A History of Student Radio

A four-part journey through 45 years of student radio in New Zealand.

Hosted by Yadana Saw

A set of old pictures featuring the members of the Student Radio band was placed at the top of the cover with a blue background. The title underneath it says "The History of Student Radio".

RNZ exclusive

This podcast is only available on the RNZ website and apps, ad‑free and uninterrupted.

Episode One

All episodes:

Episode One

Episode 1
From the illegal homemade AM transmitters run for limited weeks of the university term, campus radio stations rapidly evolved into a beacon for music-lovers. A four-part journey through 45 years of student radio in New Zealand.
1984 Radio Active co-managers Linda Dale and Stu Birch.

Episode Two

Episode 2
Broadcasters who would go on to become household names recall their youthful antics, and all sorts of politics.
Wednesday Night Jam, Radio Active 1985

Episode Three

Episode 3
Student radio stations tap into the 'youth market' to generate advertising revenue; the 'alternative' becomes mainstream; and we hear about some of the non-musical exploits of student radio, including dubious news gathering practises, the art of making a student radio advertisment, and 95Bfm's 'Dad's Tips'.
Tim and Fraser in the RDU studio.

Episode Four

Episode 4
We pull focus to the years following 2000 and zoom in on those to come, considering the place of alternative independent radio in the ever-changing modern media landscape.
Radio Active's One Love festival.

Radio Punks: The Student Radio Story

Bonus episode
Ahead of its television premiere, director Paul Casserly and Yadana Saw talk about cramming nearly 50 years of broadcasting history into an hour-long documentary.
Student radio still

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