station broadcast on the frequency of 1480 kHz, which was well outside the range of frequencies used by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. After testing the transmitter, and having to replace the mast after winds of more than 30 knots knocked it down, Radio Hauraki officially started broadcasting on December 4, 1966. During the next 2 years, the crew on the "Tiri" would endure adverse weather conditions, fatigue, and continued efforts to shut down the station.

On January 28th, 1968 disaster struck as the "Tiri" attempted to negotiate its way into Whangaparapara Harbour on Great Barrier Island in foul weather. The ship ran aground on rocks, with Radio Hauraki disc jockey Derek King keeping listeners up-to-date with running commentary. The final broadcast from the "Tiri" was "Hauraki News: Hauraki crew is abandoning ship. This is Paul Lineham aboard the 'Tiri'. Good Night." followed by a station jingle, and then the sound of the ship's hull striking the rocks. The "Tiri" was later towed back to Auckland and the broadcasting equipment was salvaged. However, the "Tiri" herself was beyond repair and was replaced four days later by the "Kapuni", christened "Tiri II" by her new crew. A month after the loss of the "Tiri", Radio Hauraki was back in international waters and broadcasting again.

In April of the same year "Tiri II" found herself beached again at Whangaparapara Harbour, a victim of the same storm that would result in the tragic Wahine disaster. After repairs she was back at sea in five days. Between this time and June 1968, "Tiri II" would end up beached at Uretiti Beach and caught several times broadcasting from New Zealand waters by radio inspectors. Just before Christmas 1968, Radio Hauraki became New Zealand's first 24 hour broadcasting radio station.

Radio Hauraki was not live radio. The studios were land based and most programs were recorded on reel-to-reel tapes in 1/2 hour segments exactly one week prior to their broadcast. This meant that while contests, current top tunes, etc could be accommodated, news and weather were more of a challenge.

In mid-1970, the state monopoly on radio frequencies was broken, with the New Zealand Broadcasting Authority finally allowing Radio Hauraki to broadcast on land, legally. The Radio Hauraki crew had spent 1,111 days at sea. The final broadcast from the seabound Hauraki Pirates was a documentary on the station's history until that point, finishing at 10:00 pm when "Tiri II" turned and headed for Auckland. During their final voyage back to shore, announcer Rick Grant was lost overboard.

Radio Hauraki began FM transmission in 1990 on 99.0FM, and the 1480 kHz frequency was subsequently acquired by a local community group to broadcast the BBC World Service.

During the late nineties Radio Hauraki was networked into other regions around the North Island of New Zealand and in 2003 Radio Hauraki was networked into the South Island in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Radio Hauraki Now

After several changes in ownership Radio Hauraki is now operated by The Radio Network becoming a radio network broadcasting across New Zealand. The station is now a far cry from its 1970s-1980s heyday. Reconfigured to the 25-50 male market, it plays classic rock with very few later tracks mixed in.

Taglines

"Here to rock, not to shock"

"Classic rock that rocks"

"New Zealand's real rock station"

Schedule

Frequencies

*Northland 93.2FM
*Auckland 99.0FM
*Waikato 96.0FM
*Tauranga 91.0FM
*Rotorua 94.3FM
*Gisborne 88.5FM & 106.7FM
*Taupo 92.6FM
*Taranaki 90.8FM
*Hawke's Bay 99.9FM
*Manawatu 105.8FM
*Wellington 93.1FM
*Nelson 90.6FM
*Christchurch 106.5FM & 1017AM
*Dunedin 1125AM
*Southland 93.2FM

External links

* [http://www.hauraki.co.nz Radio Hauraki Official Site]
* [http://www.radionetwork.co.nz/Stations/Hauraki/ Radio Network's Information Site About Hauraki]