List of radio stations in Canterbury

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]

Christchurch and North Canterbury stations

FM and AM

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 [3]	Licensed power (kW)[3]	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	Coast	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	Gold	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	Flava	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	Life FM	Sumner (Tuawera Tce)	0.08	Contemporary Christian music	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	George 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	Magic	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	The Breeze	Lyttelton	0.1	Adult contemporary music	2021	Magic Talk, Magic Music
100.5 FM	Brian FM[11]	Sumner (Tuawera Tce)	0.08	Adult hits	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	More 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	Adult hits	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	Public radio		3YA (3YA was also broadcast on 980, 720[14] and 690 kHz prior to Nov 1978)
738 AM	The Breeze	Marshland	16	Easy listening	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	AM Network & Star	Gebbies Pass	32	Christian music	1990s
1017 AM	Newstalk ZB	Philpotts Rd	6.3	Talk radio	2011	2000 - 2002: Canterbury On Air, Now AM; 2003 - 2010: Radio Hauraki
1098 AM	Newstalk ZB	Bottle Lake	16	Talk radio	1994	Until 1994: 3ZB
1260 AM	Sport Nation	Marshland	6.3	Sports radio	19/11/2024	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 2021 - 2024: SENZ
1413 AM	Radio Ferrymead	Ferrymead Park	0.32	Oldies	1980s
1503 AM	Gold Sport	Bottle Lake	16	Classic hits & Sports radio	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

Low Power FM

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	Hit Music, Pop Music, Dance Music	2005
87.8 FM	Radio Tarana	Christchurch	Contemporary Indian radio
87.9 FM	The Basement[16]	Rangiora	Classic hits	2023	Radio La Famia, Ashgrove FM
88.0 FM	Bible reading & Christian music	Christchurch	Christian contemporary	2024	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	Mai FM	Sugarloaf	Urban contemporary	21/03/2022
106.9 FM	Gospel Radio	Kaiapoi	Community radio	Was 107.3 FM.
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 - 2022 OFF air, Now 106.9 FM.
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 till 2022 then off air.
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

Banks Peninsula Stations

The following stations broadcast in Akaroa or the Banks Peninsula area.

Frequency [3]	Station	Format[5]	Location (transmitter)[3]	Licensed power (kW)[3]	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]

Mid Canterbury Stations

The following stations broadcast in the Ashburton or Mid Canterbury area.

Frequency [3]	Station[4]	Format[5]	Location [3]	Licensed power (kW)[3]	Airdate [6]	Previous stations on frequency
89.3 FM	The Hits	Adult contemporary music	Ashburton (Somerset House)	0.16	2001	formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE
91.7 FM	Life FM	Contemporary Christian music	Ashburton	0.16
92.5 FM	Hokonui	Adult contemporary music	Ashburton (Winchmore)	8	2014	2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE)
93.3 FM	The Edge	Contemporary hit radio	Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton)	0.16	2002
94.1 FM	Mt Hutt Radio		Mt Hutt Ski Field	0.16
94.9 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Ashburton (Surrey Hills)	8	28/04/2018	Port FM, Fox FM
95.7 FM	The Sound	Classic rock	Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton)	0.16	2002	formerly Solid Gold
96.5 FM	Hokonui	Adult contemporary music	Ashburton (Somerset House)	0.16		2001 - 2014: The Hits (formerly known as Classic Hits, 3ZE)
97.3 FM	The Rock	Active rock	Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton)	0.16	2002
98.1 FM	Newstalk ZB	Talk radio	Ashburton (Somerset House)	0.16
98.9 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	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	RNZ National	Public radio	Ashburton (Gawler Downs)	8	2004
103.7 FM	Magic	Oldies	Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton)	0.16	2017
105.3 FM	Brian FM	Adult hits	Mt Hutt	0.32	March 2020	Can be heard in Christchurch and North Canterbury.
106.1 FM	The Breeze	Adult contemporary music	Ashburton (Electricity Ashburton)	0.16	2018	2017 - March 2018 XS80s
702 AM	Gold Sport	Classic hits & Sports radio	Ashburton (Winchmore)		01/07/2020	Until March 2020: Radio Sport; 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB
873 AM	Newstalk ZB	Talk radio	Ashburton (Winchmore)		2001	Until 2001: 3ZE
1071 AM	Sport Nation	Sports radio	Ashburton (Winchmore)		19/07/2024	Until 2020: TAB Trackside; 2021 - 2024: SENZ

South Canterbury Stations

The following stations broadcast from the South Canterbury area including the Mackenzie District, Waimate District and Timaru

Frequency [3]	Station[4]	Format[5]	Location (transmitter)[3]	Licensed power (kW)[3]	Airdate [6]	Previous stations on frequency
87.7 FM	Waimate Community Radio[31]	Music from 50's to now	Waimate
88.0 FM	Hospital FM[32]	LPFM	Timaru
88.4 FM	no longer licensed LPFM		Timaru			Hospital FM
88.6 FM	Magic	Oldies	Fairlie
89.1 FM	Tahu FM	Urban contemporary & Iwi radio	Timaru (Cave Hill)	5	2000
89.4 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Twizel	1	28/04/2018	2017 - 2018: Port FM
89.9 FM	The Breeze	Adult contemporary music	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	2018	1992 - March 2018: Radio Live
90.2 FM	Hospital FM		Fairlie	0.1
90.7 FM	The Sound	Classic rock	Timaru (Tower Corp Building)	0.1
90.9 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Omarama (Cloud Hill)	0.05	28/04/2018	Port FM
91.0 FM	The Rock	Active rock	Twizel (Mt Mary)			20/03/2022: Magic Talk; 21/03/2022 - 30/03/2023: Today FM
91.5 FM	The Rock	Active rock	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	2001
91.8 FM	Radio Rhema	Christian radio	Twizel (ECNZ)	1
92.3 FM	The Breeze	Adult contemporary music	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	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Timaru (Tower Corp Building) Waimate (Mt Ellen)	0.1	28/04/2018	Port FM
93.4 FM	RNZ National	Public radio	Tekapo (Mt John)	0.1
93.9 FM	Brian FM	Adult hits	Timaru (Cave Hill)	1	April 2018
94.2 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Twizel (Mt Mary)	0.5	28/04/2018	Port FM
94.7 FM	The Hits	Adult contemporary music	Timaru (Rhodestown)
95.0 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Fairlie (Mt Michael)	1.6	28/04/2018	Port FM
95.5 FM	The Edge	Contemporary hit radio	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	2001
95.8 FM	Radio Twizel	Community radio	Twizel	0.08
96.3 FM	ZM	Contemporary hit radio	Timaru (Cave Hill)	5	2004
97.1 FM	The Sound	Classic rock	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	2001	formerly Solid Gold
97.3 FM	RNZ National	Public radio	Omarama (Cloud Hill)	0.008
97.4 FM	Brian FM	Adult hits	Fairlie	1.0
97.9 FM	More FM	Adult contemporary music	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	28/04/2018	Port FM
98.7 FM	The Hits	Adult contemporary music	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	RNZ Concert	Classical music	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
101.1 FM	RNZ National	Public radio	Timaru (Mt Studholme)	3.2
103.5 FM	Magic	Oldies	Timaru (Mt Horrible)	8	2017
104.3 FM	Radio Rhema	Christian radio	Timaru (Cave Hill)	5
104.5 FM	Brian FM	Adult hits	Omarama	0.1	2018	2014-2018: High Country FM
104.6 FM	The Sound	Classic rock	Fairlie (Mt Michael)	1.6
105.1 FM	Life FM	Contemporary Christian music	Timaru (Cave Hill)	5
105.4 FM	Brian FM	Adult hits	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	Fairlie	0.04
106.7 FM	Just Country FM	LPFM	Timaru
107.0 FM	100.3 FM South Canterbury		Timaru			XS80s
107.5 FM	Hospital FM	LPFM	Timaru
594 AM	Southern Star	Christian radio	Timaru (St Andrews)
918 AM	RNZ National	Public radio	Timaru (Fairview)
981 AM			Timaru (St Andrews)			2015 - Southern Star 2018: Coast
1152 AM	Newstalk ZB	Talk radio	Timaru (Fairview)		2001	1949 - 2001: Radio Caroline, Classic Hits 99FM
1242 AM	Sport Nation	Sports radio	Timaru (Fairview)		19/11/2024	2005 - 2020: TAB Trackside formerly LiveSport, BSport, Radio Pacific, 2021 - 2024: SENZ
1494 AM	Gold Sport	Classic hits & Sports radio	Timaru (St Andrews)		01/07/2020	Until March 2020: Radio Sport 30/03 - 30/06/2020: Newstalk ZB

References

1. Volcano Radio 88.5 FM website Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. Molten Metal Show
3. RRF Licences Database; Frequency, Location and Licensed power
4. "Radio Heritage". Radio Heritage Foundation.
5. "Local Radio Broadcast Stations". Radio Station World.
6. "Welcome to The Radio Vault". The Radio Vault.
7. Anthemz
8. "Splash Page - Bassline Radio". Retrieved 29 April 2024.
9. Rewind 96.1
10. Fever FM
11. Brian FM Sumner
12. Voice of South Pole
13. Pulzar FM
14. Grid Bias (30 November 1933). "New Wavelengths 1-Dec-1933". The Evening Post. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020.
15. Power Hit FM 87.8
16. "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
17. Rollywood FM
18. The Wave Archived 2 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
19. https://www.facebook.com/SeasideSoundsNB/ ^{[user-generated source]}
20. Thunder FM
21. XS80's
22. 1074BFM
23. Radio Addington
24. Redwood Radio
25. "About us". Southbrook School. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
26. JUST FM
27. ChizzySoundz
28. Rotten Radio
29. DawnFM
30. Bay Radio
31. Waimate Community Radio
32. "Timaru's Hospital Radio celebrates 30 years". Stuff. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.