This Labour Weekend Saturday will mark five years of community broadcasting by Waiheke Radio. From the ashes of Barry Jenkin's radio station 'The Beach' rose a volunteer community group that believed there was a place for a radio station that would inform, entertain and educate, reflecting a Waiheke view on our island and the wider world, unrestrained by commercial restrictions.
The first people involved were self taught amateurs, carry-overs from the days of The Beach, although we were joined by a couple of people who actually knew what they were doing when it came to broadcasting and getting a radio station on air.
We had to start from scratch. Firstly we had to raise money. Then we constructed a studio . . .
. . . and built a transmitter.
The first test transmission went out mid 2008 . . .
. . . and we were officially open by Gulf Islands councillor Denise Roche on Labour Weekend the same year.
There have been trials along the way, like the time our Oneroa transmission aerial blew over in a 80+ knots storm .
Since our inception we've gone from strength to strength, shifting to new improved premises and making technical advancements. But what we are most proud of is that we have had hundreds of Waiheke Islanders on air, we've created an archive of many hundreds of hours of content of Waiheke people and issues and we've been able to present innovative and people focused radio that genuinely reflects our community.
We would like to thank all who have volunteered, the council who have provided us a community lease, the businesses and individuals that have supported us through sponsorship, fundraising or offering time and expertise, everyone who has been on air and our listeners.
We'd be honoured if you join us at our 5th birthday celebration open day on sat 26 October at 4 Korora Rd, Oneroa.
Here's a podcast of our first birthday in 2009