Radio New Zealand International’s Mailbox program features David Ricquish of
the Radio Heritage Foundation looking at the history of shortwave radio
from New Zealand.

On September 27 1948, the shortwave division of the NZ Broadcasting
Service began broadcasts to Australia and the South Pacific from two
low powered war surplus transmitters located near Wellington.

In this special Mailbox documentary, you can hear how shortwave radio
started in New Zealand, including calls for a national shortwave
service as early as 1928.

Private commercial stations 2ZW Wellington, 3ZC Christchurch and 4ZM
Dunedin were all early shortwave broadcasters, and the program takes
us through the early years that led up to the late arrival of Radio
NZ on the international airwaves.

Now known as Radio New Zealand International, the station has always
worked hard to stay true to the original vision announced on opening day in 1948.

It’s growing popularity with partner stations across the Pacific some
60 years later demonstrates how this small shortwave station from the
South Pacific has quietly gone about targeting its niche audience yet
with popularity amongst shortwave listeners worldwide that belies its
small resource base and regional focus.

Visit www.rnzi.com for shortwave frequencies and times and to
download an audio on demand version of the program that will be
available throughout September, the anniversary month. It’s now available by first clicking ‘more audio’ then the Mailbox program uploaded on August 31.

At www.radioheritage.net you can read an article celebrating the
first broadcasts from Radio New Zealand, the original shortwave
service in 1948.

The Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization registered
with the Charities Commission in New Zealand and connects the
heritage of radio broadcasting and popular culture across the
Pacific.