Media Releases

Celebrating Fifty Years of Radio New Zealand News

Released at 9:39 am on 3 July 2012

On Sunday 8 July Radio New Zealand celebrates fifty years of Radio New Zealand News with a special Insight programme looking back over half a century of independent news from Radio New Zealand.

Today's extensive radio news service came into being after much debate in the early 1960s. Up until then, radio news services often ran material culled from newspapers or official press releases by the Government. Much of the content in bulletins was supplied by the Information Section of the Publicity and Tourism Department.

The NZBC wanted an independent news service of its own, but encountered opposition from Treasury, which argued New Zealand already had lots of newspapers, and so did not need radio news as well.

In July 1962, that opposition was overcome, and a forerunner of the current radio news services began. Radio New Zealand's Head of News, Don Rood says that Radio New Zealand News has not looked back since it was formed, and is now the most-trusted source of news and information in New Zealand.

"New Zealanders have a thirst for quality news about what is happening here and abroad and that demand for impartial and objective reporting has ensured that Radio New Zealand National is number one in the world's most competitive radio market, and Morning Report is New Zealand's most listened to radio show".

In this special Insight programme playing at 8.12am on Sunday 8 July, Eric Frykberg looks back at the evolution of independent radio news and at what the future might hold.