RNZ to broadcast to South Pacific

Press, 4 March 1989, Page 18

RNZ to broadcast to South Pacific

PA Auckland A powerful, new transmitter will broadcast New Zealand radio programmes to the South Pacific within a year, Radio New Zealand says. The Cabinet will consider the proposed new shortwave service, being designed by External Relations officials, in the next few. weeks. It is to be financed by the aid vote. A radio New Zealand staff member is investigating shortwave services and antennae technology in North America and Europe. Ministry of External Relations and Trade spokesman Hugo Judd said the new service would cost about $3.2 million to set up, and at least another $1.5 million each year to run. Producing programmes specially for the Pacific Island audience would cost significantly more. The money would have to come from savings in the existing ministry budget, he said. RNZ’s international service, broadcast by “two clapped-out post-war transmitters held together by prayer and number eight fencing wire” said RNZ director Beverley Wakem, has been allowed to run down due to the financial demands of local radio. RNZ planned to scrap the service until an officials’ committee on broadcasting reform last year recommended it be overhauled and run by Foreign Affairs.

The service broadcasts 11 hours a day but cannot be heard as close as Fiji, said RNZ international manager Rudi Hill. He said the proposed IOOkW transmitter would put a strong signal all over the south-west Pacific, day or night.

Television New Zealand is providing information to the Cook Islands and Western Samoa, and held talks this month with Fiji Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola on its Pacific satellite TV service. TVNZ already broadcasts live to Niue.