Radio Hauraki

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 transmitter broadcasted 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 antenna after winds of above 30 knots knocked it down, Radio Hauraki officially started broadcasting on December 4, 1966. During the next 2 years, the Radio Hauraki 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 vessel 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 dead silence. The following day the ship was 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 of 1968, Tiri II would end up beached at Whangaparapara again, 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.

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, and the 1480 kHz frequency was subsequently acquired by a local community group to broadcast the BBC World Service.

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. A motto is "Here to rock, not to shock".

Schedule

06:00	Mark Perry, Willy de Wit and Dean Butler (The Morning Pirates)
10:00	Mark Woods "Woodsie"
15:00	Nik Brown
19:00	Mike Curry (The Road Train)
12:00	Music all night
SUN	Sunday 10:00-12:00 The Classics

Frequencies

• Northland 95.1 FM
• Auckland 99.0 FM
• Waikato 96.0 FM
• Bay Of Plenty 89.0 FM
• Rotorua 94.3 FM
• Gisborne 98.9 FM
• Taupo 91.9 FM
• Taranaki 90.7 FM
• Hawkes Bay 99.9 FM
• Wellington 93.1 FM
• Christchurch 1017 AM
• Dunedin 1125 AM
• Southland 93.2 FM

External links

• Radio Network's Information Site About Hauraki