Celebrating Sixty Years of International Broadcasting
Radio New Zealand is celebrating 60 years
of international shortwave broadcasting.
On September 27th, the Dominion Day holiday in 1948, New Zealand’s first international 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).
The network has had a chequered history but, sixty years on, is stronger than ever, broadcasting today as Radio New Zealand International, an award winning, internationally recognised service, providing an essential link between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.
Today Radio New Zealand International is well respected and widely heard across the Pacific and into South East Asia. Eighteen Pacific radio stations re-broadcast Radio New Zealand International material each day and the service is available through digital and analogue short-wave, and via the internet.
In 2007 Radio New Zealand International won
the prestigious International Radio Station of the Year
Award at the Association for International Broadcasting
(AIB) Media Excellence Awards in London.
The AIB
represents more than 25,000 public and commercial radio and
television professionals worldwide and their annual awards
recognise the very best in international broadcasting.
Radio New Zealand International also won the award for Most
Innovative Partnership, in recognition of its work with
radio stations and media across the Pacific.
Radio New
Zealand International Manager, Linden Clark, acknowledges
the technological revolution that has allowed the network to
achieve its current international recognition.
“From humble beginnings, using two second hand US
military transmitters left behind after the Second World
War, the station has grown to become a significant
international broadcaster using shortwave, digital and
analogue technology which allows us to play a vital role in
increasing understanding and awareness of New Zealand’s
role in the Pacific.”
Anniversary celebrations this
week will include a special programme to be broadcast on
Radio New Zealand National at 12.20am on Saturday 27th
September and at 9.06pm on Tuesday 30th September. This
programme will also be broadcast on Radio New Zealand
International throughout the week. It includes the opening
announcement by the Prime Minister of the day, Peter Fraser,
excerpts from early programmes and interviews with former
and current
staff.
ENDS