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Kōrero: Auckland region

Pirate broadcaster

Image
Pirate broadcaster

Until 1970 the state had a monopoly on commercial radio broadcasting. For four years from 1966 a private station, Radio Hauraki, challenged that right by broadcasting from a ‘pirate’ ship anchored outside New Zealand waters. The venture was not trouble-free. Hauraki’s first ship sank off Great Barrier Island (Aotea) in a storm. Its second ship – shown here – ran aground in another storm, but was later refloated.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by John Monks

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Margaret McClure, Auckland region – Popular culture, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/15923/pirate-broadcaster (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Margaret McClure, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2016.