List of radio stations in Canterbury

This is a list of radio stations in Canterbury in New Zealand.

During October 2010, several FM radio stations changed frequencies as spacing was being standardised to 0.8 MHz. Frequency changes continue as broadcast licences are renewed. Most frequencies are now spaced 0.8 MHz apart, with the first station at a frequency of 88.9 MHz. Infill stations are allocated to the 0.4 MHz frequency in the buffer between two other stations.

The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 have allowed community stations to play a greater role in the Canterbury community. Compass FM 104.9 FM has existed as a not-for-profit community radio station in the North Canterbury area since June 2011. Several radio stations have also ceased operation as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes. In Lyttelton, for instance, Volcano Radio 88.5FM was broadcasting 80 shows commercial-free from February 2008, but the quakes damaged equipment and forced the building to be demolished. Shows on the station included Project Lyttelton, Monday Report, children's programme Lyttelease, classical music show Vienna Volcano, and old school metal and hard rock show The Molten Metal.[1][2]

Christchurch and North Canterbury stations

FM and AM

The following stations broadcast in the Christchurch area including Sumner and the Hurunui District.

Most high-power FM radio stations serving Christchurch broadcast from the Sugarloaf transmitter, located on the Port Hills due south of the central city. Stations broadcasting from this transmitter also serve the majority of the Canterbury Plains, as far south as the Rangitata River. The suburb of Sumner is served by infill FM transmitters located at Southshore and Sumner Head, as hills block the signal from Sugarloaf.

Frequency [3]	Station[4]	Location[5]	Licensed Watts[6]	Format[5]	Airdate[7]	Previous stations on frequency
88.9 FM	The Edge	Sugarloaf	31,622	Pop music (2000s-2010s)	2017	2008 - 2009: The Edge 2010: George FM 2011 - 2017: Mai FM
89.3 FM	Radio Hauraki	Sumner	15.8	Mainstream rock	2009
89.7 FM	RNZ Concert	Sugarloaf	79,432	Classical music	1984
90.1 FM	Coast	Southshore	794	Pop music (70s-90s)	2004
90.5 FM	Tahu FM	Sugarloaf	15,848	Urban contemporary	1991	formerly Te Reo Iriraki O Otautahi, 90.5 Tahu FM, Mai FM
90.9 FM	ZM	Sumner	15.8	Pop music (current)	2009	ZM was previously on 89.2FM in Sumner
91.3 FM	ZM	Sugarloaf	79,432	Pop music (current)	1986	formerly ZMFM, 91ZM
91.7 FM	Gold [8][9]	Southshore	794	Greatest hits	1 July 2020	2015 - 30 June 2020: Mix
92.1 FM	More FM	Sugarloaf	79,432	Pop music (90s-now)	1992
92.9 FM	The Sound	Sugarloaf	50,118	Mainstream rock (60s-80s)	2001	formerly Solid Gold 1986-2001: C93FM (formerly 93 Gold, Classic Hits 93FM)
93.3 FM	Pulzar FM	Southshore	794	Urban contemporary	20 Jan 2020	2015 - 2020: Flava
93.7 FM	The Rock	Sugarloaf	79,432	Mainstream rock (70s-now)	1999	1992 - 1999: Radio Pacific
94.5 FM	The Breeze	Sugarloaf	31,622	Pop music (70s-now)	1998	formerly Lite FM 1994 - 1998: Easy Listening i94.5
94.9 FM	More FM	Southshore	794	Pop music (90s-now)	1992
95.3 FM	Mai FM	Sugarloaf	31,622	Urban music	2017	2009 - 2017: The Edge
96.1 FM	Tracks 96.1	Sugarloaf	15,848	Pop Country	17 Aug 2020	Previous NZ Broadcasting School programmes: The 96.1, OKBoomer, The Garage, Rift, Basement, Embr, Summit, Chalk, Jacked, The Attic, Mode, Alpha, Splat, Blush
96.5 FM	The Hits	Southshore	316	Pop music (90s-now)	1993	formerly Classic Hits 97.7
96.9 FM	Plains FM	Sugarloaf	5,011	Access Radio	1988
97.7 FM	The Hits	Sugarloaf	79,432	Pop music (90s-now)	1991	formerly B98 FM, Classic Hits
98.5 FM	RDU 98.5	synchronous transmission Marleys Hill, Ilam (backup transmitter), Sumner Head	1,584 158 10	Dance music	1990s	previously Radio U, UFM
99.3 FM	Magic Music	Sugarloaf	31,622	Oldies	30 Dec 2019	1993-1997: Life 99.3FM, 1997-1999: Southern Star 1999-2005: Channel Z, 2005-2006: Kiwi FM 2006-2019: Radio Live (simulcast on 99.3 FM and 738 AM since 2006 but moved to 99.3 FM since 2015) Jan - 30 Dec 2019: Magic Talk (moved to 738 AM as at 30 Dec 2019)
99.7 FM	RNZ Concert	Southshore	316	Classical music	1984
100.1 FM	Newstalk ZB	Sugarloaf	5,011	Talk radio	2011
100.5 FM	Magic Music audio faint 10/08/2020	Lyttelton	100	Oldies		Magic Talk
100.5 FM	Blank Carrier - No Audio	Southshore	794		2017	brianfm.com licence holder
100.9 FM	Voice of South Pole	Huntsbury Hill	5,011	Chinese talk radio	2008	Voice of South Pole off air 03/08/2020
101.7 FM	RNZ National	Sugarloaf	15,848	Public radio	2004
103.7 FM	Compass FM	Cheviot synchronous transmission	794	Pop music (70s-90s)
103.7 FM	Compass FM	Hanmer	316	Pop music (70s-90s)
104.1 FM	PMN 531	Sugarloaf	15,848	English & Pacific Islands' languages spoken/music	Jan 2019	2010-2019: Niu FM
104.9 FM	Compass FM 104.9	Rangiora (Mt Grey)	1,995	Local Community Radio	2011
105.7 FM	Coast	Huntsbury Hill	5,011	Pop music (70s-90s)	3 Aug 2020	2009[10] -2020: Pulzar FM 20/01 - 02/08/2020: C105.7
106.5 FM	Radio Hauraki	Sugarloaf	15,848	Mainstream rock (70s-now)	2008
540 AM	Rhema	Philpotts Rd	3,162	Christian music	2015	2011 - 2015: The Word
612 AM	Star	Philpotts Rd	10,000	Christian music		Rhema
675 AM	RNZ National	Gebbies Pass	63,095	Public radio		3YA (3YA was also broadcast on 980, 720[11] and 690kHz prior to Nov 1978)
738 AM	Magic Talk	Marshland	15,848	Talk radio	30 Dec 2019	1999-2005: Radio Pacific 2005-2015: Radio Live (simulcast on 99.3 FM and 738 AM since 2006 but moved to 99.3 FM from 2015 until 30 Dec 2019) Jan - 30 Dec 2019: Magic Music (moved to 99.3 FM as at 30 Dec 2019)
963 AM	AM Network	Gebbies Pass	31,622	Christian music	1990s	?-2015: Southern Star
1017 AM	Newstalk ZB	Philpotts Rd	6,309	Talk radio	2011	2002 - 2002: Canterbury On Air 2003 - 2010: Radio Hauraki
1098 AM	Newstalk ZB	Bottle Lake	15,848	Talk radio	1994	Until 1994: 3ZB
1260 AM	Vacant	Marshland	6,309			1970s - 1990: Radio Avon 1990 - 1999: C93FM 1999 - 2005: Solid Gold 2005 - 2007: Radio Pacific/Trackside 2007 - 2010: BSport/Radio Trackside 2010 - 2015: LiveSport/Radio Trackside 2015 - 2020: TAB Trackside
1413 AM	Radio Ferrymead	Ferrymead Park	316	Pop music (1940s-1960s)	1980s
1503 AM	Gold AM[8][9]	Bottle Lake	15,848	Greatest hits & Sports radio	1 July 2020	formerly Sports Roundup 1980s - mid 1990s: New Zealand's Rhema 1994 - March 2020: Radio Sport 30 March - 30 June 2020: Newstalk ZB
1593 AM	Coast	Philpotts Rd	15,848	Pop music (60s-1970s)	2004	Late 1990s: 88 Country, 2001 - 2003: The Wolf 2003 - 2004: Easy Listening i

Low Power FM

There are a number of LPFM stations that are operating, or have operated, whose broadcast range may be less than that of the full-power FM stations.

Frequency	Station	Location	Format	Airdate	Previous stations on frequency
87.6 FM	Life FM	Christchurch	Christian music	2011
87.8 FM	Power Hit FM[12]	Christchurch		2005
87.9 FM	Ashgrove FM[13]	Rangiora (Ashgrove School)		2009	Radio La Famia
88.0 FM	Pulzar FM (also on 93.3 FM)	Christchurch	Urban contemporary	20 Jan 2020	Country FM, 2011: Shakey FM, Rollywood FM, 2013-2020: Flava
88.1 FM	Harmony FM	Riccarton	Christian radio	2010
88.3 FM	The Wave[14]	Sumner			Rollywood FM[15]
106.9 FM	George FM	Christchurch	Dance music
107.0 FM	New Brighton Wassup	New Brighton	Community	2020
107.0 FM	Thunder FM[16]	Rolleston/Lincoln	Contemporary hit radio
107.3 FM	XS80's [17]	Huntsbury Hill	1980s	2015
107.3 FM	Gospel Radio (also on 106.9)	Kaiapoi	Community Radio	1998
107.4 FM	1074BFM [18]	Waitikiri Burwood North East	70s, 80s, 90s	2018
107.5 FM	Radio Addington[19]	Addington		2010
107.5 FM	Radio Redwood[20]	Redwood
107.5 FM	Practice FM	CBD, NZ Broadcasting School	Various
107.7 FM	Just FM[21]	Kaiapoi		1998
107.7 FM	ChizzySoundz[22]	Chisnallwood Intermediate School		2010
107.7 FM	Rotten Radio[23]	Lyttelton			2013: Flava
107.7 FM	Pulzar FM (also on 93.3 FM)	Christchurch	Urban contemporary	20 Jan 2020
Streaming	DawnFM[24]	Haeata Community Campus		2019	internet only station

Banks Peninsula Stations

The following stations broadcast in Akaroa or the Banks Peninsula area.

Frequency	Station	Location	Format	Airdate	Previous stations on frequency
90.3 FM	Akaroa Radio	Akaroa
91.1 FM	Akaroa Radio	Hilltop
95.1 FM	RNZ Concert	Mt Pearce	Classical music
95.9 FM	XS80s	Long Bay Road	1980s
99.1 FM	More FM	Mt Pearce	Adult hits
107.3 FM		Akaroa	LPFM		Bay Radio[25]

Mid Canterbury Stations

The following stations broadcast in the Ashburton or Mid Canterbury area.

Frequency[3]	Station[4]	Location[5]	Format[5]	Airdate[7]	Previous stations on frequency
89.3 FM	The Hits	Ashburton	Adult contemporary music	2001	formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE
91.7 FM	Life FM	Ashburton	Contemporary Christian music
92.5 FM	Hokonui	Ashburton	Adult contemporary music	2014	2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE)
93.3 FM	The Edge	Ashburton	Contemporary hit radio	2002
94.1 FM	Mt Hutt Radio	Mt Hutt Ski Field
94.9 FM	More FM	Ashburton	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM, Fox FM
95.7 FM	The Sound	Ashburton	Classic rock	2002	formerly Solid Gold
96.5 FM	Hokonui	Ashburton	Adult contemporary music		2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE)
97.3 FM	The Rock	Ashburton	Active rock	2002
98.1 FM	Newstalk ZB	Ashburton	Talk radio
98.9 FM	More FM	Ashburton	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM, Fox FM
99.7 FM	Brian FM	Ashburton	Adult contemporary/Classic rock
101.3 FM	RNZ National	Ashburton	Public Radio	2004
103.7 FM	Magic Music	Ashburton	Oldies 50's 60's 70's	2017
105.3 FM	Brian FM	Mt Hutt	Adult contemporary/Classic rock	March 2020
106.1 FM	The Breeze	Ashburton	Easy listening (1980s-2010s)	2018	2017 - March 2018 XS80s
702 AM	Gold AM[8][9]	Ashburton	Greatest hits & Sports radio	01/07/2020	Until March 2020: Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB
873 AM	Newstalk ZB	Ashburton	Talk radio	2001	Until 2001: 3ZE
1071 AM	Vacant	Ashburton			TAB Trackside

South Canterbury Stations

The following stations broadcast from the South Canterbury area including the Mackenzie District, Waimate District and Timaru

Frequency[3]	Station[4]	Location[5]	Format[5]	Airdate[7]	Previous stations on frequency
88.1 FM	Waimate FM	Waimate	LPFM
88.4 FM	no longer licensed LPFM	Timaru			Hospital FM
88.6 FM	Magic Music	Fairlie	Oldies 50's 60's 70's
89.1 FM	Tahu FM	Timaru	Urban contemporary	2000
89.4 FM	More FM	Twizel	Adult Hits	28/04/2018	2017 - 2018: Port FM
89.9 FM	The Breeze	Timaru	Easy listening (1980s-2010s)	2018	1992 - March 2018: Radio Live
90.7 FM	The Sound	Timaru	Classic rock
90.9 FM	More FM	Omarama	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM
91.0 FM	Magic Talk	Twizel	Talk radio	2018
91.5 FM	The Rock	Timaru	Active rock	2001
91.8 FM	Radio Rhema	Twizel	Christian radio
92.3 FM	The Breeze	Timaru	Easy listening (1980s-2010s)		The Edge, The Groove, The Heat FM
92.6 FM	RNZ National	Twizel	Public radio
93.1 FM	More FM	Timaru and Waimate	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM
93.4 FM	RNZ National	Tekapo	Public radio
93.9 FM	Brian FM	Timaru	Adult contemporary/Classic rock	April 2018
94.2 FM	More FM	Twizel	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM
94.7 FM	The Hits	Timaru	Adult contemporary music
95.0 FM	More FM	Fairlie	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM
95.5 FM	The Edge	Timaru	Pop music	2001
95.8 FM	Radio Twizel	Twizel	Community radio
96.3 FM	ZM	Timaru	Contemporary hit radio	2004
97.1 FM	The Sound	Timaru	Classic rock	2001	formerly Solid Gold
97.3 FM	RNZ National	Omarama	Public radio
97.9 FM	More FM	Timaru	Adult hits	28/04/2018	Port FM
98.7 FM	The Hits	Timaru	Adult contemporary music	1995	formerly Classic Hits, 99FM, Radio Caroline Broadcasting on 99.0FM prior to 2010
99.0 FM	Brian FM	Twizel	Adult contemporary/Classic rock	March 2020
99.8 FM	The Breeze	Twizel	Easy listening (1980s-2010s)
98.9 FM	The Breeze	Omarama	Easy listening	28/04/2018	The Edge
99.5 FM	RNZ Concert	Timaru	Classical music
100.3 FM	100.3FM South Canterbury	Timaru	80's 90's 2000's Anthems	2018	Kiwi access 100.3
101.1 FM	RNZ National	Timaru	Public radio
103.5 FM	Magic Music	Timaru	Oldies 50's 60's 70's	2017
104.3 FM	Radio Rhema	Timaru	Christian radio
104.5 FM	Brian FM	Omarama	Adult contemporary music/Classic rock	2018	2014-2018: High Country FM
104.6 FM	The Sound	Fairlie	Classic rock
105.1 FM	Life FM	Timaru	Contemporary Christian music
105.9 FM	Magic Talk	Timaru	Talk radio	April 2018	2017 - March 2018: XS80s
106.7 FM	Just Country FM	Timaru	LPFM
107.0 FM	100.3FM South Canterbury	Timaru	80's 90's 2000's Anthems		XS80s
107.5 FM	Hospital FM	Timaru	LPFM
107.7 FM	100.3FM South Canterbury	Timaru	80's 90's 2000's Anthems
594 AM	Southern Star	Timaru	Christian radio
918 AM	RNZ National	Timaru	Public radio
981 AM		Timaru			2015 - Southern Star 2018: Coast
1152 AM	Newstalk ZB	Timaru	Talk radio	2001	1949 - 2001: Radio Caroline, Classic Hits 99FM
1242 AM	Vacant	Timaru		2005	2005 - 2020: TAB Trackside formerly LiveSport, BSport, Radio Pacific
1494 AM	Gold AM[8][9]	Timaru	Greatest hits & Sports radio	01/07/2020	Until March 2020: Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB

References

1. Volcano Radio 88.5 FM website Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. Molten Metal Show
3. "Database of radio". FMLIST."MWLIST radio database". MWLIST.
4. "Radio Heritage". Radio Heritage Foundation.
5. "Local Radio Broadcast Stations". Radio Station World.
6. RSM Register of Radio Frequencies
7. "Welcome to The Radio Vault". The Radio Vault. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
8. "NZME eyes powerful demographic with launch of Gold radio station". The New Zealand Herald. 22 June 2020.
9. Gold frequencies list
10. Pulzar FM
11. "Grid Bias" (30 November 1933). "New Wavelengths 1-Dec-1933". The Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020.
12. Power Hit FM 87.8
13. "AshgroveFM". Retrieved 28 April 2015.
14. The Wave Archived 2 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
15. Rollywood FM
16. Thunder FM
17. XS80's
18. 1074BFM
19. Radio Addington
20. Redwood Radio
21. JUST FM
22. ChizzySoundz
23. Rotten Radio
24. DawnFM
25. Bay Radio