Nights (program)

RNZ National (), formerly Radio New Zealand National, and known until 2007 as the National Programme or National Radio, is a publicly funded non-commercial New Zealand English-language radio network operated by Radio New Zealand. It specialises in programmes dedicated to news, the arts, music, and New Zealand culture generally, and includes some material in the Māori language. Historically the programme was broadcast on the (AM) "YA" stations 1YA, 2YA, 3YA and 4YA in the main centres.

In 2013, RNZ National had a 10.3 per cent market share, the highest nationwide and up from 9.1 per cent in 2009. Market share peaked at 11.1 per cent in 2011, probably due to the station's coverage of the Christchurch earthquake. In 2014 493,000 people listened to RNZ National over the course of a week – the second-largest cumulative audience. A 2021 survey estimated 609,800 listeners (13.5% of the 10+ population), Morning Report being the most popular, with 434,000 listeners.

Its sister station is RNZ Concert.

Stations

RNZ National's programming is distributed via several means. RNZ National was the first network in New Zealand to incorporate the Radio Data System in its FM signal. Most FM frequencies are 101FM state-owned public service licences and some are held by non-profit community organisations. RNZ National broadcasts its FM signal in mono, but the on-line and terrestrial Freeview HD services are available in stereo.

RNZ-owned frequencies

These are the RNZ-owned frequencies of RNZ National:

* Kaitaia – Maungataniwha – 101.1 FM
* Kaikohe – Hikurangi – 101.5 FM
* Kaikohe – Ohaeawai – 981 AM
* Whangārei – Otaika – 837 AM
* Whangārei – Horokaka – 101.2 FM
* Whangārei – Parahaki – 104.4 FM
* Auckland – Henderson – 756 AM
* Auckland – Sky Tower – 101.4 FM
* Hamilton – Eureka – 1143 AM
* Hamilton – Te Aroha – 101.0 FM
* Tauranga – Paengaroa – 819 AM
* Tauranga – Kopukairua – 101.4 FM
* Tokoroa – Wiltsdown – 729 AM
* Tokoroa – Te Aroha – 101.0 FM
* Rotorua – Tihiotonga – 1188 AM
* Rotorua – Tihiotonga – 101.5 FM
* Whakatāne – Mount Edgecumbe – 101.7 FM
* Taupō – Whakaroa – 101.6 FM
* Taupō – Mountain Road – 104.8 FM
* Gisborne – Wheatstone Road – 101.3 FM
* Gisborne – Wainui – 1314 AM
* Hawke's Bay – Opapa – 630 AM
* Hawke's Bay – Kohinurākau (Mount Erin) – 101.5 FM
* New Plymouth – Mount Egmont – 101.2 FM
* Palmerston North – Wharite – 101.0 FM
* Whanganui – Mount Jowett – 101.6 FM
* Masterton – Otahoua – 101.5 FM
* Kāpiti – Forest Heights – 101.5 FM
* Wellington – Titahi Bay – 567 AM
* Wellington – Kaukau – 101.3 FM
* Wellington – Towai – 101.7 FM
* Blenheim – Wither Hills – 101.7 FM
* Nelson – Grampians – 101.6 FM
* Westport – Cape Foulwind – 1458 AM
* Greymouth – Paparoa – 101.1 FM
* Christchurch – Gebbies Pass – 675 AM
* Christchurch – Sugarloaf – 101.7 FM
* Ashburton – Gawler Downs – 101.3 FM
* Timaru – Fairview – 918 AM
* Timaru – Mount Studholme – 101.1 FM
* Wānaka – Mount Maude – 101.0 FM
* Queenstown – Peninsula Hill – 101.6 FM
* Alexandra – Obelisk – 101.5 FM
* Dunedin – Highcliff – 810 AM
* Dunedin – Highcliff – 101.4 FM
* Invercargill – Dacre – 720 AM
* Invercargill – Hedgehope – 101.2 FM

Other broadcasting methods

These are the community-owned stations and other broadcasting methods of RNZ National:

* Te Kūiti – 94.0 FM
* Tākaka – Mount Burnett – 98.2 FM
* Reefton – 88.0 FM ( low power)
* Lake Tekapo – Mount John – 93.4 FM
* Twizel – Mount Mary – 92.6 FM (closed May 1st 2024)
* Omarama – Cloud Hill – 97.3 FM
* Otematata – 106.7 FM ( low power)
* Milford Sound – Milford Sound Hotel – 92.0 FM
* Te Anau – Ramparts Road – 101.6 FM
* In-stereo Internet Audio Streaming
* Podcasts
* iHeartRadio
* Unencrypted satellite broadcast
* Sky Television DHS encrypted satellite broadcast
* TelstraClear cable TV in Wellington
* TelstraClear cable TV in Christchurch
* Freeview television channel 50

Controversy

Broadcasting standards breaches

In September 2004, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) upheld a complaint by Peter Ellis against RNZ National's ''Nine to Noon'' programme, ruling that an August 2003 broadcast had breached fairness and balance standards. The programme aired a pre-recorded interview with a young man and his mother, who alleged that Ellis had sexually abused the man as a child at the Christchurch Civic Crèche in 1985. While Ellis was identified by name, the interviewees remained anonymous, and the allegations were not specific. The Authority found that RNZ had failed to provide Ellis with a reasonable opportunity to respond, and that the interview was conducted in a manner that lacked appropriate scrutiny. It ordered RNZ to broadcast and publish statements summarising the decision, issue an apology, and pay $5,300 to Ellis and $5,000 to the Crown. An appeal by RNZ to the High Court was dismissed in September 2005.

In October 2006, the BSA upheld a complaint by Cabinet Minister David Benson-Pope against RNZ National's ''Nine to Noon'' programme, ruling that a May 2005 broadcast had breached fairness standards. The programme aired an interview with an anonymous former student who alleged that Benson-Pope, while a teacher at Bayfield High School in the 1980s, had bullied him and administered corporal punishment excessively. The interview followed questions raised in Parliament the day before by opposition MPs, under privilege, about Benson-Pope’s conduct as a teacher. The Authority found that RNZ had not adequately verified the credibility of the interviewee before granting anonymity and had failed to sufficiently challenge the allegations during the broadcast. Complaints about balance and accuracy were not upheld. RNZ was ordered to broadcast a summary of the decision and pay $5,000 to the complainant and $2,000 to the Crown.

In October 2017, the BSA upheld a complaint from Trident Systems Ltd about an ''Insight'' documentary broadcast by RNZ on 12 and 13 March 2017, which explored illegal fish dumping and camera monitoring in the commercial fishing industry. The segment included comments from Greenpeace NZ’s Dr Russel Norman, who alleged that Trident’s monitoring had failed to detect illegal behaviour that another company identified, and implied this influenced a government contract decision. The BSA found that RNZ failed to give Trident a reasonable opportunity to respond, breaching the fairness standard. However, the complaint was not upheld under the accuracy or balance standards. RNZ was ordered to broadcast a statement both on-air and online, and to pay $2,000 in legal costs to the complainant.

In September 2020, the BSA upheld a complaint from activist Lisa Prager about a ''Checkpoint'' report on 25 February 2020 summarising her submission at a Waitematā Local Board meeting. The report inaccurately stated that she "regretted" claiming mana whenua status during a campaign to protect trees on Ōwairaka/Mount Albert. The BSA found this misrepresented her actual statement and, combined with a board member's suggestion that her comments were "a bit racist", created an unfair and damaging portrayal. The complaint was upheld under the accuracy and fairness standards, and RNZ was ordered to pay $1,818 in legal costs to the complainant.

In May 2023, the BSA upheld a complaint about news bulletins broadcast on 19 and 20 April 2022, which reported on the Government’s apparent delay in ending the COVID-19 managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system. The BSA found the items breached the accuracy standard by creating the misleading impression that public health advice from November 2021 had called for MIQ to end immediately, when in fact it recommended a carefully managed transition. The BSA found that while the balance standard was not breached—due to further reporting on 20 April which conveyed the Government’s perspective—RNZ was required to issue a broadcast statement.

References

External links

Official page RNZ National

{{Authority control

News and talk radio stations in New Zealand
1925 establishments in New Zealand