Far North to retain AM radio transmitters
$1.48m upgrade ensures access to civil emergency information
Far North residents at risk of being cut off from civil emergency information have been brought back into the loop thanks to the repair and replacement of three local AM transmitters.
Minister of Broadcasting and Media Willie Jackson and Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced on Monday a $1.48 million package would fund the repair and replacement of the Waipapakauri, Ō taika and Ō haeawai masts to ensure AM radio remained on air in the region.
The RNZ-owned Waipapakauri mast was decommissioned in August due to “health and safety risks”, leaving some Far North residents unable to access AM or FM radio frequency.
This, compounded with a lack of internet connection, meant some people risked being left completely in the dark should a natural disaster or civil emergency occur.
McAnulty said radio was a critical information channel to help reach New Zealanders in an emergency.
“When emergencies happen, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and local Civil Defence groups work with the media to issue warnings and other critical information. We rely on radio as our number one emergency info channel as it is the most resilient and widely available form of public communication.
“Northland is especially reliant on AM radio due to its remote and rugged terrain, its exposure to hazards like tsunamis, and limited access to cellular service and other information sources.”
Jackson said the move would ensure Northland communities retained their access to AM transmission in areas not serviced by FM frequencies.
“RNZ has already completed work to reinstate the Waipapakauri mast, which went back on air [Monday].”
Sarah Watson of Te Reinga Bay was one such resident left without AM transmission.
She said she imported a special radio transmitter from China to ensure she could receive some form of patchy reception via the FM network.
After months without her beloved national broadcaster, Watson said she was thrilled to finally feel like “herself” again.
“Mate, I’m rapt. I’m so happy with the news, especially after wading in and out of listening to commercial radio which was just ruining my life,” Watson said.
“Peter Broughton [local radio technician] sussed out a receiver for me from China which I had hanging up in the window so that I could sometimes get FM. Because I don’t get into town every day, I felt very uninformed, and compared to the news and weather on AM, the FM channels don’t have much detail.
“If the AM frequency had not come back on, I had considered doing a hikoi [walk] to Wellington to protest.”
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, NEMA, and RNZ are said to be collaborating to develop criteria for future decisions about other AM sites, to ensure communities stay connected and have access to critical warnings and guidance in emergencies.
An RNZ spokesperson said the media organisation had received positive feedback from Northland listeners since RNZ National had gone back on air via 837AM on Monday.
The spokesperson said while RNZ National was also available on FM frequencies, the AM frequency was particularly important for those in remote areas.
“RNZ had no choice but to remove the ageing AM mast at Waipapakauri as it was a significant health and safety risk,” they said.
“After discussions with Government, funding was secured for the reinstatement of the Waipapakauri mast, and for the replacement of two other ageing Northland masts at Ō taika and Ō haeawai.
“Discussions were already under way between the Government and RNZ before the decision to close the Waipapakauri mast was made public. These discussions centred around the value of AM transmission as an emergency information channel,” the RNZ spokesperson said.
Northland Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) said it welcomed the Government’s decision to provide funding to allow our communities to retain AM transmission services in areas not serviced by FM frequencies.
A Northland CDEM spokesperson said these communities were especially reliant on AM radio due to their remote and rugged terrain, exposure
to hazards like tsunamis, and limited access to cellular service and other information sources like FM radio.
“Members of the community expressed their concern to us about what the loss of this service would mean for them in an emergency,” the spokesperson said.
“Although we worked through alternate options with them, these options were limited so it’s great to see this service available to them again.
“Retaining AM coverage will ensure these communities who previously had access to AM radio as a channel to receive emergency messaging continue to have this access.”