Radio Hauraki’s Bid For Licence

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 24

Radio Hauraki’s Bid For Licence

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 4. Whether Radio Hauraki (N.Z.), Ltd, was successful in gaining a private radio licence or not, it would abandon its seabased activities once the Broadcasting Authority had made its decision, Mr R. L. Maclaren told the authority today. .

Opening his submissions for the company, Mr Maclaren said the fact that Radio Hauraki had made a profit, despite a weak signal strength, the problems of a land-based recording station and sea-based broadcasts and the lack of taxation rebates for advertisers, showed its ability to run a successful broadcasting station.

Tracing Radio Hauraki’s history, Mr MacLaren said that in July, 1966, Pacific Advertisers, Ltd (interim Radio Hauraki), wrote to the N.Z.B.C. asking for a licence to operate a private radio station in Auckland. This was refused.

After taking legal advice, it was decided to run the station from a ship moored in international waters. This situation still exists. It was true Radio Hauraki had been the source of the controversy by Mr MacLaren submitted that that was in the past. He had no doubt that the authority would review the application on the evidence before it. From a loss of $19,000 odd in June, 1966, the company had gone to a net profit of $15,692 at December, 1968. Not Backed The company offered more of its shareholding to the public than any other applicants. The directors are obtaining only 31 per cent of the shares necessary to maintain proper control but it was necessary to hold them all. It was not backed by newspaper interests, big business, the church,

or other vested interests. It was formed of those interested in private broadcasting. The chairman and managing director of Radio Hauraki (Mr D. J Gapes), told the authority that the station would not be a “juke box” operation. “The news, commentary, public affairs and religious programmes must be more effective if delivered to a large audience primarily attracted to an entertainment programme,” he said. Radio Speech

“We firmly believe that lengthy periods of speech on radio are unacceptable to our audience and that we have an obligation to present our spoken services with brevity and sincerity.” Mr Gapes said that the promotion of New Zealand entertainers and the development of employment opportunities for New Zealanders was to be one of the station’s most important functions. It was the station’s policy that between eight and 10 per cent of the music played on the station each half hour would be of New Zealand origin.

Regular research would enable the programme format to be kept in correct relation to audience needs and desires. Today’s music was important music, said Mr Gapes, and much of the music of today would become the classics of tomorrow.

The authority also heard evidence today from Mr A. G. Wadsworth, an accountant, on financial aspects of the company and from Mr F. Hoe, an Australian electronics expert, on the technical side.