Jonathan Killick
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) is looking for a buyer for a block of land it owns in West Auckland to plug a financial hole and keep broadcast on the AM spectrum alive, at least for now.
The 7.4ha block in Henderson, metres away from the Lincoln Rd off-ramp, is home to a long-standing red and white transmission tower.
When RNZ’s predecessor bought the land in 1934 it was a rural pasture, but it has long since been enveloped by urban sprawl. It has grown to a rateable value of $6 million.
But, while the value of the land has continued to increase, the cost of the ageing AM transmission network has become a burden on the broadcaster.
Chief technology and operations officer Mark Bullen said RNZ was looking at having to spend up to $13 million across the whole network to keep it going.
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Photo/Stuff.com/New Zealand)