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About Radio New Zealand Drama

The drama department commissions new writing and seeks to work with New Zealand’s best writers.

Each year, up to 30 hours of new drama and comedy more than 200 readings (one-off short stories and serialised book readings), and over 50 new children's stories are produced.

In addition to our in-house productions, we commission dramatic works and comedy programmes from independent producers and source dramas from other broadcasters around the world such as the ABC in Australia, the CBC in Canada, and the BBC in Britain.

Our priority is to feature New Zealand writers and performers.  It is only in very exceptional circumstances we accept unsolicited material from overseas writers. The exception is usually that they are expatriate New Zealanders.

We look for projects that will delight, surprise, entertain and inform our listeners and for projects that sometimes treat controversial subjects in ways that stimulate discussion.

Our regular drama audience exceeds 50,000 people. Our book reading audience is over 200,000. We’re keen to provide diverse programming interest, stimulate and entertain them, whilst attracting new, younger listeners and continuing to reflect the whole of society.

Broadcast Slots Available

Radio New Zealand Drama produces programmes for the following slots:

The Book Reading, Weekdays at 10:45am, on Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan

Duration: 14 minutes

This is part of the Nine to Noon show, and is essentially a readings slot. It has a large and loyal audience. Contemporary New Zealand fiction and non-fiction (and some non-contemporary works) are adapted into 10 or 15 parts to form the mainstay of this slot, but we also run seasons of one-off short stories, multi-voiced readings and the occasional 5 x 15 minute serialised reading.

Sunday, 3:00 pm

Duration: 53 minutes

Known as the Sunday Drama, this is our showcase slot for drama, in which we broadcast one-off original works, adaptations of novels or stage plays, occasional two-part dramas and the best drama productions from around the world. We are also happy to consider docu-dramas, social or topical dramas, dramatic monologues and epistolary forms. Dramas are recorded both on location and in the studio.

'Specials'

Duration: Variable

We produce a number of 'specials' each year: programmes with a unique and compelling format, which might not fit into the slots outlined above. This may be, for instance, a series of shorter dramas designed to be broadcast over Christmas or a holiday period, dramas aimed at an anniversary or special day, or comedy special.

Submitting Work to Radio

We welcome submissions of original work (prose drama or comedy) to be considered for production.  Before submitting your script, proposal or idea, please follow the links to information about duration, format and style.

All proposals, scripts and stories should be sent to:

Radio New Zealand Drama
Radio New Zealand
P.O. Box 123
Wellington