Today marks the anniversary of a milestone in New Zealand radio. At 11 AM on 4 December 1966, a young man named Bob Laehy pressed a button on an open reel tape deck, on which was threaded a documentary that started a new radio station.
But it wasn't any ordinary radio station. All the radio stations in New Zealand since 1936 had been operated by a government corporation, so this new venture, Radio Hauraki, was broadcasting from a ship just outside New Zealand's territorial waters in an effort to break the Government's broadcasting monopoly.
The story of Radio Hauraki’s offshore years is a compelling one. It's a story of determination, setbacks, tenacity, heartbreak, ultimate success, brilliant radio and some of the best music ever made.
As a young broadcaster, it was my pleasure to get to know some of those involved in the Radio Hauraki offshore years. They were, and are, heroes to me.
50 years on from the day that started to change radio in New Zealand forever, I want to share with you this thrilling story that means so much to me.
Today at 11 AM New Zealand time, Mushroom FM will air a three-hour documentary I've compiled called "Born Free, a history of the Radio Hauraki offshore Years". It has no interruptions of any kind. You'll hear about how and why Radio Hauraki was founded, and why they had to operate a radio station from sea. I'll chronicle the highs and the lows. But most of all, I'll be playing recordings from that era, some of them rare, others of a quality not widely available.
If you're a New Zealander who remembers what Hauraki achieved with fondness and appreciation, if you're a radio enthusiast who enjoyed significant radio history, or if you need inspiration and a reminder of how it is possible to take on the establishment and win, then "Born Free" will be a compelling three hour listen.
You can hear the documentary on Mushroom FM, found in all the major radio apps, and on its website at
http://www.MushroomFm.com.
11 AM New Zealand time equates to Saturday at 5 PM US Eastern time, 10 PM in the UK.
I'm looking forward to sharing this inspiring story with you over three hours.