This is a list of radio stations in the Wellington Region of New Zealand.

Note: Several FM stations changed their frequency during October 2010, as broadcast licenses were renewed and spacing standardized to 0.8 MHz. AM stations were also moved in 1978 when New Zealand switched from 10 kHz frequency spacing to 9 kHz spacing.

Wellington metro radio stations

FM stations

Nearly all full-power FM stations in Wellington broadcast from the Mount Kaukau transmitter. As a general rule, frequencies in Wellington are spaced 0.8 MHz apart, starting from 89.3 MHz.

Some Hutt Valley "infill" frequencies with transmitters at Towai or Fitzherbert have been allocated to the 0.4 MHz "gap" in between other stations.

Frequency[1] Name Format Licensed Transmitter[1] Licensed kW[1] Broadcasting on frequency since Previous station(s) on frequency
88.6 FM Radio Active Alternative rock Tinakori Hill 1 1981 on 89FM
89.3 FM Newstalk ZB Talk radio Kaukau 40
90.1 FM The Hits Adult contemporary music Kaukau
Haywards
Towai
40
0.8
0.8
1993 Broadcast on 89.8FM from 1990-1995 and 90.0FM prior to 2010
1990–1991 2ZB 1991–1993 B90 FM (same station but rebranded)
1993-2014 Classic Hits 90FM (same station but rebranded)
90.9 FM ZM (originally ZMFM) Contemporary hit radio Kaukau
Towai
80
0.8
1985
91.7 FM The Edge Contemporary hit radio Kaukau
Haywards
80
0.8
2007 1990s - 1991 Fox FM renamed from Greater Wellington FM
1993–1995 The Heat 91.7FM
1995–1997 The Box 91.7FM
1997–1998 92 Hitz FM
1998 99-100 More FM (temporary simulcast)
1998–2005 Channel Z
2005–2006 Kiwi FM
2006-2007 More FM Wellington (temporary simulcast)
92.5 FM RNZ Concert Classical music Kaukau 80
93.3 FM Radio Hauraki Classic rock Kaukau 40 2010 Broadcast on 93.1FM prior to 2010
93.7 FM Gold Classic hits Towai 0.8 01/07/2020 Broadcast on 93.5FM prior to 2010
1986 - 2007 91ZM
2008 - 2012 Easy Mix
2012 - 2016: Radio Sport
2016 - 30/06/2020: Mix
94.1 FM The Breeze Easy listening Kaukau 40 1993 1991–1993 Radio Windy/Windy FM
94.9 FM Atiawa Toa FM Kaukau 16 1990s also 100.9 FM
95.3 FM More FM Adult contemporary music Fitzherbert 1 2004 Station broadcast on 94.7FM prior to 2010
1996-2004 Channel Z
95.7 FM Coast Easy listening Kaukau 40 2011
96.1 FM RNZ Concert Classical music Towai 0.8 Station broadcast on 95.6FM prior to 2010
96.5 FM The Rock Active rock Kaukau
Haywards
16
0.8
1999 Station broadcast on 96.3FM prior to 2010
1993-1998 Pirate FM
97.3 FM The Sound Classic rock Kaukau
Haywards
16
0.8
2012 Stations broadcast on 97.5FM prior to 2010
1992 2XX Kapiti
1992–1993 Cadbury Moro FM
1994-1995 The Heat 91.7FM (temporary simulcast)
1995–1997 The Quake 97.5FM
1997–1999 Solid Gold
2000–2008 The Edge
2008-2011 Solid Gold
98.1 FM Life FM Contemporary Christian music Kaukau 25 2010 Station broadcast on 98.5FM prior to 2010
1995–1996 Kix FM
1996–2004 Channel Z
98.5 FM The Breeze Easy listening Fitzherbert 0.63 1993 Station broadcast on 98.1FM prior to 2010 and relocated to Fitzherbert in 2020
1991–1993 Radio Windy/Windy FM
98.9 FM Magic[2][3] Oldies Kaukau
Haywards
16
0.8
14/04/2023 Station broadcast on 98.9FM from 1991-2004 and 98.7FM from 2005-2010
1991–2004 More FM
2005-2019: Radio Live
19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
99.7 FM More FM Adult contemporary music Kaukau
Haywards
40
0.8
1991 Station broadcast on 100.0FM prior to 2010
1990-1991 Windy FM
100.5 FM Mai FM Urban contemporary Kaukau 16 2012
100.9 FM Atiawa Toa FM Fitzherbert 0.8 2010
101.3 FM RNZ National Kaukau 8
101.7 FM RNZ National Towai 0.8 Broadcast on 104.5FM prior to 2010
103.7 FM PMN 531 Kaukau 8 Jan 2019 2010-2019 Niu FM
104.1 FM PMN 531 Fitzherbert 0.8 Jan 2019 2010-2019 Niu FM
104.5 FM Channel X Classic alternative Kaukau 8 8 May 2023 Stations broadcast on 99.4FM prior to 2010
2005 - 2011 Coast
2011–2013 Radio Sport
2013 - 2015 Flava
- 2019 George FM (on 106.7 LPFM)
Sept 2019 - 23/04/2023: Magic on 98.9
105.3 FM Radio Tarana Kaukau 2 11/10/2022 2009–2010 Hit Radio X105; 2011 - April 2022: Wellington 105.3FM[4]
106.1 FM Wellington Access Radio[5] Access radio Kaukau 2.5 2017 2010 - 2016 Hutt Radio (previously 106.7 LPFM, now 88.3 LPFM)

AM stations

Frequency Name Format Transmitter Licensed power (kW) Broadcasting on frequency since Previous station(s) on frequency
567 AM RNZ National Public radio Titahi Bay 160 1978 previously 2YA also broadcast on 720 and 570 kHz[6] from 1927–1978
657 AM AM Network (Parliament)
and Star
Parliament Public radio
and Christian radio
Titahi Bay 160 2000 1978–1986 Concert Radio, 2YC (that also broadcast on 840[6] and 660 kHz prior to 1978)
711 AM SENZ[7] Sports radio Horokiwi 16 19/07/2021 1992–2005 Radio Pacific
2005–2007 Radio Pacific and Radio Trackside
2007–2010 BSport and Radio Trackside
2010–2015 LiveSport and Radio Trackside
2015–2020 TAB Trackside
891 AM Magic[2] Oldies Horokiwi 16 2015 1978 – 1993 Radio Windy broadcasting on 1080 kHz between 1973 and 1976 and 890 kHz between 1976 and 1978
1993 - 2015 The Breeze
972 AM Radio Rhema Christian radio Horokiwi 12.5 1992
1035 AM Newstalk ZB Talk radio Titahi Bay 63 1993 1978–1993 2ZB (previously broadcasting on 980 kHz between 1937 and 1978)
1161 AM Te Upoko O Te Ika Māori radio Titahi Bay 32 1986 1978–1986 2ZM (previously broadcasting on 1130 kHz between 1969 and 1978 and using callsign 2YD between 1937 and 1969)
1233 AM The Breeze Easy listening Horokiwi 12.5 31/03/2023 1990–1994 BBC World Service
1995–1996 Radio Liberty
1996–1997 BBC World Service
1997–1999 Southern Star
1999–2008 Solid Gold
2008-2019 Radio Live
19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
1503 AM Gold Sport Classic hits & Sports radio Horokiwi 16 01/07/2020 1982–1992 Radio Rhema
1997–1998 Sports Round Up
1998 - 30/03/2020 Radio Sport
30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB
1566 AM To be activated. Licence created 28/04/2022, MBIE transferred to Radio Tarana NZ Ltd 30/08/2022 Horokiwi 16

Internet Radio Stations

The rise in internet radio stations has been prevalent in Wellington. Mouthfull Radio is the contemporary station that showcases community online radio from Wellington. Most stations also use an m3u stream on their website so you can listen online if you are outside of the band of radio in proximity.

Decommissioned frequencies

The following frequencies were previously used in the Wellington region, but most were decommissioned in the reallocation of frequencies in October 2010.

It is unlikely that most of these FM frequencies will be re-used as most do not fit within the current band spacing plan. Possible exceptions are 102.1/102.9 FM and 96.9 FM that fit the band plans for Wellington and Hutt Valley respectively.

Frequency Status Previous stations on frequency Area served Replacement frequency (if applicable)
89.0 FM Decommissioned 1982–2011 Radio Active Wellington 88.6 (Radio Active)
89.4 FM Decommissioned ?–2010 Radio Sport Upper Hutt / Hutt Valley 93.7 (Radio Sport - Hutt Valley transmitter)
90.0 FM Decommissioned 1990–1991 2ZB
1991–1993 B90 FM (same station rebranded)
1993–2010 Classic Hits 90FM
Greater Wellington 90.1 Classic Hits 90FM
93.1 FM Decommissioned 2004–2010 Radio Hauraki Greater Wellington 93.3 (Hauraki)
93.5 FM Decommissioned 1986–2007 ZMFM/91ZM
2007–2010 Easy Mix
Hutt Valley Easy Mix moved to 93.7 MHz & closed June 2012, replaced by Radio Sport
94.7 FM Decommissioned 1995–1996 Kix FM
1996–2004 Channel Z
2004–2010 More FM Wellington
Hutt Valley 95.3 (More FM - Hutt Valley)
95.6 FM Decommissioned 1980s–2010 Radio New Zealand Concert Hutt Valley 96.1 (RNZ Concert - Hutt Valley)
96.3 FM Decommissioned 1990s Pirate FM
1999–2010 The Rock
Greater Wellington 96.5 (The Rock)
96.9 FM Decommissioned 1990s–2010 Atiawa Toa FM Wellington & Hutt Valley (excluding Porirua) 100.9 Atiawa Toa FM
98.7 FM Decommissioned 2004–2005 More FM (moved from 98.9FM)
2005–2010 Radio Live
Greater Wellington 98.9 (Radio Live)
99.2 FM Decommissioned 2006–2010 Life FM Porirua 98.1 (Life FM - Porirua)
99.4 FM Decommissioned 2005–2010 Coast Greater Wellington 95.7 (Coast)
100.0 FM Decommissioned 1991–2010 More FM Wellington Wellington / Porirua 99.7 (More FM)
100.7 FM Decommissioned 2002–2010 Niu FM Hutt Valley 104.1 (Niu FM - Hutt Valley)
102.1 FM Decommissioned 2015
Crown Reserve
2006 - 2015: Kiwi FM Greater Wellington
102.9 FM Expired Licence 265411
Crown Reserve Maori
20-24/02/2019: Haka Translate Te Matatini ki te Ao (Event Broadcast)[8] Westpac Stadium/Wellington CBD
783 AM Decommissioned 2017 1981 - 2017: Wellington Access Radio
(original call sign 2YB)
Samoan Capital Radio
Greater Wellington 106.1 FM Wellington Access Radio
1323 AM Decommissioned 1988 - 1994: Aotearoa Radio Greater Wellington

Low power FM frequencies

There are a number of Low Power FM stations that are operating, or have operated, in Wellington whose broadcast range may be less than that of the full-power FM stations.

Wellington

Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt and Petone

Porirua

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) trial in Wellington

See also: Countries using DAB/DMB § New Zealand, and List of radio stations in Auckland § Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) trial in Auckland

Kordia operated a (DAB) test service between October 2006 and 30 June 2018. At the conclusion the trial transmissions were from Mt Kaukau in Band III on 192.352 MHz. The multiplex delivered a mix of DAB and DAB+ programmes over nearly 12 years. The programmes at the conclusion of the trial were:

Programme Format DAB/+ Bit rate kb/s
KDAB Pop music DAB+ 96 stereo
Base FM Freeform Urban contemporary DAB 128 stereo
BBC World Service Talk radio DAB 64 mono
Brian FM Adult Hits DAB+ 96 stereo
RNZ Concert+ Classical music DAB+ 112 stereo
George FM House music DAB 128/stereo
NBR Radio Talk radio Finance DAB+ 32 mono
RNZ National Public radio DAB 128 j/stereo
Rhema+ Christian radio DAB+ 96 stereo
Spice+ Punjabi radio DAB+ 96 stereo
Radio Tarana Contemporary Indian radio DAB 128 stereo
The Flea FM Pop music DAB+ 96 stereo

Kāpiti Coast/Horowhenua radio stations

Frequency Name Format Transmitter location[16] Licensed power (kW)[16] Broadcasting on frequency since Previous stations on frequency
87.9 FM AREC FM [17] BBC World Service Waikanae Low Power FM 0.001 2018 Was 87.6 Waikanae Live
88.2 FM Paekākāriki 88.2 [18] Local issues and artists Paekākāriki Low Power FM 0.001
88.7 FM Vacant January 2021 Forest Heights 0.63 Reo FM
89.5 FM Newstalk ZB Talk radio Forest Heights 0.63
90.3 FM More FM Adult contemporary music Forest Heights 2.5 Was 90.2 Kapiti / 95.1 & 104.2 Horowhenua; Previous names 2XX & 95FM
91.1 FM ZM Contemporary hit radio Forest Heights 0.63 2004
91.9 FM The Rock Active rock Forest Heights 0.63
92.7 FM The Hits Adult contemporary Forest Heights 0.63 2004 Radio Sport until 2004, Classic Hits 92.7 until 2014 Same station but rebranded
93.5 FM SENZ[7] Sports radio Forest Heights 0.63 19/07/2021 TAB Trackside
94.3 FM The Sound Classic rock Forest Heights 1 2012 Solid Gold FM, The Heat, The Box
95.1 FM Magic Oldies Forest Heights 0.5 2015 95.1 More FM Horowhenua (95.1 Relocated from Heights Road Shannon) More FM now 90.3 Kapiti & Horowhenua
95.9 FM Coast Easy listening Forest Heights 0.63
96.7 FM Life FM Contemporary Christian music Forest Heights 0.63 Coast Access Radio
97.5 FM The Edge Contemporary hit radio Forest Heights 0.63
98.3 FM RNZ Concert Classical music Forest Heights 0.5
99.1 FM Channel X Classic alternative Forest Heights 0.63 8 May 2023 2005-2019: Radio Live; 19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
100.7 FM The Breeze Easy listening Forest Heights 0.63
101.5 FM RNZ National Public radio Forest Heights 0.5
103.9 FM Radio Rhema Christian radio Forest Heights 0.5
104.7 FM Coast Access Access radio Forest Heights 0.63
106.3 FM Beach FM Local commercial radio Forest Heights 0.63
107.5 FM silent 1/04/2021 Paraparaumu Low Power FM 0.001 2016- ? Triple X FM [19]
1377 AM silent 15/02/2020 Te Horo 8 2004-2020 Radio Sport

Wairarapa radio stations

Frequency Name Format Location Licensed power (kW) Years Previous station(s) on frequency
87.6 FM Gold Sport Greatest hits & Sports radio Masterton Low Power FM 0.001 01/072020 Oct 2019 - Mar 2020: Radio Sport
30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB
87.8 FM Masterton LPFM 0.001 3ABN
88.1 FM Hit Student Radio[20] Top 40, Old school Makoura College Masterton LPFM 0.001
88.7 FM Life FM Christian radio Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) 0.32
89.5 FM More FM Adult contemporary music Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4 Hitz 89FM (later known as Hitz 89.3FM), Today FM (not the Mediaworks brand)
90.3 FM The Hits Adult contemporary music Masterton (Otahoua) 4 Classic Hits Wairarapa, Radio Wairarapa, 2ZD
91.1 FM SENZ[7] Sports radio Masterton (Otahoua) 4 19/07/2021 TAB Trackside, Live Sport, BSport, Radio Pacific-Trackside
91.9 FM Coast Easy listening Masterton (Otahoua) 4 Oct 2019 Radio Sport
92.7 FM Arrow FM Access Radio Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 0.8
93.5 FM The Sound Classic rock Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4 Solid Gold FM
94.3 FM ZM Contemporary hit radio Masterton (Otahoua) 4
95.1 FM The Rock Active rock Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4
95.9 FM The Edge Contemporary hit radio Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4
97.5 FM Rhema Christian radio Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) 0.32
98.3 FM Channel X Classic alternative Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4 8 May 2023 Radio Pacific; Radio Live; 2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
99.1 FM RNZ Concert Classical music Masterton (Otahoua) 4
99.9 FM The Breeze Easy listening Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4
100.7 FM Star Christian radio Masterton (Pariwhariki Trig) 0.32
101.5 FM RNZ National Public radio Masterton (Otahoua) 4
105.5 FM Magic Oldies Wairarapa Valley (Popoiti) 4
105.9 FM More FM Adult contemporary music Castlepoint 0.32
106.5 FM Radio Eketāhuna Local radio Eketāhuna (Mount Bowen) 0.5 2ZE FM
846 AM Newstalk ZB Talk radio Masterton (Waingawa) 6.3 Community Radio Wairarapa, 2ZD (2ZD previously broadcast on 1180, 1170[6] and 840 kHz between 1931 and 1978)
1071 AM RNZ National Public radio Masterton (Waingawa) 8

References

  1. ^ a b c RRF Licences Database; Frequency, Transmit Location and Power
  2. ^ a b "Frequencies Wellington". radioheritage.net. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Magic 98.9 Wellington & Hutt". forums.mediaspy.org. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Wellington 105.3 (Archived)". Archived from the original on 29 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Wellington Access Radio". accessradio.org.nz.
  6. ^ a b c Grid Bias (30 November 1933). "New Wavelengths 1-Dec-1933". The Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Listen live to SENZ". www.sen.com.au.
  8. ^ "Te Matatini: Haka Translate Service". 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Te Reo Irirangi O Te Upoko O Te Ika". www.teupoko.co.nz.
  10. ^ "New Zealand Country Music Network". Archived from the original on 19 January 2021.
  11. ^ Hutt City FM
  12. ^ Hutt Radio
  13. ^ "Rock Radio In Wellington KIX FM 87.6FM Wellington New Zealand (NZ) Classic Rock/New Rock". kixfm.co.nz.
  14. ^ "AREC FM – News Information Talk Music".
  15. ^ "World FM New Zealand – LPFM Radio for Marahau, Stoke & Tawa". 25 August 2023.
  16. ^ a b Register of Radio Frequencies
  17. ^ "BBC – AREC FM".
  18. ^ "Paekākāriki 88.2FM".
  19. ^ TripleXFM 107.5 Kapiti
  20. ^ "88.1 Hit Student Radio". Makoura College. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020.