AM and FM Frequencies
We have AM and FM transmitters covering a large percentage of New Zealand.
National broadcasts on both AM and FM (101FM) in most areas.
Find your region below to determine your tuning frequency.
Radio New Zealand’s AM Network broadcasts all sittings of Parliament from transmitters in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Southland. When Parliament is not sitting, the transmitters carry the Southern Star programme from the Radio Rhema Broadcast Group.
Radio New Zealand Frequencies
* = Community operated transmitters
| North Island Location | Frequencies |
|---|---|
| Kaitaia | National AM 837 National FM 101.1 Concert 100.3 |
| Russell | Concert 97.3 |
| Kaikohe | National AM 981 National FM 101.5 Concert 98.3 |
| Whangarei | National AM 837 National FM 104.4 Lower Northland 101.2 Concert 100.4 Lower Northland 105.2 |
| Auckland | National AM 756 National FM 101.4 Concert 92.6 AM Network (Parliament) 882 |
| Hamilton | National AM 1143 National FM 101.0 Concert 91.4 AM Network (Parliament) 1494 |
| Tauranga | National AM 819 National FM 101.0 Concert 91.4 AM Network (Parliament) 657 |
| Whakatane | National FM 101.7 Concert 95.3 |
| Tokoroa | National AM 729 National FM 101.0 |
| Rotorua | National AM 1188 National FM 101.5 Concert 90.3 |
| Te Kuiti (*) | National FM 94.0 |
| Taupo | National FM 101.6 Acacia Bay 104.8 Concert 98.4 |
| Gisborne | National AM 1314 National FM 101.3 Concert 97.3 |
| Napier | National AM 630 National FM 101.5 Concert 91.1 AM Network (Parliament) 909 |
| New Plymouth | National AM 918 National FM 101.2 Concert 91.6 |
| Whanganui | National AM 567 National FM 101.6 Concert 99.2 |
| Palmerston North | National AM 1449 National FM 101.0 Concert 89.0 |
| Masterton | National AM 1071 National FM 101.5 Concert 99.1 |
| Kapiti | National AM 567 National FM 101.5 Concert 98.3 |
| Wellington | National AM 567 National FM 101.3 Hutt Valley/Eastern Bays 101.7 Concert 92.5 Hutt Valley/Eastern Bays 96.1 AM Network (Parliament) 657 |
| South Island Location | Frequencies |
|---|---|
| Nelson | National AM 1116 National FM 101.6 Concert 91.2 |
| Takaka/Golden Bay (*) | National FM 98.2 |
| Blenheim | National AM 567 National FM 101.7 Concert 99.3 |
| Westport | National AM 1458 Concert 98.9 |
| Greymouth | National FM 101.1 Concert 95.5 |
| Christchurch | National AM 675 National FM 101.7 Concert 89.7 Akaroa 95.1 Sumner 99.7 AM Network (Parliament) 963 |
| Omarama (*) | National FM 97.3 |
| Ashburton | National FM 101.3 |
| Lake Tekapo (*) | National FM 93.4 |
| Twizel (*) | National FM 92.6 |
| Otematata (*) | National FM 106.7 |
| Timaru | National AM 918 National FM 101.1 Concert 99.5 |
| Wanaka | National FM 101.0 Concert 95.4 |
| Queenstown | National AM 1134 National FM 101.6 Concert 98.4 |
| Alexandra | National AM 639 National FM 101.5 Concert 97.5 |
| Te Anau (*) | National FM 101.6 |
| Milford Sound (*) | National FM 92.0 |
| Dunedin | National AM 810 National FM 101.4 Concert 92.6 or 99.0 Mosgiel 99.4 AM Network (Parliament) 900 |
| Invercargill | National AM 720 National FM 101.2 Concert 90.0 AM Network (Parliament) 1314 |
Downloadable versions:
- Radio New Zealand frequency list (PDF, 28 KB)
- RNZ National FM coverage map (PDF, 1MB)
- RNZ National AM coverage map (PDF, 1 MB)
- RNZ Concert coverage map (PDF, 1 MB)
- AM Network coverage map (PDF, 1 MB)
If you are having difficulty receiving a signal, you can check:
The BBC also has some advice on receiving analogue radio.
Radio Reception Problems Helpline
Phone 0800 435 772
Email: technical@radionz.co.nz
Mono and Stereo
Radio NZ National is broadcast in mono as it costs less than broadcasting in stereo. As our highest-rating programmes (news and talk programmes) are in mono and are listened to by many people on mono radios, we believe it is better to broadcast to more listeners in mono than fewer in stereo.
There are some advantages of being in mono: reception is better because the radio is not trying to decipher the complex stereo info; and as mono requires about a sixth of the power of stereo, there is less overloading and distortion from high power signals reflecting off buildings.
On the website, Radio NZ National is in stereo for the live stream and for selected music programmes.
Radio NZ National is in stereo on Freeview terrestrial.
Radio Data System (RDS)
Radio New Zealand uses RDS technology on some of its FM transmitters.
RDS is a bit like a radio version of teletext. It allows some text information to be broadcast within the radio signal. An RDS radio is capable of receiving and displaying the information. RDS-capable car radios are now available in New Zealand.
When you tune in to most Radio New Zealand National FM transmitters on an RDS-capable radio it will display "NATIONAL".
Your radio will then automatically tune into any of the Radio New Zealand National FM frequencies it can find. For example, if you drive between Auckland and Hamilton your radio will change frequency as you drive over the Bombay hills. Or in Whangarei, Taupo and Wellington your radio will automatically tune to the best of the two FM frequencies that Radio New Zealand National uses in these three centres.
You may need to ensure that your RDS radio has 'RDS' or 'AF' enabled so refer to your RDS car-radio manual for more detailed information.
Once you've tuned your RDS radio to "NATIONAL" you should also programme it into one of your radio's memory presets. When you select that memory in future it will automatically tune into any of the Radio New Zealand National FM frequencies it can find in the centres listed above. So even if you programme the car radio in Auckland it will automatically find Radio New Zealand National FM in most other centres.
A station ID is also transmitted by the Concert transmitters in South Northland/Whangarei, Waikato, Rotorua, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wellington, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. An RDS equipped radio tuned into those transmitters will display "CONCERT".
