Flood-wrecked AM transmitters at NZME's site - a couple of sheds in a paddock - beside a stopbank at Pakowhai. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington
A radio network that has been a lifeline during Cyclone Gabrielle faces losing most of the government funding that keeps it running.
But its operator, RNZ, says the AM network must be kept going - somehow.
Its chief executive Paul Thompson said AM broadcasts get into the "nooks and crannies" that FM cannot, so was "absolutely vital" during Gabrielle.
"It is, you know, an irony that in a week when New Zealand got probably one of its biggest ever lessons about the importance of AM that we have this challenge around its viability," he said.
The principal of a flood-hit primary school in Tinui, east Wairarapa, Simon Couling agreed.
"This has really proven that, you know, we've got to put some infrastructure in place for this.
"People need to know what's going on and they need to know reliably," Couling said.
"So if there's any way that could happen, I mean, it's massive, it really is."
A sign at Te Aute College by the highway after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington
Tinui gets AM, though even it can be a bit scratchy.
Jesse Soanes gave up on the now-powerless wifi as the river advanced up the main road on 14 February, to struggle with his radio instead.
"Playing with the tuner, just trying to walk around the property, trying to get the aerial the right direction - nothing.
"You might hear a fuzz."
It was vital to know if they would have been able to get out, Soanes said.
But decisions are being made at Parliament that now threaten the financial viability of the broadcasts.
This is due to the axe hovering over a cornerstone contract, to broadcast parliamentary proceedings on AM, between RNZ and the clerk of the House, David Wilson.
"So that costs us about $1.3 million a year and that is just a cost we can no longer carry," Wilson said.
"The radio contract is coming up for renewal, so that to some degree, puts it sort of first in the firing line."
He had been advised that the end of the contract may affect the financial viability of the AM network, he said.
"It's not something I willingly do. And I would like to keep it going if we can find a way of doing that."
The RNZ AM network also carries iwi and community radio broadcasts.
Its masts and transmitters are part of the disaster recovery network, but costly to run.
So when RNZ shut one down in Northland last year, locals voiced their fears - and the government ponied up $1.5 million to upgrade it and other local gear, saying Northland especially needed AM and "we rely on radio as our number one emergency info channel".
The government told RNZ that AM transmission was "a key priority".
However, David Wilson, in a select committee just one day after the worst of the flooding, on 15 February, told MPs he could not dodge the budget hole.
"These things do come at a cost and I think we're just really reaching the point where that's really starting to bite, and we can't keep doing all these things, with no money," Wilson later told RNZ.
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson said the parliamentary contract underpinned the whole AM operation, so to lose it would hurt.
"It puts a huge question mark on its sustainability," he said.
"It absolutely puts a lot of pressure on us as an organisation - we won't be able to pick up the cost."
He is in talks with the government's media and emergency response officials.
"There's no way at the moment that as a nation, we can countenance closing AM.
"So we're going to have to find a solution."
No final decisions had been made yet around funding, Thompson added.
"We're going to have to find a way through."
Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson said AM transmission was key and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Culture and Heritage, and RNZ were working on funding approaches.
"As Cyclone Gabrielle has highlighted, AM transmission is a vital piece of infrastructure that ensures people have timely access to critical information in emergency scenarios," Jackson, who was visiting marae in Hawke's Bay, said in a statement.
NEMA said it had a close working relationship with RNZ and could provide it with information about the "potential emergency management impacts" of its decisions around changes to radio coverage.
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage said it was working closely with NEMA and RNZ to ensure radio services, including AM transmission, were always available for people in an emergency.
Response from Morning Report listeners
Cam said: "I live in Central Hawke's Bay, AM is the only strong signal. Do NOT stop broadcasting on that frequency. We love you National, stay with us".
Glen, Gisborne: "RNZ FM was off air in Gisborne for two days during Gabrielle. RNZ AM kept going... it absolutely must be kept".
Another listener: "I am listening to you on AM network. I am 9km southwest of Waipukurau. The AM network is very important".
Don asks: "What would happen to towns like Picton where RNZ has no FM coverage?"
Another says: 'I'm down a valley, in Torbay, North Shore AK. 20kms from CBD only get AM here".
This listener points out: 'Japanese import cars have radios that cannot receive radio New Zealand National on FM because the frequency selectors do not go high enough to get radio New Zealand National.'
Doreen Kumara: 'Hi RNZ yeap the removal of the AM from the West Coast years ago half the number of houses in our valley's ability to get radio - and stopped the use of valve radio and transistors for the rest of us, and the internet and cell phone coverage is about the same as the flood-damaged area in everyday life. Any solution that is skytrain your experts can advise on? Cheers".
"Sadly RNZ doesn't reach Ranfurly via AM or FM. Battery radios here only get two FM stations, one being the local community station, the other a commercial music station for Wanaka, etc. Still need to fill gaps in radio coverage".
'Re AM frequency - now is the time to get them to restore the Central Otago AM that was axed about 2 years ago.'
