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]
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 | Licensed power (kW) | Format[5] | Airdate [6] | Previous stations on frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.9 FM | The Edge | Sugarloaf | 32 | Contemporary hit radio | 2017 | Broadcast on 89.0FM prior to 2008 1999 - 2009 The Edge; 2010: George FM; 2011 - 2017: Mai FM | |
| 89.3 FM | Radio Hauraki | Sumner | 0.016 | Alternative rock & Classic rock | 2009 | ||
| 89.7 FM | RNZ Concert | Sugarloaf | 80 | Classical music | 1984 | ||
| 90.1 FM | Southshore | 0.8 | Classic hits | 2015 | |||
| 90.5 FM | Tahu FM | Sugarloaf | 16 | Urban contemporary & Iwi radio | 1991 | formerly Te Reo Iriraki O Otautahi, 90.5 Tahu FM, Mai FM | |
| 90.9 FM | ZM | Sumner | 0.016 | Contemporary hit radio | 2009 | ZM was previously on 89.2FM in Sumner | |
| 91.3 FM | ZM | Sugarloaf | 80 | Contemporary hit radio | 1986 | formerly ZMFM, 91ZM | |
| 91.7 FM | Sumner (Tuawera Tce) | 0.08 | Classic rock | 1 July 2020 | 2015 - 30 June 2020: Mix | ||
| 92.1 FM | More FM | Sugarloaf | 80 | Adult contemporary music | 1992 | ||
| 92.9 FM | The Sound | Sugarloaf | 50 | Classic rock | 2001 | formerly Solid Gold; 1986-2001: C93FM (formerly 93 Gold, Classic Hits 93FM) | |
| 93.3 FM | Sumner (Tuawera Tce) | 0.08 | Urban contemporary | Jan 2023 | 2015 - 2020: Flava; 20 Jan 2020 - 12 Oct 2020: Pulzar FM; Oct 2020 - Jan 2023: Anthemz[7] | ||
| 93.7 FM | The Rock | Sugarloaf | 80 | Active rock | 1999 | 1992 - 1999: Radio Pacific | |
| 94.1 FM | Sumner (Tuawera Tce) | 0.08 | Sept 2023 | ||||
| 94.5 FM | The Breeze | Sugarloaf | 32 | Adult contemporary music | 1998 | formerly Lite FM; 1994 - 1998: Easy Listening i94.5 | |
| 94.9 FM | More FM | Southshore | 0.8 | Adult contemporary music | 1992 | Broadcast on 95.3FM prior to 2009 | |
| 95.3 FM | Sugarloaf | 32 | Dance music | 1 May 2023 | 2009 - 2017: The Edge; 2017 - 20/03/2022: Mai FM on 106.8 FM; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM | ||
| 96.1 FM | Bassline 96.1[8] | Sugarloaf | 16 | R&B and Funk | 13 May 2024 | Previous NZ Broadcasting School programmes: Waves 96.1, Rewind 96.1,[9] 3/05-24/11/2021 Fever FM,[10] Tracks 96.1, The 96.1, OKBoomer, The Garage, Rift, Basement, Embr, Summit, Chalk, Jacked, The Attic, Mode, Alpha, Splat, Blush | |
| 96.5 FM | The Hits | Southshore | 0.32 | Adult contemporary music | 2006 | formerly Classic Hits 97.7 | |
| 96.9 FM | Plains FM | Sugarloaf | 5 | Access Radio | 1988 | ||
| 97.7 FM | The Hits | Sugarloaf | 80 | Adult contemporary music | 1991 | formerly B98 FM, Classic Hits | |
| 98.5 FM | RDU 98.5 | synchronous transmission Marleys Hill, Ilam (backup transmitter), Sumner Head | 1.6 0.16 0.01 | Campus radio Alternative culture | 1986 | Broadcast on 90.5FM from 1986-1988 and 98.3FM from 1988-2002 previously Radio U, UFM | |
| 99.3 FM | Sugarloaf | 32 | Oldies | 30 Dec 2019 | 1991-1992 99 More FM (moved to 92.1 FM); 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 | 0.32 | Classical music | 1984 | Broadcast on 99.9FM prior to 2010 | |
| 100.1 FM | Newstalk ZB | Sugarloaf | 5 | Talk radio | 2011 | ||
| 100.5 FM | Lyttelton | 0.1 | Adult contemporary music | 2021 | Magic Talk, Magic Music | ||
| 100.5 FM | Brian FM[11] | Sumner (Tuawera Tce) | 0.08 | Sep 2021 | |||
| 100.9 FM | Anthemz | Huntsbury Hill | 5 | Classic alternative | 16 May 2023 | 2008-2020: Voice of South Pole;[12] 28/09/2020 - 13/05/2023: Pulzar FM | |
| 101.7 FM | RNZ National | Sugarloaf | 16 | Public radio | 2004 | ||
| 103.7 FM | Compass FM | Cheviot (Beltana) | 0.8 | Classic hits | |||
| 103.7 FM | Compass FM | Hanmer (Wallace Peak) | 0.32 | Classic hits | |||
| 104.1 FM | PMN 531 | Sugarloaf | 16 | Pacific radio | Jan 2019 | 2010-2019: Niu FM | |
| 104.5 FM | Lyttelton | 0.1 | Adult contemporary music | 2021 | |||
| 104.9 FM | Compass FM 104.9 | Rangiora (Mt Grey) | 2 | Community radio | 2011 | ||
| 105.7 FM | Coast | Huntsbury Hill | 5 | Classic hits | 3 Aug 2020 | 2009[13] 2009-2020: Pulzar FM; 20/01 - 02/08/2020: C105.7 | |
| 106.1 FM | Brian FM | Hanmer (Wallace Peak) | 1.58 | 18/05/2022 | |||
| 106.5 FM | Radio Hauraki | Sugarloaf | 16 | Alternative rock & Classic rock | 2008 | ||
| 540 AM | Rhema | Philpotts Rd | 3.2 | Christian music | 2015 | 2011 - 2015: The Word | |
| 612 AM | Star | Philpotts Rd | 10 | Christian music | Rhema | ||
| 675 AM | RNZ National | Gebbies Pass | 63 | 3YA (3YA was also broadcast on 980, 720[14] and 690 kHz prior to Nov 1978) | |||
| 738 AM | Marshland | 16 | 31/03/2023 | 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); 30/12/2019 - 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM | |||
| 963 AM | Gebbies Pass | 32 | Christian music | 1990s | |||
| 1017 AM | Newstalk ZB | Philpotts Rd | 6.3 | 2011 | 2000 - 2002: Canterbury On Air, Now AM; 2003 - 2010: Radio Hauraki | ||
| 1098 AM | Newstalk ZB | Bottle Lake, New Zealand | Bottle Lake | 16 | Talk radio | 1994 | Until 1994: 3ZB |
| 1260 AM | Marshland | 6.3 | 19/07/2021 | 1973 - 1990: Radio Avon; 1990 - 1999: C93FM; 1999 - 2001: Solid Gold; 2001 - 2004: Lite FM; 2004 - 2005 The Breeze; 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 | 0.32 | Oldies | 1980s | ||
| 1503 AM | Bottle Lake, New Zealand | Bottle Lake | 16 | 1 July 2020 | 1980s - mid 1990s: New Zealand's Rhema; 1994 - March 2020: Radio Sport formerly Sports Roundup; 30 March - 30 June 2020: Newstalk ZB | ||
| 1593 AM | Coast | Philpotts Rd | 16 | Classic hits | 2004 | Late 1990s: 88 Country, 2001 - 2003: The Wolf; 2003 - 2004: Easy Listening i |
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 | Contemporary Christian music | 2011 | ||||
| 87.8 FM | Power Hit FM [15] | Christchurch | 2005 | |||||
| 87.9 FM | The Basement [16] | Classic hits | 2023 | Radio La Famia, Ashgrove FM | ||||
| 88.0 FM | Anthemz | Christchurch | Urban contemporary | 12 Oct 2020 | Country FM, 2011: Shakey FM, Rollywood FM, 2013-2020: Flava 20 Jan 2020 - 12 Oct 2020: Pulzar FM | |||
| 88.1 FM | Harmony FM | Riccarton | Christian radio | 2010 | ||||
| 88.3 FM | The Fridge | Christchurch | Student radio | 2018 | Rollywood FM,[17] The Wave[18] | |||
| 88.3 FM | Racing Commentary | Christchurch | Euromarque Motorsport Park | 2009 | ||||
| 106.8 FM | 21/03/2022 | |||||||
| 106.9 FM | Gospel Radio | Kaiapoi | Community radio | |||||
| 106.9 FM | Life FM | Rangiora | Contemporary Christian music | |||||
| 107.0 FM | Seaside Sounds[19] | New Brighton, New Zealand | Community | 2020 | New Brighton Wassup | |||
| 107.0 FM | Thunder FM[20] | Rolleston/Lincoln | Contemporary hit radio | |||||
| 107.3 FM | XS80's [21] | Huntsbury Hill | 1980s | 2015 | ||||
| 107.3 FM | Gospel Radio | Kaiapoi | Community Radio | 1998 | ||||
| 107.4 FM | 1074BFM [22] | Waitikiri Burwood North East | 70s, 80s, 90s | 2018 | ||||
| 107.5 FM | Radio Addington[23] | Addington | 2010 | |||||
| 107.5 FM | Radio Redwood[24] | Redwood | ||||||
| 107.5 FM | Practice FM | CBD, NZ Broadcasting School | Various | |||||
| 107.5 FM | Southbrook FM[25] | Southbrook School | Student radio | |||||
| 107.7 FM | Just FM[26] | Kaiapoi | 1998 | |||||
| 107.7 FM | ChizzySoundz[27] | Chisnallwood Intermediate School | 2010 | |||||
| 107.7 FM | Rotten Radio[28] | Lyttelton | 2013: Flava | |||||
| 107.7 FM | Anthemz | Christchurch | Urban contemporary | 12 Oct 2020 | 20 Jan 2020 - 12 Oct 2020: Pulzar FM | |||
| Streaming | DawnFM[29] | Haeata Community Campus | 2019 | internet only station |
The following stations broadcast in Akaroa or the Banks Peninsula area.
| Frequency | Station | Format | Location (transmitter) | Licensed power (kW) | Airdate | Previous stations on frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90.3 FM | Akaroa Radio | Akaroa | ||||
| 91.1 FM | Akaroa Radio | Hilltop | ||||
| 95.1 FM | RNZ Concert | Classical music | Mt Pearce | 1.25 | ||
| 95.9 FM | XS80s | 1980s | Long Bay Road | |||
| 99.1 FM | More FM | Adult hits | Mt Pearce | 0.8 | ||
| 107.3 FM | LPFM | Akaroa | Bay Radio[30] | |||
The following stations broadcast in the Ashburton or Mid Canterbury area.
| data-sort-type="number" | Frequency | Station | Format | Location | Licensed power (kW) | data-sort-type="number" | Airdate | Previous stations on frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89.3 FM | Ashburton (Somerset House) | 0.16 | 2001 | formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE | ||||
| 91.7 FM | 0.16 | |||||||
| 92.5 FM | Ashburton (Winchmore) | 8 | 2014 | 2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE) | ||||
| 93.3 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 2002 | |||||
| 94.1 FM | Mt Hutt Radio | 0.16 | ||||||
| 94.9 FM | Ashburton (Surrey Hills) | 8 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM, Fox FM | ||||
| 95.7 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 2002 | formerly Solid Gold | ||||
| 96.5 FM | Ashburton (Somerset House) | 0.16 | 2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE) | |||||
| 97.3 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 2002 | |||||
| 98.1 FM | Ashburton (Somerset House) | 0.16 | ||||||
| 98.9 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM, Fox FM | ||||
| 99.7 FM | Brian FM | Adult hits | Ashburton (Gawler Downs) | 8 | ||||
| 101.3 FM | Ashburton (Gawler Downs) | 8 | 2004 | |||||
| 103.7 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 2017 | |||||
| 105.3 FM | Brian FM | 0.32 | March 2020 | Can be heard in Christchurch and North Canterbury. | ||||
| 106.1 FM | Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton) | 0.16 | 2018 | 2017 - March 2018 XS80s | ||||
| 702 AM | Ashburton (Winchmore) | 01/07/2020 | Until March 2020: Radio Sport; 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB | |||||
| 873 AM | Ashburton (Winchmore) | 2001 | Until 2001: 3ZE | |||||
| 1071 AM | Ashburton (Winchmore) | 19/07/2021 | TAB Trackside | |||||
The following stations broadcast from the South Canterbury area including the Mackenzie District, Waimate District and Timaru
| data-sort-type="number" | Frequency | Station | Format | Location (transmitter) | scope "col" | Licensed power (kW) | data-sort-type="number" | Airdate | Previous stations on frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87.7 FM | Waimate Community Radio[31] | Music from 50's to now | |||||||
| 88.0 FM | Hospital FM[32] | ||||||||
| 88.4 FM | no longer licensed LPFM | Hospital FM | |||||||
| 88.6 FM | |||||||||
| 89.1 FM | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 5 | 2000 | ||||||
| 89.4 FM | 1 | 28/04/2018 | 2017 - 2018: Port FM | ||||||
| 89.9 FM | Adult contemporary music | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 2018 | 1992 - March 2018: Radio Live | ||||
| 90.2 FM | Hospital FM | 0.1 | |||||||
| 90.7 FM | Timaru (Tower Corp Building) | 0.1 | |||||||
| 90.9 FM | Omarama (Cloud Hill) | 0.05 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM | |||||
| 91.0 FM | Twizel (Mt Mary) | 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM | |||||||
| 91.5 FM | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 2001 | ||||||
| 91.8 FM | Twizel (ECNZ) | 1 | |||||||
| 92.3 FM | Timaru (Tower Corp Building) | 0.1 | The Edge, The Groove, The Heat FM | ||||||
| 92.6 FM | Twizel (Mt Mary) | 0.08 | until June 2024: RNZ National | ||||||
| 93.1 FM | Timaru (Tower Corp Building)Waimate (Mt Ellen) | 0.1 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM | |||||
| 93.4 FM | Tekapo (Mt John) | 0.1 | |||||||
| 93.9 FM | Brian FM | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 1 | April 2018 | |||||
| 94.2 FM | Twizel (Mt Mary) | 0.5 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM | |||||
| 94.7 FM | Timaru (Rhodestown) | ||||||||
| 95.0 FM | Fairlie (Mt Michael) | 1.6 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM | |||||
| 95.5 FM | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 2001 | ||||||
| 95.8 FM | Radio Twizel | 0.08 | |||||||
| 96.3 FM | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 5 | 2004 | ||||||
| 97.1 FM | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 2001 | formerly Solid Gold | |||||
| 97.3 FM | Omarama (Cloud Hill) | 0.008 | |||||||
| 97.4 FM | Brian FM | 1.0 | |||||||
| 97.9 FM | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 28/04/2018 | Port FM | |||||
| 98.7 FM | Timaru (Mt Studholme) | 3.2 | 1995 | formerly Classic Hits, 99FM, Radio Caroline Broadcasting on 99.0FM prior to 2010 | |||||
| 98.9 FM | The Breeze | Adult contemporary music | Omarama (Cloud Hill) | 0.05 | 28/04/2018 | The Edge | |||
| 99.5 FM | Timaru (Mt Studholme) | 5 | |||||||
| 99.8 FM | The Breeze | Adult contemporary music (1980s-2010s) | Twizel (Mt Mary) | 1 | |||||
| 100.3 FM | 100.3FM South Canterbury | 80's 90's 2000's Anthems | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 2.5 | 2018 | Kiwi access 100.3 | |||
| Licence Cancelled/Expired previously | |||||||||
| 101.1 FM | Timaru (Mt Studholme) | 3.2 | |||||||
| 103.5 FM | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 2017 | ||||||
| 104.3 FM | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 5 | |||||||
| 104.5 FM | Brian FM | 0.1 | 2018 | 2014-2018: High Country FM | |||||
| 104.6 FM | Fairlie (Mt Michael) | 1.6 | |||||||
| 105.1 FM | Timaru (Cave Hill) | 5 | |||||||
| 105.4 FM | Brian FM | Twizel (Mt Mary) | 0.5 | 22/12/2020 | Previously 99.0 FM March 2020 to 22/12/2020 The Hits (formerly Classic Hits, 99FM, Radio Caroline) | ||||
| 105.9 FM | Channel X | Classic alternative | Timaru (Mt Horrible) | 8 | 08/05/2023 | 2017 - March 2018: XS80s; 20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM | |||
| 106.2 FM | 100.3 South Canterbury | 80's 90's 2000's | 0.04 | ||||||
| 106.7 FM | Just Country FM | ||||||||
| 107.0 FM | 100.3 FM South Canterbury | XS80s | |||||||
| 107.5 FM | Hospital FM | ||||||||
| 107.7 FM | 100.3 FM South Canterbury also on 107.0 | ||||||||
| 594 AM | Timaru (St Andrews) | ||||||||
| 918 AM | Timaru (Fairview) | ||||||||
| 981 AM | Timaru (St Andrews) | 2015 - Southern Star 2018: Coast | |||||||
| 1152 AM | Timaru (Fairview) | 2001 | 1949 - 2001: Radio Caroline, Classic Hits 99FM | ||||||
| 1242 AM | Timaru (Fairview) | 19/07/2021 | 2005 - 2020: TAB Trackside formerly LiveSport, BSport, Radio Pacific | ||||||
| Licence Cancelled/Expired previously | Newstalk ZB, 1949 - 2001: Radio Caroline, Classic Hits 99FM | ||||||||
| 1494 AM | Timaru (St Andrews) | 01/07/2020 | Until March 2020: Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB | ||||||