Note: Several FM stations changed their frequency during October 2010, as broadcast licenses were renewed and spacing standardized to 0.8 MHz. AM stations were also moved in 1978 when New Zealand switched from 10 kHz frequency spacing to 9 kHz spacing.
Wellington metro radio stations
FM stations
Nearly all full-power FM stations in Wellington broadcast from the Mount Kaukau transmitter. As a general rule, frequencies in Wellington are spaced 0.8 MHz apart, starting from 89.3 MHz.
Some Hutt Valley "infill" frequencies with transmitters at Towai or Fitzherbert have been allocated to the 0.4 MHz "gap" in between other stations.
Broadcast on 89.8FM from 1990-1995 and 90.0FM prior to 2010 1990–1991 2ZB 1991–1993 B90 FM (same station but rebranded) 1993-2014 Classic Hits 90FM (same station but rebranded)
1990s - 1991 Fox FM renamed from Greater Wellington FM 1993–1995 The Heat 91.7FM 1995–1997 The Box 91.7FM 1997–1998 92 Hitz FM 1998 99-100 More FM (temporary simulcast) 1998–2005 Channel Z 2005–2006 Kiwi FM 2006-2007 More FM Wellington (temporary simulcast)
Station broadcast on 98.9FM from 1991-2004 and 98.7FM from 2005-2010 1991–2004 More FM 2005-2019: Radio Live 19/01/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
1992–2005: Radio Pacific 2005–2007: Radio Pacific and Radio Trackside 2007–2010: BSport and Radio Trackside 2010–2015: LiveSPORT and Radio Trackside 2015–2020: TAB Trackside 2021–2024: SENZ
To be activated. Licence created 28/04/2022, MBIE transferred to Radio Tarana NZ Ltd 30/08/2022
Horokiwi
16
Internet Radio Stations
The rise in internet radio stations has been prevalent in Wellington. Mouthfull Radio is the contemporary station that showcases community online radio from Wellington. Most stations also use an m3u stream on their website so you can listen online if you are outside of the band of radio in proximity.
Decommissioned frequencies
The following frequencies were previously used in the Wellington region, but most were decommissioned in the reallocation of frequencies in October 2010.
It is unlikely that most of these FM frequencies will be re-used as most do not fit within the current band spacing plan. Possible exceptions are 102.1/102.9 FM and 96.9 FM that fit the band plans for Wellington and Hutt Valley respectively.
There are a number of Low Power FM stations that are operating, or have operated, in Wellington whose broadcast range may be less than that of the full-power FM stations.
Wellington
AREC FM, 107.0, mono, BBC World Service. Good coverage of CBD right out to the airport and the station is commercial free.
Calvary Chapel Radio, 106.9 stereo, near Newtown, Christian Radio
Critical Analysis Broadcasting 107.1 FM, broadcasting to Kilbirnie, Melrose and Miramar, was on 107.5 til 8 March Talks of left-green persuasion
Family Radio - Karori, 106.9 FM, Stereo, Bible-centred and God-glorifying broadcast. Bible readings, music, studies, and talkback discussion
Fleet FM, 107.3FM Wellington from July 2003 until May 2010
George FM, 106.7, (replaced Rova 1067 September 2019). Appears to be transmitting from on or around Victoria University in Kelburn
Muse Radio, 87.9FM, Student radio Wellington Central
only around Oriental Bay, 107.3, jazz, low power
Radio Brooklyn, 106.9 mono, 0.5 Watts but superior location, opened 12. Feb 2008, plays copyright free speeches and university lectures, at 7pm relays Radio Netherlands Newsdesk and Democracy Now.
Radio Island Bay 107.5 FM mono, broadcasting from Island Bay
Rova 1067, 106.7FM down town Wellington "The Rova All Day Breakfast with Polly & Grant" live and then replayed, started July 2017 (Stuff), George FM reinstated September 2019
Up FM, 88.1FM Wellington, dance music launched October 2006
Hutt Radio,[11] 88.3 FM (previously 106.1 and 106.7 FM), Lower Hutt
KIX-FM was a fully commercial rock radio station with studios in central Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. First going to air in 1993, it filled a gap in Wellington for a rock station when the former Radio Windy reformatted to an easy listening format as The Breeze in 1993. All the on-air staff on KIX FM were volunteers and new to radio. After the station went off-air in 1996 many of the original staff went on to work at some of the New Zealand's biggest radio stations including Mike Currie (Thrasher) on Radio Hauraki & The Sound, Spiros Foundoulakis went to More FM Wellington, Kris Miller worked for The Breeze in Wellington and David Cunningham (deceased) moved to Port FM in Timaru. After going off-air it was resurrected in 2001 as a low power FM radio station and is completely commercial free. Originally on 106.7FM, then 88.7 FM and 87.6FM 2010 - 2017, the station streams on the internet and is completely automated.[12]
Robot FM, 107.5 mono, Lower Hutt, broadcasting political talks (started May 2006)
Supernova, 107.0, mellower music mix + NZ
The Cheese FM, 87.7, Stereo, Lower Hutt. Broadcasting to Central Lower Hutt and the CBD Area. Hits of the 80's 90s and Today.
The Hutt Valleys River FM 88 Upper Hutt. The station has been broadcasting since Feb 2009. We are a community station broadcasting live morning shows Mon-Fri with community & up to date commuter information as well as a wide range of music. Totally local the Hutts Best Music River FM and also streaming on www.riverfm.co.nz "click" the listen now button
Porirua
AREC FM,[13] 87.6, mono, Porirua, BBC World Service, simulcast on 87.9 Kapiti (see table below), and Wellington 107.0, in the CBD. Good coverage on SH1 from Johnsonville to Pukerua Bay Bay and the station is commercial free.
Kordia operated a (DAB) test service between October 2006 and 30 June 2018. At the conclusion the trial transmissions were from Mt Kaukau in Band III on 192.352 MHz. The multiplex delivered a mix of DAB and DAB+ programmes over nearly 12 years. The programmes at the conclusion of the trial were: