[Audio]: Wellington’s First FM Broadcast – New Zealand Post Office Recording

Radio Active made the switch to FM in 1982, the first station in Wellington to do so

Although Active was the first licensed station in New Zealand, the terms of the license required waiting until the start of the University year to commence broadcasting, leaving another station in Auckland to beat 89FM to the ‘first in the country’ title!

However, that temporary station soon ceased broadcasting, leaving Radio Active as New Zealand’s longest-running FM broadcaster

This recording was made on Feb 22, 1982 – first during a test transmission on 89MHz at 4PM, and then again from 7PM until late. The New Zealand Post Office recorded from a van travelling around the city, testing interference between the new FM signal and other radio frequencies

Note: This material contains historical recordings, including references and depictions which may be considered offensive today.