Call signs in New Zealand are no longer generally used to identify broadcast stations. However, New Zealand's radio stations were once known by their call signs and would usually broadcast their call signs as a number followed by X, Y, or Z, and another letter (e.g. 1YA). Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU and nationally by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), formerly the Ministry of Economic Development. The ministry is also responsible for providing policy advice to Government on the allocation of New Zealand's radio spectrum to support, efficient, reliable and responsive wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure.[1]
In 1924, New Zealand was granted the prefix 'Z',[2] and in 1925 the number of licensed amateur(?) reached 100. In 1927, the International Telecommunication Union Conference in Washington (D.C., USA) established internally agreed upon call sign prefixes – New Zealand was assigned 'OZ'. In 1929 this was expanded to the ZK–ZM letter block, with New Zealand opting for the ZL prefix for land based stations. 'OZ' by 1927 was reassigned to Denmark.[3] In 1969 the ZM prefix was allowed to celebrate the Captain James Cook bicentenary. In 1974 the prefix was allowed again to celebrate the Commonwealth Games, as well as in 1989 when the Games returned. In 1981 the ZL0 prefix was allowed for visitors to New Zealand.
The International Telecommunication Union has assigned New Zealand the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:[4]
| Call sign block | Allocation | |
|---|---|---|
| E5A–E5Z | New Zealand – Cook Islands | |
| ZKA–ZMZ | New Zealand | |
While not directly related to call signs, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) further has divided all countries assigned amateur radio prefixes into three regions; New Zealand is located in ITU Region 3, within ITU Zone 60.
There are 4 possible 2-letter prefixes and 40 2-letter/1-number prefixes available to New Zealand operators based on the ITU blocks (ZK, ZL, ZM and E5). This provides for about 720,000 three-character-suffix call signs and significantly more if numerals comprise either or both of the first two characters of the suffix. A further 18.8 million 4-character call signs are potentially available, as well as considerably more when digits are assigned in the suffix.
Of these prefixes, 1 is currently assigned (ZL) for normal amateur radio operation. ZM can be used in place of ZL for short special events (e.g. contests), and E5 calls are issued in the Cook Islands (both North and South Cooks).
Although ZL1 to ZL4 were previously issued strictly according to the operator's location within New Zealand, that is no longer the case.
New Zealand is assigned DXCC entity #170. Primary callsign suffixes can be from one letter to four letters in the A–Y, AA–YZ, AAA–YZZ and AAAA–YZZZ blocks. Temporary special event callsigns may have five or six letter suffixes.
| Prefixes | Subseries | Purpose[5] |
| DXCC Entity # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZK | 1–9 | Niue and Tokelau | 74 |
|
| E5A–E5Z | North Cook Island, used to be ZK1/N | 193 |
| |
| E5A–E5Z | South Cook Island, used to be ZK1/S | (incl in N. Cook) |
| |
| ZL1 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | New Zealand | 2,306 |
|
| ZL2 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | New Zealand | 1,985 |
|
| ZL3 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | New Zealand | 1,011 |
|
| ZL4 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | New Zealand | 664 |
|
| ZL5 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | Antarctica | 1 | |
| ZL6 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | NZART | 15 |
|
| ZL7 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | Chatham Islands | 6 |
|
| ZL8 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | Kermadec Islands | 2 |
|
| ZL9 | A–Y to AAAA–YZZZ | Sub-Antarctic Territories | 2 |
|
| ZL | 10–100 | Temporary Commemorative Callsigns |
| |
The ZM prefix can be substituted for ZL for contests and commemorative events, at the discretion of the licensee.
ZL licence holders may apply for up to one secondary single-letter call sign, such as ZL1W. A "stand-down" period of six months applies in regard to the reallocation of temporary call signs to the same licence holder or club. However, the call sign may be reallocated for further 12-month periods without stand-down, provided the licence authority receives at the time of the application (which must be made prior to the expiry of the then current 12-month period) evidence to the licensing authority's satisfaction that a temporary call sign is being used on a regular basis.
The E5 prefix for the Cook Islands produces two-numeral callsigns when the separating numeral is attached. The 'E51' prefix is most often used.
Temporary callsigns may be issued with up to 6-letter suffixes, such as ZL1ABCDEF. Such callsigns may be allocated for up to 12 months, typically for special events and notable anniversaries.
A licence holder with a primary or secondary callsign in the ZL1 to ZL9 series may be allocated, as a temporary callsign for a period not exceeding 3 months, a ZL10 to ZL100 prefix to commemorate their anniversary as an active amateur (or the establishment of the club). For example, the holder of ZL1WZZ celebrating 40 years in amateur radio may be allocated, for a 3-month period, the callsign ZL40WZZ.[6]
All radio stations call signs started with ZL, although this was excluded when broadcast.
The number referred to the geographical area:
| 1 | ||
| 2 | North Island south of Taupō, Nelson and Marlborough | |
| 3 | South Island north of the Waitaki River, excluding Nelson and Marlborough | |
| 4 | South Island south of Waitaki River |
The first letter referred to the type of station:
| X | Private commercial stations | |
| Y | Radio New Zealand non-commercial stations | |
| Z | Radio New Zealand commercial stations (now part of New Zealand Media and Entertainment) |
For private stations, beginning with X, the final letter in the call sign was usually the first letter of the name of the station or the name of the town the station was based in or simply a letter chosen by the station.
For non-commercial stations beginning with the letter Y, the four main centres (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) had YA stations, the second largest centre at the time was typically assigned a YZ station such as 3YZ in Greymouth and 4YZ in Southland, this was for National Radio. For other regions the final letter was typically the first letter the location. The Concert Programme in the four main centres was assigned YC and at this stage only broadcast in the main centres though the Concert Programme was relayed onto other stations during evenings.
The last letter was either the first letter of the location, (e.g. 1ZH in Hamilton and 4ZG in Gore) or was assigned in order with ZB going to the four main centres (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) and ZA going to the second largest region at the time such as 1ZA Taupo, 2ZA Palmerston North, 3ZA Greymouth and 4ZA Invercargill.
This system of allocating call signs was for AM radio stations only; the very few FM radio stations that were operating had 3 letters in the call sign, the first number remained the same. Radio stations that were originally on AM but began broadcasting on FM often kept the AM call sign name or an additional letter was added to the existing call sign name. Some examples are 2ZM in Wellington became 2ZZM (but at this point branded as ZMFM) and 1XX in Whakatane became 1XXX but remained branded as One Double X. Call signs for these stations were often abbreviations of the stations' brand names. The FM call signs assigned to Concert FM usually followed the format of the area number, the first letter of the city or region and then the letters CP (Concert Programme), for example 1ACP in Auckland and 4DCP in Dunedin. National Radio was not broadcasting on FM when stations were allocated call signs so no call signs were ever allocated to National Radio's FM frequencies.
The following is a list of some of the call signs assigned to radio stations prior to 1990 when New Zealand stopped assigning call signs to radio stations.
Radio stations that originally broadcast on an AM frequency.
| Call sign | Station Location | Original AM frequency | Call sign Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1XA | Auckland | 1476AM | Radio Hauraki—holder of the first comm. licence | ||
| 1XB | Auckland | 950AM | Radio Bosom - later became Radio B then subsequently bFM. March 1975. | ||
| 1XC | Coromandel | 1030AM | C = Coromandel | Radio SAM - Short term station run in 1978. Frequency changed soon after to 1170AM. In 1980, 1XC was assigned to Radio Contact in Hamilton - a station at the Waikato University. Now Radio Rhema Tauranga 540AM. | |
| 1XD | Auckland | 1476AM | Radio Trackside | ||
| 1XG | Auckland | 1251AM | Radio Rhema | ||
| 1XH | Hamilton | 1310AM | H = Hamilton | Commenced 1949 - became 1ZH in 1968. In 1988, 1XH was reassigned to Radio Rhema in Hamilton on 855AM. | |
| 1XI | Auckland | 1332AM | I = Radio i | Originally Radio i and later Easy Listening i, known as Easy Mix before the network closed down in 2012 | |
| 1XK | Tauranga | 1440AM | Now Moana Radio | ||
| 1XM | Mount Maunganui | 702AM | |||
| 1XN | Whangarei | 970AM | N = Northland | Started in 1949. In 1981, 1XN was issued to a short term station called Radio Nambassaland which ran for 5 days during the Nambassa Festival at Waitawheta, near Waihi. Now Radio Pacific Rotorua 1548AM. | |
| 1XP | Auckland | 1593AM | P = Radio Pacific | The original Radio Pacific station, now LiveSport. | |
| 1XT | Tauranga | 1368AM | T = Tauranga | Village Radio 1XT | |
| 1XW | Hamilton | 954AM | W = Waikato | Originally issued to R. Waikato as the third private licence in mid-1970. R. Waikato became R. Pacific 954 AM. then LiveSport, later TAB Trackside. SENZ now uses 954 AM. How the call sign ever switched to Rhema's "The Word" on 576 before calls were abolished is mysterious. | |
| 1XX | Whakatane | 1242AM | What began as 1XX/R. Whakatāne now uses the slogan/brand One-Double-X. | ||
| 1YA | Auckland | 756AM | Radio NZ National network, located at 74 Shortland Street New Zealand's first purpose-built public radio facility that was later the site for New Zealand's first official television broadcast in 1960 and is now home to The University of Auckland's Gus Fisher Gallery. As a protected heritage feature, the transmitter mast remains on the roof | ||
| 1YB | Auckland | Commenced in 1923. Became 1ZB in 1933. | |||
| 1YC | Auckland | 882AM | C = Concert | Formerly used for Radio NZ Concert programme | |
| 1YD | Auckland | 1250AM | Commenced Jan 1926. Became 1YQ in June 1926. | ||
| 1YE | Kaikohe | 981AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 1YK | Kaitaia | 837AM | K = Kaitaia | Radio NZ National network | |
| 1YQ | Auckland | Commenced June 1926. Became 1ZQ August 1926. | |||
| 1YT | Taupō | 1314AM | T = Taupo | Radio NZ National network, was 1ZT's frequency, then used as 1YT, this frequency is no longer used, now on 101.5FM | |
| 1YW | Hamilton | 1143AM | W = Waikato | Radio NZ National network | |
| 1YX | Whangarei | 837AM | Radio NZ National network. Originally 1YX in Auckland - July 1933 - then became 1YC September 1948. | ||
| 1YZ | Rotorua | 1188AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 1ZA | Taupō | 1494AM | Originally on 1500 when founded in 1964, Radio Lakeland rebranded as Classic Hits 96.7 in 2001 and The Hits Taupo in 2014. | ||
| 1ZB | Auckland | 1080AM | Originally 1ZB and then Newstalk 1ZB now Newstalk ZB (the first Newstalk ZB station) | ||
| 1ZC | Rotorua | 1350AM | Originally on 1520, Radio Geyserland moved to 1350 in early '65, rebranded as Rotorua's Classic Hits 97.5 in 1993 and The Hits Rotorua in 2014 | ||
| 1ZD | Tauranga | 1008AM | Opened simply as 1ZD/1000, Radio B.O.P. rebranded as Classic Hits 95 BOP FM in 1993 and The Hits Bay of Plenty in 2014. Now Newstalk ZB. | ||
| 1ZE | Kaikohe | 1215AM | Relay of Radio Northland programme which is now The Hits Northland | ||
| 1ZH | Hamilton | 1296AM | H = Hamilton | Originally 1XH/1310 and later ZHFM rebranded as Waikato's Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM in 1993 and The Hits Waikato in 2014 | |
| 1ZJ | Auckland | Commenced November 1930 - close December 1938. | |||
| 1ZK | Kaitaia | 1026AM | K = Kaitaia | Relay of Radio Northland programme which is now The Hits Northland | |
| 1ZM | Auckland (originally Manurewa) | 1251AM | M = Manurewa | Originally 1ZM or 1251ZM. Classic Hits 1251 from 1987 to 1989. Frequency taken over by Radio Rhema in 1989 with Classic Hits 1251 moving to 97.4FM rebranded as Classic Hits 97FM. | |
| 1ZN | Whangarei | 1026AM | Originally Radio Northland, Classic Hits Northland from 1993 and The Hits Northland from 2014 | ||
| 1ZO | Tokoroa | 1413AM | Originally Radio Forestland, Classic Hits Forestland 96.4 from 2001 and The Hits South Waikato from 2014. | ||
| 1ZQ | Auckland | Commenced August 1926 - closed March 1933. | |||
| 1ZR | Auckland | Commenced December 1930 - closed December 1933. | |||
| 1ZS | Auckland | Commenced January 1931 - closed June 1934 | |||
| 1ZT | Turangi | 1386AM | T = Turangi | Relay of Radio Lakeland, rebranded as Classic Hits 96.7 in 2001 and The Hits Taupo in 2014. | |
| 1ZU | Taumarunui | 1512AM | King Country Radio from 1966, rebranded as Classic Hits King Country Radio in 2001. Closed down in 2010. | ||
| 1ZW | Te Kuiti | 1170AM | W = Waitomo | Originally Radio Waitomo - became Classic Hits Radio Waitomo, subsequently renamed back to Radio Waitomo - station closed permanently in 2005. |
Stations that originally broadcast on an FM frequency or existing stations that were assigned a new call sign after beginning broadcasting on FM.
| Call sign | Station Location | Call sign Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1KCC | Northland | Originally KCC FM, now More FM Northland. | |
| 1MJK | Auckland | MJK = Magic | Used for Magic 91FM in Auckland. Station no longer operating and frequency used for 91ZM |
| 1ROQ | Auckland | Used for 89 Stereo FM. Station no longer operating and frequency used for Newstalk ZB | |
| 1STU | Auckland | STUdent radio | Used for 95bFM Auckland |
| 1ACP | Auckland | A = Auckland CP = Concert Programme | Used for Radio New Zealand Concert |
| 1KIW | Waikato | KIW = Kiwi | Used for 89.8 Kiwi FM. Station no longer in operation and frequency used for 89-8ZM |
| 1WCP | Waikato | W = Waikato CP = Concert Programme | Used for Radio New Zealand Concert |
| 1GEY | Rotorua | GEY = Geyserland | Used for Radio Geyserland, became Rotorua's Classic Hits 97.5 in 1993 and The Hits Rotorua in 2014 |
| 1KIS | Taupō | Used for KIS FM Taupo, now More FM Taupo | |
| 1TRR | Taupō | T = Taupo RR = Radio Rhema | Radio Rhema Taupo |
Radio stations that originally broadcast on an AM frequency.
| Call sign | Station Location | Original AM Frequency | Call sign Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2XA | Levin | 1602AM | Originally assigned to 1200 in Whānganui, which became 2ZW. Call sign then allocated for Radio for the Print Disabled, based in Levin | ||
| 2XG | Wellington | 1503AM, now on 972AM. | Call sign allocated for Radio Rhema. | ||
| 2XM | Wellington | 1161AM | M = Maori | Originally for private station 1180/Gisborne till the owner's death in early 60's, when 1180 became 2YW. Call sign allocated to Te Upoko O Te Ika on the former 2ZM frequency | |
| 2XO | Wellington | 1233AM | Call sign allocated when BBC World Service was on air in Wellington in the 1990s, frequency now used by Radio Live | ||
| 2XP | Wellington | 711AM | P = Pacific | Call sign allocated to Radio Pacific's Wellington frequency, now B Sport | |
| 2XQ | Wellington | 1323AM | Call sign that was allocated for Radio Aotearoa when on the air in early 1990s in Wellington | ||
| 2XS | Palmerston North | 828AM | Originally used for 2XS, Call Sign for 2XS became 2XXS after switching to FM. 2XS used for Magic 828 & 98.6FM which is now The Breeze Manawatu | ||
| 2XX | Kapiti | 1377AM | Originally 2XX now More FM Kapiti | ||
| 2XW | Wellington | 1080AM then 891AM | W = Wellington or Radio Windy | Originally Radio Windy now The Breeze Wellington | |
| 2YA | Wellington | 567AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 2YB | Wellington | 783AM | Call sign used for Access Radio Wellington | ||
| 2YC | Wellington | 657AM | C = Concert | Formerly used for Radio NZ Concert programme | |
| 2YM | Palmerston North | 1449AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 2YX | Nelson | 1116AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 2ZA | Palmerston North | 927AM | Originally 2ZA, rebranded Manawatu's Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM in 1993, rebranded as The Hits Manawatu in 2014. | ||
| 2ZB | Wellington | 1035AM | Originally 2ZB, now part of Newstalk ZB | ||
| 2ZC | Napier | 1278AM | Originally Bay City Radio, rebranded as Hawke's Bay's Classic Hits 89.5 in 1994, rebranded as The Hits Hawke's Bay in 2014 | ||
| 2ZD | Masterton | 846AM | Originally Radio Wairarapa became Classic Hits Wairarapa 90.1 in 2001 and The Hits Wairarapa in 2014. | ||
| 2ZE | Blenheim | 1539AM | Call sign was originally used for the Blenheim frequency of Radio Marlborough, which became Classic Hits Marlborough 96.9 in 2001 and The Hits Marlborough in 2014. Today a station in Eketahuna called 2ZE operates. The E = Eketahuna, this station is a private station was never part of Radio New Zealand's Commercial group of stations. | ||
| 2ZF | Picton | 1584AM | Call sign for Picton frequency of Radio Marlborough, known as Classic Hits Marlborough 96.9 since 2001 and The Hits Marlborough since 2014. | ||
| 2ZG | Gisborne | 945AM | G = Gisborne | Originally 2XG/1160, 2ZG The Coaster, became Gisborne's Classic Hits 90.9 ZGFM in 1993, rebranded as The Hits Gisborne in 2014. | |
| 2ZH | Hāwera | 1557AM | H = Hawera | Originally as a relay station for Radio Taranaki, Radio Taranaki began broadcasting on 90.0FM in 1991 and became Taranaki's Classic Hits 90FM in 1993 and The Hits Taranaki from 2014. The 1557AM frequency was used for Newstalk ZB from 1993 to 2005 and is now used for Coast. | |
| 2ZK | Hawkes Bay | 765AM | Started as 77ZK or Radio Apple, frequency later used for local station 96FM and now used for ZM | ||
| 2ZM | Wellington | 1161AM | M = Music | Now part of ZM | |
| 2ZN | Nelson | 1341AM | N = Nelson | Originally 2XN/1360. Used for Radio Nelson which became Nelson's Classic Hits 90FM in 1993 and The Hits Nelson in 2014. | |
| 2ZP | New Plymouth | 1053AM | P = New Plymouth | Opened as 2XP/1370 in the late 40's .Became 1ZP Radio Taranaki. Radio Taranaki began broadcasting on 90.0FM in 1991 and became Taranaki's Classic Hits 90FM in 1993 and The Hits Taranaki from 2014. Frequency has been used for Newstalk ZB since 1993. | |
| 2ZW | Wanganui | 1197AM | W = Wanganui | Opened as 2XA/1200 in the late 40's Originally used for 2ZW which later became River City Radio. Station became Classic Hits River City FM in 2001 and The Hits Whānganui from 2014. |
Stations that originally broadcast on an FM frequency or existing stations that were assigned a new call sign after beginning broadcasting on FM.
| Call sign | Station Location | Call sign Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2NRG | New Plymouth | NRG = Energy | Assigned to Energy FM when station began broadcasting. Station branded as More FM Taranaki. | |
| 2ZZP | New Plymouth | P = New Plymouth | Assigned to Radio Taranaki when station began broadcasting on FM, 2ZP used for AM frequency. Station branded as Taranaki's Classic Hits 90FM from 1993 and The Hits Taranaki since 2014. | |
| 2HCP | Hawkes Bay | H = Hawkes Bay CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert | |
| 2BAY | Hawkes Bay | BAY = Radio Hawkes Bay | Originally used for Radio Hawkes Bay which became HOT 93FM and later More FM Hawke's Bay | |
| 2ZZK | Hawkes Bay | Originally used for 77ZK Radio Apple as 2ZK, FM call sign was 2ZZK and station was later branded as Greatest Hits FM96 and later Classic Rock 96FM. Station was replaced with Radio Hauraki and later ZM. | ||
| 2SON | Hawkes Bay | SON = Son FM | Used for Son FM | |
| 2MCP | Manawatu | M = Manawatu CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert | |
| 2MMM | Manawatu | Radio Control | ||
| 2MZM | Manawatu | M = Manawatu ZM | Original call sign for ZMFM when relay from Wellington was established. Later replaced with 2QQ FM in 1989 and then reverted to 91ZM in 1997. | |
| 2XXS | Manawatu | Used for 2XS FM in Palmerston North after switching to FM now More FM Manawatu | ||
| 2ZZM | Wellington | M = Music | Call sign used for ZMFM Wellington after switching to FM | |
| 2WCP | Wellington | W = Wellington CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert | |
| 2VUW | Wellington | VU = Victoria University W = Wellington | ||
| 2FFF | Nelson | Used for Fifeshire FM, now More FM Nelson | ||
| 2NCP | Nelson | N = Nelson CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert | |
| 2STA | Blenheim | Used for X-Static FM, 89FM Easy FM, now The Breeze Marlborough |
Radio stations that originally broadcast on an AM frequency.
| Call sign | Location | Original AM Frequency | Call sign Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3XA | Christchurch | 1260AM | A = Avon | Radio Avon, this station merged with C93FM which was closed down in 2001. FM frequency was replaced with network station Solid Gold. Solid Gold was rebranded as The Sound in 2012. |
| 3XG | Christchurch | 1575AM | Radio Rhema Christchurch | |
| 3XP | Christchurch | 1413AM | Still operating today as Radio Ferrymead | |
| 3YA | Christchurch | 675AM | Radio NZ National network | |
| 3YC | Christchurch | 963AM | C = Concert | Formerly used for Radio NZ Concert programme |
| 3YW | Westport | 1458AM | W = Westport | Radio NZ National network, still broadcasting on 1458AM |
| 3YZ | Greymouth | 918AM | Radio NZ National network, FM only now | |
| 3ZA | Greymouth | 747AM | Used to broadcast Radio Scenicland which became Scenicland FM in November 1992, then West Coast's Classic Hits Scenicland FM in 2001 and The Hits West Coast in 2014. | |
| 3ZB | Christchurch | 1098AM | Now part of Newstalk ZB | |
| 3ZC | Timaru | 1152AM | Originally Radio Caroline, became Classic Hits 99FM in 1995, South Canterbury's 99FM in 1997 (after leaving the Classic Hits network) and Classic Hits 99FM in 2001 (after rejoining the Classic Hits network) and The Hits South Canterbury from 2014. | |
| 3ZE | Ashburton | 873AM | Originally 3ZE, became Ashburton's Classic Hits 92.5 ZEFM in 2001 and The Hits Ashburton since 2014. | |
| 3ZM | Christchurch | 1323AM | M = Music | Now part of ZM |
| 3ZO | Twizel | 1485AM | Twizel call sign for relay of Radio Caroline programme, discontinued in the 1990s. | |
| 3ZR | Reefton | 1521AM | R = Reefton | Used to broadcast Radio Scenicland which became Scenicland FM in November 1992, then West Coast's Classic Hits Scenicland FM in 2001 and The Hits West Coast in 2014 |
Stations that originally broadcast on an FM frequency or existing stations that were assigned a new call sign after beginning broadcasting on FM.
| Call sign | Station Location | Call sign Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3CCP | Christchurch | C = Christchurch CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert | |
| 3CCT | Christchurch | Plains FM | ||
| 3FMX | Christchurch | Used for C93FM Christchurch, station no longer in operation and frequency used for Solid Gold | ||
| 3RDU | Christchurch | Used for RDU-FM | ||
| 3ZZM | Christchurch | M = Music | Call sign used for ZMFM Christchurch after switching to FM | |
Radio stations that originally broadcast on an AM frequency.
| Call sign | Location | Original AM frequency | Call sign Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4XA | Central Otago | 531AM | A = Alexandra | Originally Radio Central now More FM Central Otago | |
| 4XC | Queenstown | 1359AM | |||
| 4XD | Dunedin | 1431 and 1305 AM | D = Dunedin | The very first radio station in New Zealand Radio Dunedin | |
| 4XE | Wanaka | Radio Wanaka | |||
| 4XF | Southland | 1224AM | F = Foveaux Radio | Originally Foveaux Radio and later Foveaux FM now More FM Southland. The 1224AM frequency has been used to broadcast LiveSport since 2007. | |
| 4XI | Southland | 1548AM | I = Invercargill | Original frequency for Radio Rhema Southland used for tests in 1987 | |
| 4XL | Southland | 1404AM | Radio Rhema Southland | ||
| 4XO | Dunedin | 1206AM | Originally known as 4XO now More FM Dunedin | ||
| 4YA | Dunedin | 810AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 4YC | Dunedin | 900AM | C = Concert | Formerly used for Radio NZ Concert programme | |
| 4YQ | Queenstown | 1134AM | Q = Queenstown | Radio NZ National network and was once used as a relay of the 4ZB programme. | |
| 4YW | Alexandra | 639AM | Radio NZ National network and was once used as a relay of the 4ZB programme. | ||
| 4YZ | Southland | 720AM | Radio NZ National network | ||
| 4ZA | Invercargill | 864AM | Used to broadcast 4ZA, began broadcasting on 98.8FM in 1991. 4ZA became known as Classic Hits ZAM since 1993 and The Hits Southland since 2014. The 864AM frequency has been used to broadcast Newstalk ZB since 1994. | ||
| 4ZB | Dunedin | 1044AM | Originally 4ZB. Became ZBFM when the station began broadcasting on 89.4FM, rebranded as Classic Hits 89FM in 1993 and The Hits Dunedin in 2014. The 1044AM frequency has been used to broadcast Newstalk ZB since 1994. | ||
| 4ZG | Gore | 558AM | G = Gore | Originally Hokonui Radio or 4ZG now known as Hokonui Gold | |
| 4ZW | Oamaru | 1395AM | W = Waitaki | Originally Radio Waitaki. Began broadcasting on 89.4FM in 2001 coinciding with the rebrand as Classic Hits Radio Waitaki. Became The Hits Oamaru in 2014. The 1395AM frequency has been used to broadcast Newstalk ZB since 2001. |
Stations that originally broadcast on an FM frequency or existing stations that were assigned a new call sign after beginning broadcasting on FM.
| Call sign | Station Location | Call sign Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4SKI | Queenstown | Used by Q92 FM Queenstown, now The Breeze Queenstown | |
| 4DCP | Dunedin | D = Dunedin CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert |
| 4SAO | Dunedin | Radio One | |
| 4ZZB | Dunedin | Call sign used for 4ZB FM frequency, station branded as ZBFM after switching to FM, followed by Classic Hits 89FM in 1993 and The Hits Dunedin in 2014. | |
| 4SCP | Southland | S = Southland CP = Concert Programme | Radio New Zealand Concert |
| 4KYG | Invercargill | KYG = Knox Youth Group | Crossfire FM - a short term broadcast during 1990 by a city youth group. |
Coastal radio stations operated by the New Zealand Post Office to serve shipping traffic were allocated callsigns consisting of the ZL prefix and a single letter. The only remaining coastal station as of 2018 is Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM, operated by Kordia on behalf of Maritime New Zealand.
| Call Sign | Station | Period of Operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZLA | Awanui Radio | 18 December 1913 – 10 February 1930[7] | NZA until 5 July 1912, then VLA until 31 December 1928 |
| ZLB | Awarua Radio | 18 December 1913 – 30 August 1991[8] | VLB until 31 December 1928 |
| ZLC | Chatham Islands Radio | 18 September 1913 – 30 August 1991[9] | VLC until 31 December 1928 |
| ZLD | Auckland Radio | 24 October 1912 – 30 September 1993[10] | NZK until 5 July 1912, then VLD until 31 December 1928 |
| ZLM | Taupo Maritime Radio | Unknown, but still in operation | Operated remotely from Maritime Operations Centre, Avalon, Lower Hutt[11] |
| ZLQ | Scott Base | January 1957 – March 1992 | NZPO (Later Telecom New Zealand) provided HF voice & telex links to New Zealand until commissioning of Satellite Earth Station in 1992 - ZLQ still used for local, deep field & back up intercontinental HF SSB communications [12] |
| ZLW | Wellington Radio | 26 July 1911 – 30 September 1993[13] | NZW until 5 July 1912, then VLW until 31 December 1928 |
| ZLX, ZLZ | Himatangi Radio | 9 November 1953 – 30 September 1993[14] | |