This is a list of radio stations in the Wellington Region of New Zealand.
Note: Several FM stations changed their frequency during October 2010, as broadcast licenses were renewed and spacing standardized to 0.8 MHz. AM stations were also moved in 1978 when New Zealand switched from 10 kHz frequency spacing to 9 kHz spacing.
Nearly all full-power FM stations in Wellington broadcast from the Mount Kaukau transmitter. As a general rule, frequencies in Wellington are spaced 0.8 MHz apart, starting from 89.3 MHz.
Some Hutt Valley "infill" frequencies with transmitters at Towai or Fitzherbert have been allocated to the 0.4 MHz "gap" in between other stations.
Frequency [1] | Name | Format | Licensed Transmitter [1] | Licensed kW [1] | Broadcasting on frequency since | Previous station(s) on frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
88.6 FM | Radio Active | Alternative rock | Tinakori Hill | 1 | 1981 on 89FM | |
89.3 FM | Newstalk ZB | Talk radio | Kaukau | 40 | ||
90.1 FM | The Hits | Adult contemporary music | Kaukau Haywards Towai | 40 0.8 0.8 | 1993 | Broadcast on 89.8FM from 1990-1995 and 90.0FM prior to 2010 1990–1991 2ZB 1991–1993 B90 FM (same station but rebranded) 1993-2014 Classic Hits 90FM (same station but rebranded) |
90.9 FM | ZM (originally ZMFM) | Contemporary hit radio | Kaukau Towai | 80 0.8 | 1985 | |
91.7 FM | The Edge | Contemporary hit radio | Kaukau Haywards | 80 0.8 | 2007 | 1990s - 1991 Fox FM renamed from Greater Wellington FM 1993–1995 The Heat 91.7FM 1995–1997 The Box 91.7FM 1997–1998 92 Hitz FM 1998 99-100 More FM (temporary simulcast) 1998–2005 Channel Z 2005–2006 Kiwi FM 2006-2007 More FM Wellington (temporary simulcast) |
92.5 FM | RNZ Concert | Classical music | Kaukau | 80 | ||
93.3 FM | Radio Hauraki | Classic rock | Kaukau | 40 | 2010 | Broadcast on 93.1FM prior to 2010 |
93.7 FM | Gold | Classic hits | Towai | 0.8 | 01/07/2020 | Broadcast on 93.5FM prior to 2010 1986 - 2007 91ZM 2008 - 2012 Easy Mix 2012 - 2016: Radio Sport 2016 - 30/06/2020: Mix |
94.1 FM | The Breeze | Easy listening | Kaukau | 40 | 1993 | 1991–1993 Radio Windy/Windy FM |
94.9 FM | Atiawa Toa FM | Kaukau | 16 | 1990s | also 100.9 FM | |
95.3 FM | More FM | Adult contemporary music | Fitzherbert | 1 | 2004 | Station broadcast on 94.7FM prior to 2010 1996-2004 Channel Z |
95.7 FM | Coast | Easy listening | Kaukau | 40 | 2011 | |
96.1 FM | RNZ Concert | Classical music | Towai | 0.8 | Station broadcast on 95.6FM prior to 2010 | |
96.5 FM | The Rock | Active rock | Kaukau Haywards | 16 0.8 | 1999 | Station broadcast on 96.3FM prior to 2010 1993-1998 Pirate FM |
97.3 FM | The Sound | Classic rock | Kaukau Haywards | 16 0.8 | 2012 | Stations broadcast on 97.5FM prior to 2010 1992 2XX Kapiti 1992–1993 Cadbury Moro FM 1994-1995 The Heat 91.7FM (temporary simulcast) 1995–1997 The Quake 97.5FM 1997–1999 Solid Gold 2000–2008 The Edge 2008-2011 Solid Gold |
98.1 FM | Life FM | Contemporary Christian music | Kaukau | 25 | 2010 | Station broadcast on 98.5FM prior to 2010 1995–1996 Kix FM 1996–2004 Channel Z |
98.5 FM | The Breeze | Easy listening | Fitzherbert | 0.63 | 1993 | Station broadcast on 98.1FM prior to 2010 and relocated to Fitzherbert in 2020 1991–1993 Radio Windy/Windy FM |
98.9 FM | Magic [2] [3] | Oldies | Kaukau Haywards | 16 0.8 | 14/04/2023 | Station broadcast on 98.9FM from 1991-2004 and 98.7FM from 2005-2010 1991–2004 More FM 2005-2019: Radio Live 19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM |
99.7 FM | More FM | Adult contemporary music | Kaukau Haywards | 40 0.8 | 1991 | Station broadcast on 100.0FM prior to 2010 1990-1991 Windy FM |
100.5 FM | Mai FM | Urban contemporary | Kaukau | 16 | 2012 | |
100.9 FM | Atiawa Toa FM | Fitzherbert | 0.8 | 2010 | ||
101.3 FM | RNZ National | Kaukau | 8 | |||
101.7 FM | RNZ National | Towai | 0.8 | Broadcast on 104.5FM prior to 2010 | ||
103.7 FM | PMN 531 | Kaukau | 8 | Jan 2019 | 2010-2019 Niu FM | |
104.1 FM | PMN 531 | Fitzherbert | 0.8 | Jan 2019 | 2010-2019 Niu FM | |
104.5 FM | Channel X | Classic alternative | Kaukau | 8 | 8 May 2023 | Stations broadcast on 99.4FM prior to 2010 2005 - 2011 Coast 2011–2013 Radio Sport 2013 - 2015 Flava - 2019 George FM (on 106.7 LPFM) Sept 2019 - 23/04/2023: Magic on 98.9 |
105.3 FM | Radio Tarana | Kaukau | 2 | 11/10/2022 | 2009–2010 Hit Radio X105; 2011 - April 2022: Wellington 105.3FM [4] | |
106.1 FM | Wellington Access Radio [5] | Access radio | Kaukau | 2.5 | 2017 | 2010 - 2016 Hutt Radio (previously 106.7 LPFM, now 88.3 LPFM) |
Frequency | Name | Format | Transmitter | Licensed power (kW) | Broadcasting on frequency since | Previous station(s) on frequency | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
567 AM | RNZ National | Public radio | Titahi Bay | 160 | 1978 | previously 2YA also broadcast on 720 and 570 kHz [6] from 1927–1978 | |
657 AM | AM Network (Parliament) and Star | Parliament Public radio and Christian radio | Titahi Bay | 160 | 2000 | 1978–1986 Concert Radio, 2YC (that also broadcast on 840 [6] and 660 kHz prior to 1978) | |
711 AM | SENZ [7] | Sports radio | Horokiwi | 16 | 19/07/2021 | 1992–2005 Radio Pacific 2005–2007 Radio Pacific and Radio Trackside 2007–2010 BSport and Radio Trackside 2010–2015 LiveSport and Radio Trackside 2015–2020 TAB Trackside | |
891 AM | Magic [2] | Oldies | Horokiwi | 16 | 2015 | 1978 – 1993 Radio Windy broadcasting on 1080 kHz between 1973 and 1976 and 890 kHz between 1976 and 1978 1993 - 2015 The Breeze | |
972 AM | Radio Rhema | Christian radio | Horokiwi | 12.5 | 1992 | ||
1035 AM | Newstalk ZB | Talk radio | Titahi Bay | 63 | 1993 | 1978–1993 2ZB (previously broadcasting on 980 kHz between 1937 and 1978) | |
1161 AM | Te Upoko O Te Ika | Māori radio | Titahi Bay | 32 | 1986 | 1978–1986 2ZM (previously broadcasting on 1130 kHz between 1969 and 1978 and using callsign 2YD between 1937 and 1969) | |
1233 AM | The Breeze | Easy listening | Horokiwi | 12.5 | 31/03/2023 | 1990–1994 BBC World Service 1995–1996 Radio Liberty 1996–1997 BBC World Service 1997–1999 Southern Star 1999–2008 Solid Gold 2008-2019 Radio Live 19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM | |
1503 AM | Gold Sport | Classic hits & Sports radio | Horokiwi | 16 | 01/07/2020 | 1982–1992 Radio Rhema 1997–1998 Sports Round Up 1998 - 30/03/2020 Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB | |
1566 AM | To be activated. Licence created 28/04/2022, MBIE transferred to Radio Tarana NZ Ltd 30/08/2022 | Horokiwi | 16 |
The rise in internet radio stations has been prevalent in Wellington. Mouthfull Radio is the contemporary station that showcases community online radio from Wellington. Most stations also use an m3u stream on their website so you can listen online if you are outside of the band of radio in proximity.
The following frequencies were previously used in the Wellington region, but most were decommissioned in the reallocation of frequencies in October 2010.
It is unlikely that most of these FM frequencies will be re-used as most do not fit within the current band spacing plan. Possible exceptions are 102.1/102.9 FM and 96.9 FM that fit the band plans for Wellington and Hutt Valley respectively.
Frequency | Status | Previous stations on frequency | Area served | Replacement frequency (if applicable) |
---|---|---|---|---|
89.0 FM | Decommissioned | 1982–2011 Radio Active | Wellington | 88.6 (Radio Active) |
89.4 FM | Decommissioned | ?–2010 Radio Sport | Upper Hutt / Hutt Valley | 93.7 (Radio Sport - Hutt Valley transmitter) |
90.0 FM | Decommissioned | 1990–1991 2ZB 1991–1993 B90 FM (same station rebranded) 1993–2010 Classic Hits 90FM | Greater Wellington | 90.1 Classic Hits 90FM |
93.1 FM | Decommissioned | 2004–2010 Radio Hauraki | Greater Wellington | 93.3 (Hauraki) |
93.5 FM | Decommissioned | 1986–2007 ZMFM/91ZM 2007–2010 Easy Mix | Hutt Valley | Easy Mix moved to 93.7 MHz & closed June 2012, replaced by Radio Sport |
94.7 FM | Decommissioned | 1995–1996 Kix FM 1996–2004 Channel Z 2004–2010 More FM Wellington | Hutt Valley | 95.3 (More FM - Hutt Valley) |
95.6 FM | Decommissioned | 1980s–2010 Radio New Zealand Concert | Hutt Valley | 96.1 (RNZ Concert - Hutt Valley) |
96.3 FM | Decommissioned | 1990s Pirate FM 1999–2010 The Rock | Greater Wellington | 96.5 (The Rock) |
96.9 FM | Decommissioned | 1990s–2010 Atiawa Toa FM | Wellington & Hutt Valley (excluding Porirua) | 100.9 Atiawa Toa FM |
98.7 FM | Decommissioned | 2004–2005 More FM (moved from 98.9FM) 2005–2010 Radio Live | Greater Wellington | 98.9 (Radio Live) |
99.2 FM | Decommissioned | 2006–2010 Life FM | Porirua | 98.1 (Life FM - Porirua) |
99.4 FM | Decommissioned | 2005–2010 Coast | Greater Wellington | 95.7 (Coast) |
100.0 FM | Decommissioned | 1991–2010 More FM Wellington | Wellington / Porirua | 99.7 (More FM) |
100.7 FM | Decommissioned | 2002–2010 Niu FM | Hutt Valley | 104.1 (Niu FM - Hutt Valley) |
102.1 FM | Decommissioned 2015 Crown Reserve | 2006 - 2015: Kiwi FM | Greater Wellington | |
102.9 FM | Expired Licence 265411 Crown Reserve Maori | 20-24/02/2019: Haka Translate Te Matatini ki te Ao (Event Broadcast) [8] | Westpac Stadium/Wellington CBD | |
783 AM | Decommissioned 2017 | 1981 - 2017: Wellington Access Radio (original call sign 2YB) Samoan Capital Radio | Greater Wellington | 106.1 FM Wellington Access Radio |
1323 AM | Decommissioned | 1988 - 1994: Aotearoa Radio | Greater Wellington |
There are a number of Low Power FM stations that are operating, or have operated, in Wellington whose broadcast range may be less than that of the full-power FM stations.
Kordia operated a (DAB) test service between October 2006 and 30 June 2018. At the conclusion the trial transmissions were from Mt Kaukau in Band III on 192.352 MHz. The multiplex delivered a mix of DAB and DAB+ programmes over nearly 12 years. The programmes at the conclusion of the trial were:
Programme | Format | DAB/+ | Bit rate kb/s |
---|---|---|---|
KDAB | Pop music | DAB+ | 96 stereo |
Base FM | Freeform Urban contemporary | DAB | 128 stereo |
BBC World Service | Talk radio | DAB | 64 mono |
Brian FM | Adult Hits | DAB+ | 96 stereo |
RNZ Concert+ | Classical music | DAB+ | 112 stereo |
George FM | House music | DAB | 128 j/stereo |
NBR Radio | Talk radio Finance | DAB+ | 32 mono |
RNZ National | Public radio | DAB | 128 j/stereo |
Rhema+ | Christian radio | DAB+ | 96 stereo |
Spice+ | Punjabi radio | DAB+ | 96 stereo |
Radio Tarana | Contemporary Indian radio | DAB | 128 stereo |
The Flea FM | Pop music | DAB+ | 96 stereo |
Frequency | Name | Format | Transmitter location [16] | Licensed power (kW) [16] | Broadcasting on frequency since | Previous stations on frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
87.9 FM | AREC FM [17] | BBC World Service | Waikanae Low Power FM | 0.001 | 2018 | Was 87.6 Waikanae Live |
88.2 FM | Paekākāriki 88.2 [18] | Local issues and artists | Paekākāriki Low Power FM | 0.001 | ||
88.7 FM | Vacant January 2021 | Forest Heights | 0.63 | Reo FM | ||
89.5 FM | Newstalk ZB | Talk radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
90.3 FM | More FM | Adult contemporary music | Forest Heights | 2.5 | Was 90.2 Kapiti / 95.1 & 104.2 Horowhenua; Previous names 2XX & 95FM | |
91.1 FM | ZM | Contemporary hit radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | 2004 | |
91.9 FM | The Rock | Active rock | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
92.7 FM | The Hits | Adult contemporary | Forest Heights | 0.63 | 2004 | Radio Sport until 2004, Classic Hits 92.7 until 2014 Same station but rebranded |
93.5 FM | SENZ [7] | Sports radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | 19/07/2021 | TAB Trackside |
94.3 FM | The Sound | Classic rock | Forest Heights | 1 | 2012 | Solid Gold FM, The Heat, The Box |
95.1 FM | Magic | Oldies | Forest Heights | 0.5 | 2015 | 95.1 More FM Horowhenua (95.1 Relocated from Heights Road Shannon) More FM now 90.3 Kapiti & Horowhenua |
95.9 FM | Coast | Easy listening | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
96.7 FM | Life FM | Contemporary Christian music | Forest Heights | 0.63 | Coast Access Radio | |
97.5 FM | The Edge | Contemporary hit radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
98.3 FM | RNZ Concert | Classical music | Forest Heights | 0.5 | ||
99.1 FM | Channel X | Classic alternative | Forest Heights | 0.63 | 8 May 2023 | 2005-2019: Radio Live; 19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM |
100.7 FM | The Breeze | Easy listening | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
101.5 FM | RNZ National | Public radio | Forest Heights | 0.5 | ||
103.9 FM | Radio Rhema | Christian radio | Forest Heights | 0.5 | ||
104.7 FM | Coast Access | Access radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
106.3 FM | Beach FM | Local commercial radio | Forest Heights | 0.63 | ||
107.5 FM | silent 1/04/2021 | Paraparaumu Low Power FM | 0.001 | 2016- ? Triple X FM [19] | ||
1377 AM | silent 15/02/2020 | Te Horo | 8 | 2004-2020 Radio Sport |
Frequency | Name | Format | Location | Licensed power (kW) | Years | Previous station(s) on frequency |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
87.6 FM | Gold Sport | Greatest hits & Sports radio | Masterton Low Power FM | 0.001 | 01/072020 | Oct 2019 - Mar 2020: Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB |
87.8 FM | Masterton LPFM | 0.001 | 3ABN | |||
88.1 FM | Hit Student Radio [20] | Top 40, Old school | Makoura College Masterton LPFM | 0.001 | ||
88.7 FM | Life FM | Christian radio | Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) | 0.32 | ||
89.5 FM | More FM | Adult contemporary music | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | Hitz 89FM (later known as Hitz 89.3FM), Today FM (not the Mediaworks brand) | |
90.3 FM | The Hits | Adult contemporary music | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | Classic Hits Wairarapa, Radio Wairarapa, 2ZD | |
91.1 FM | SENZ [7] | Sports radio | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | 19/07/2021 | TAB Trackside, Live Sport, BSport, Radio Pacific-Trackside |
91.9 FM | Coast | Easy listening | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | Oct 2019 | Radio Sport |
92.7 FM | Arrow FM | Access Radio | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 0.8 | ||
93.5 FM | The Sound | Classic rock | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | Solid Gold FM | |
94.3 FM | ZM | Contemporary hit radio | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | ||
95.1 FM | The Rock | Active rock | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | ||
95.9 FM | The Edge | Contemporary hit radio | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | ||
97.5 FM | Rhema | Christian radio | Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) | 0.32 | ||
98.3 FM | Channel X | Classic alternative | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | 8 May 2023 | Radio Pacific; Radio Live; 2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM |
99.1 FM | RNZ Concert | Classical music | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | ||
99.9 FM | The Breeze | Easy listening | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | ||
100.7 FM | Star | Christian radio | Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) | 0.32 | ||
101.5 FM | RNZ National | Public radio | Masterton (Otahoua) | 4 | ||
105.5 FM | Magic | Oldies | Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) | 4 | ||
105.9 FM | More FM | Adult contemporary music | Castlepoint | 0.32 | ||
106.5 FM | Radio Eketāhuna | Local radio | Eketāhuna (Mount Bowen) | 0.5 | 2ZE FM | |
846 AM | Newstalk ZB | Talk radio | Masterton (Waingawa) | 6.3 | Community Radio Wairarapa, 2ZD (2ZD previously broadcast on 1180, 1170 [6] and 840 kHz between 1931 and 1978) | |
1071 AM | RNZ National | Public radio | Masterton (Waingawa) | 8 |
FM broadcasting in the United States began in the 1930s at engineer and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong's experimental station, W2XMN. The use of FM radio has been associated with higher sound quality in music radio.
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz), with corresponding wavelengths of ten meters to one meter. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted high frequency (HF), and the next higher frequencies are known as ultra high frequency (UHF).
The FM broadcast band is a range of radio frequencies used for FM broadcasting by radio stations. The range of frequencies used differs between different parts of the world. In Europe and Africa and in Australia and New Zealand, it spans from 87.5 to 108 megahertz (MHz) - also known as VHF Band II - while in the Americas it ranges from 88 to 108 MHz. The FM broadcast band in Japan uses 76 to 95 MHz, and in Brazil, 76 to 108 MHz. The International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT) band in Eastern Europe is from 65.9 to 74.0 MHz, although these countries now primarily use the 87.5 to 108 MHz band, as in the case of Russia. Some other countries have already discontinued the OIRT band and have changed to the 87.5 to 108 MHz band.
Radio broadcasting began in New Zealand in 1922, and is now dominated by almost thirty radio networks and station groups. The Government has dominated broadcasting since 1925, but through privatisation and deregulation has allowed commercial talk and music stations to reach large audiences. New Zealand also has several radio stations serving Māori tribes, Pasifika communities, ethnic minorities, evangelical Christians and special interests.
More FM is a New Zealand radio network that plays hot adult contemporary music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.
RNZ National, formerly Radio New Zealand National, and known until 2007 as the National Programme or National Radio, is a publicly funded non-commercial New Zealand English-language radio network operated by Radio New Zealand. It specialises in programmes dedicated to news, the arts, music, and New Zealand culture generally, including some material in the Māori language. Historically the programme was broadcast on the (AM) "YA" stations 1YA, 2YA, 3YA and 4YA in the main centres.
ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance music. It reaches approximately 486,800 listeners weekly, making it the fifth largest commercial radio station in New Zealand.
FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting that uses frequency modulation (FM) of the radio broadcast carrier wave. Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to transmit high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting offers higher fidelity—more accurate reproduction of the original program sound—than other broadcasting techniques, such as AM broadcasting. It is also less susceptible to common forms of interference, having less static and popping sounds than are often heard on AM. Therefore, FM is used for most broadcasts of music and general audio. FM radio stations use the very high frequency range of radio frequencies.
Mai FM is New Zealand's largest urban contemporary radio network, promoting Māori language and culture and broadcasting hip hop and rhythm and blues. It is located in Auckland, and is available in ten markets around the country. The network targets 15- to 34-year-olds, and reaches an estimated 382,300 different listeners each week.
Rhema Media is a Christian media organisation in New Zealand. It owns radio networks Rhema, Life FM and Star, and television station Shine TV. It also publishes Bob Gass's quarterly devotional publication The Word For Today, and a youth version called The Word For You Today. Rhema Media is based in Newton, Auckland and is the founding organisation of United Christian Broadcasters (UCB).
WONU is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, United States, and serving the region south of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a non-profit, listener-supported station owned and operated by Olivet Nazarene University, which is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It airs a Christian Contemporary Music radio format.
WTZM is a radio station licensed to Tawas City, Michigan. Owned by Carroll Enterprises, Inc., WTZM airs a hot adult contemporary format branded as "106.1 The Point".
Pirate FM was a radio station in Wellington, New Zealand on 96.3 FM before it was replaced by The Rock in early 1999. The station was primarily operated by DJ Derek Archer.
ABC Northern Tasmania is the ABC Local Radio station for northern Tasmania, based in Launceston, owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It broadcasts on the frequency of 91.7 MHz on the FM band from Mount Barrow at a power of 192 kW which covers much of Northern Tasmania.
The Cheese is a LPFM radio station which broadcasts from Lower Hutt, a region close to Wellington in New Zealand. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day. The Cheese is licensed with APRA and PPNZ in New Zealand for music broadcasting rights and operates under the NZ laws governing LPFM transmission.
KIX Country is a radio network broadcasting in various towns across Australia. Its target demographic is all people who love country music. Kix Country Radio is part of ARN. It is transmitted primarily via narrowcast stations of varying power. All bar three stations operate on the FM band.