Long time listeners to Radio New Zealand International may remember anumber of times when the 'quiet voice of the Pacific' was silenced throughfunding cutbacks and bureaucratic and political ignorance and indifference.
Since 1990, when a new 100kW AM transmitter was inaugurated from a newtransmission site in the central North Island, RNZI has steadilyregained listeners in its main Pacific target areas, and beyond.
The introduction of a second 100kW [DRM] transmitter in 2006 hasfurther improved RNZI's capability to deliver core services such as'Dateline Pacific' to local rebroadcasters across the region.
Recent arrangements for Radio Australia and the BBC to carry keyprograms have broadened the reach of RNZI even further, both stations operatingnetworks of local FM relay stations that now carry RNZI content.
RNZI's use of DRM [digital radio] is unusual, being designed todeliver point to point FM quality signals directly to designated local radiostations at specific times of the day.
The signal starts the day beamed at French Polynesia, and moveswestwards across the Pacific as dawn breaks, thus allowing local stations tocarry RNZI programs during peak morning listening times.
The installation of DRM capable receivers at a growing number of radiostations across the Pacific allows FM quality reception at key locallistening times, and has built the local RNZI audience into thelargest of any broadcaster in the region.
Expansion continues with facilities to house two more shortwavetransmitters planned for the existing transmission site. A secondantenna system will allow greater flexibility for directionaldelivery of programs and the use of additional frequencies.
Now that the technical delivery of programs to local stations isassured, more stations can be added to the DRM receiving network.
At the same time, local broadcast hours of RNZI sourced content areexpected to increase across many stations.
As DRM capable radios gradually become available at an affordableprice, more local listeners will also be able to listen direct to RNZIservices with FM quality signals.
The AM transmitter provides a complementary service across the widerregion, filling in the DRM drop out signal spots, cyclone season emergencybroadcasts, and also entertaining listeners beyond the Pacific targetzone.
Increasingly, RNZI reflects an emerging Polynesian society andculture from within New Zealand itself, and these common links in turn make bothdomestic and RNZI programs more relevant to local listeners in the islands.
Radio New Zealand's latest annual report highlights RNZI servicesspecifically via shortwave as being of strategic importance to itsability to meet its core public broadcaster charter obligations.
In a region of increased political, social and economic instabilityand tension, the 'quiet voice of New Zealand' is now being heard far morestrongly. Perhaps finally achieving what was originally intended whenit first began weak test transmissions on shortwave 60 years ago in 1947.
RNZI listeners from Papeete in the eastern Pacific to Dili in thewestern Pacific and northwards into the former US Trust Territories south ofJapan increasingly have a new FM quality source of Pacific orientedprograms on their local radio dials.
And RNZI listeners further afield in Asia, the Americas and Europe,are able to continue to enjoy the AM broadcasts as reception conditionspermit, and 'eavesdrop' on what's happening in New Zealand's Pacific backyard.
Recent Christmas season messages to listeners in French, Spanish,Portuguese and Italian languages also acknowledged the growing popularity ofRNZI well beyond the Pacific.
At a time when major European shortwave broadcasters are reducing orending decades of broadcasts in favor of internet or satellite onlybroadcasts, it's refreshing to know that the 'new world' of the Pacific-Asianregion continues to see a place for the innovative use of shortwave radio ina world of contemporary entertainment and information.
The Radio Heritage Foundation produces regular radio heritagedocumentaries about Pacific broadcasting issues for RNZI's 'Mailbox' program. Ithas also been commissioned to produce material for the 60thanniversary of shortwave broadcasts from Radio New Zealand in September 2008.
For a full description of the original shortwave broadcastingobjectives of Radio New Zealand [as it was known in 1947], visithttp://www.radioheritage.net/ and read the story 'Radio NZ Signs On' that canbe found under 'other stories' or a simple site search.
Looking back almost 60 years, it's interesting to see how little hasreally changed. The 'Mailbox' program must now be one of the longestrunning listener programs on shortwave radio.
Australian listeners commented back then 'It comes in just like alocal station', and with DRM signals in 2007, Australian listenerswill probably continue to offer the same view.
Listeners worldwide can also hear RNZI streaming at http://www.rnzi.com/ aswell as find more information about programs, shortwave frequenciesand more news about the 'quiet voice of the Pacific'.
(Source: Radio Heritage Foundation)