100 years of radio in NZ: Major news broadcast over the century

Today marks 100 years of radio in New Zealand.

While Morning Report has only been around since the 1970s - the wireless has been a staple for keeping the nation together in times of hardship, war, strife, and happiness.

Through the archives there are endless memorable moments - times that made us hold our breath in shock, delight, and despair.

The first minutes of broadcast was a song called 'Hello my Dearie' followed by a few words from University of Otago Professor Robert Jack in 1921.

From here the medium of radio has been part of daily lives, often providing entertainment, company, and laughs, but always having the news.

News such as the 1937 fiery destruction of the Hindenburg in New Jersey.

Reporter Herbert Morrison was mid-way through a recording when the airship burst into flames, knocking him and the camera operator down.

Through a muffled crackle you hear him ask people to move out the way, while he cried: "Oh the humanity".

In 1939, New Zealand Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage announced the outbreak of World War II.

"The war on which we are entering, may be a long one, demanding from us heavy and continuous sacrifice.

"It is essential we realise from the beginning, that our cause is worth the sacrifice."

Radio brought us moments of pride, and news that shocked the nation.

In 1953 a newsflash was sent to out to an announcer that New Zealander Edmund Hillary had conquered Mount Everest.

Later that same year, the Tangiwai Disaster was burned into Aotearoa history when a train plunged into the flooded river, killing 151 passengers.

One reporter said: "Some bodies have been recovered 15 miles from the scene of the disaster.

"I gravely fear there is little hope of further persons being found alive."

A few years later, that disaster was followed by another - the sinking of the Wahine in 1968.

The reporter at the scene was describing the ship swaying in the Wellington Harbour waters, before it became fully submerged as people leapt onto life rafts.

The radio also kept the country informed as news from the devastating Mount Erebus disaster came in.

At first, coverage of the accident noted the aircraft was lost and fuel reserves had run out.

The tone of reports changed when wreckage was discovered, and bodies could be seen from the search team's plane.

A reporter covering the story said there would be no survivors and it would be unlikely all the bodies would be able to be retrieved as some were buried under the snow.

Morning Report was first broadcast on 1 April 1975, and while it sounded slightly different than it does today, there was still plenty of cheek.

That first show, hosted by Joe Cote, featured both at the time Prime Minister Wallace Rowling and leader of the opposition Jack Marshall.

Cote jokingly told the audience it was brave of the opposition leader to answer his phone on April Fool's Day.

In 1981 the country was divided for 56 days as New Zealanders protested the Springboks rugby tour.

At a game in Auckland, a commentator watched as protesters dropped flour and smoke bombs on the pitch, which stopped the game.

It was followed by the Muldoon era, and the infamous "schnapps election"

On the night of 14 June 1984, a drunken Prime Minister Robert Muldoon staggered down a Beehive corridor and announced a snap election to a moustachioed, beige suit wearing press pack.

"It doesn't give you much time to run-up to an election, Prime Minister," one journalist asked.

Muldoon paused, then wobbled slightly. His thin lip pursed to form his trademark smirk. Then came the legendary slurred retort.

"It doesn't give my opponents much time to run-up to an election does it?"

In 1995 came a victory of a different kind - the America's Cup became New Zealand's cup.

Sirs Peter Blake and Russell Coutts sailed Black Magic to a 5-0 sweep, cementing the lucky red socks as parades around the country celebrated the great sporting achievement.

After the turn of the millennium, the world changed with the events of September 11.

Haunting audio of a mother leaving a voicemail to her family was shared, in which she explained she was on one of the hijacked planes and could only hope she'd see their faces again.

That day forever emblazoned on everyone's minds as the Twin Towers came down and thousands of lives were lost.

In the early 2000's New Zealand made its name in Hollywood - and the world - when Lord of the Rings took a clean sweep at the Oscars.

The film, Return of the King, directed by Sir Peter Jackson won 11 categories in 2004.

Six years later came the news a mine shaft had exploded at the West Coast's Pike River Mine - an ongoing story to this day.

That tragedy was followed by the catastrophic Christchurch quake in 2011.

RNZ reporter Bridget Mills was mid interview when it hit; in the audio you hear computers, filing cabinets and other objects around the room tumble around her as the recording continues.

The guest unaware of what's going on and simply keeps repeating: "I've lost you, are you there?"

Christchurch was home to another tragedy in 2019, one of New Zealand's darkest days.

On 15 March 2019 RNZ moved to rolling coverage after news armed police had been called to a mosque near Hagley Park.

One woman who was interviewed said: "All of a sudden we just heard gunshots, I left everything, my mum grabbed my hand and we just ran outside, everyone was in chaos, we were just running for our lives."

That leaves us now, in the current day, in the midst of a global pandemic.

Where last year, the word "lockdown" became a new part of our vocabulary, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the country would move to alert level 4.

"Everything you will give up for the next few weeks, all of the lost contact with others, all of the isolation... it will literally save lives, thousands of lives.

"The worst-case scenario is simply intolerable; it would represent the greatest loss of lives in our history."

As always, you can rely on us, to be in your ears, bringing you the latest - hopefully for another 100 years.