RADIO IZA OFFICIALLY OPENED ON SATURDAY

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 42, 1 June 1965, Page 1

RADIO IZA OFFICIALLY OPENED ON SATURDAY

"This is the NZBC, Station 1ZA, Taupo, broadcasting on a frequency of 1500 kilocycles. With these magic words, Taupo district's new radio station was officially opened on Saturday night and began its first one and a-half hour transmission from the new building on the top of the control gate hill.

The oificial opening was performed by a member of the corporation, Mr J. A. Stenberg, who earlier had unveiled a plaque in the foyer of the station. With Mr Stenberg in the studio were the Mayor of Taupo, Mr J. E. Story, the deputy-chairman of the Taupo County Council, Mr R. D. Tremaine, and the Member of Parliament, for the district, Mrs Rona Stevenson. Each spoke briefly, commending the corporation on its foresight. A recorded message from the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Scott, was also transmitted during the ceremony. The corporation was very conscious of its responsibility to bring to every part of New Zealand, to the smaller towns and to the farms, equally with the cities, the best possible reception of news, information and entertainment on both television and sound radio, Mr Stenberg told listeners. "The opening of this station gives further evidence of the progress of our policy to establish radio stations in the smaller towns; already this year, 2ZE Blenheim has begun transmission, and other new stations at Hawera, Taumarunui and Tokoroa will be established shortly. This studio has a peculiar charm in that it has extremely beautiful surroundings. The site was, oi course, chosen for good technical re:isons, but it would not be by accident that it has oue of the finest views anywhere in New Zealand," Mr Stenberg said. "It must be a thrill to every one in Taupo tonight to be listening to their own radio station," said the Mayor, Mr Story. "It has been manv years since the Taupo Borough Council first urged the Minister of Broadcasting to make some provision for better reception in the Taupo area and

I must say the waiting has been worthwhile. "I am of the firm opinion that the advent of a radio station in Taupo will do much to promote community spirit and a sense of be~ longing. "Living in the centre of the North Island as we do, Taupo has, in a sense, been cut off from ihe rest of the world. Communieations and transport haye not been the best over the years but now, with better roads and our own radio station, we are beginning to feel more a part of New Zealand." ■ "We have all seen ' the rapid expansion of Tv. reception in Taupo," said Mr Tremaine. "In line with experienee in other centres, we will no doubt find that rather than dampen interest, Tv. here will increase the interest in radio reception, and, together with popular demand, will warrant an , early increase in the hours of broadcast for our own radio. "In partieular, I think broadcasting hours could be increased on weekends and holidays," Mr Tremaine added. Mrs Stevenson spoke of the rapid rise in Taupo's population and congratulatl ed NZBC on its achieve- | ments. **