Early planning by David Gapes, 1965

Radio Hauraki team formed April 1966

In a bid to obtain financial backing, David Gapes publicised his Radio Hauraki venture, which made front page news in the New Zealand Herald on 9 April 1966. The publicity led to two former NZBC staff, Derek Lowe and Chris Parkinson, who'd been working on their own radio project, to join Gapes and Dennis O'Callaghan as co-directors.  

private radio licence denied, April 1966

Gapes and his Radio Hauraki partners applied for a private commercial radio licence but were declined by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC). Undeterred, they intended to proceed with transmitting from a ship beyond NZ's three-mile territorial limit in the Hauraki Gulf. 

In a newspaper interview (9 April 1966), Gapes stated, "Our lawyer has assured us that there is nothing illegal about what we plan to do. Short of extending the limit of territorial waters or blacklisting companies which advertise with us, I cannot see anything they can do. Since the Broadcasting Corporation refuses to issue licences to any competitors for radio stations, the only way to break its monopoly is to work from outside the three mile limit.”  

Gapes also  said,  “We will have quite sufficient power to give Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei a good coverage and we expect to reach other areas as well...We have selected our wavelength carefully to ensure that we do not interfere with the Broadcasting Corporation, the ambulance services or any other broadcaster."   He commented that initially, Radio Hauraki would broadcast two sessions a day. The first session would be the breakfast session which would commence a quarter of an hour before IZB and end about 10am. The second would be an afternoon - evening session ending about 7.30pm.  Ultimately, the intention was that the radio station would transmit 24 hours a day.  Furthermore, the programme would consist entirely of pop music. 

Source: Papers Past:  "Auckland businessmen plan pirate radio ship", Press (Vol CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, p.1)

Studios set up in Anzac Avenue

News of rival pirate stations DURING JULY 1966

In mid-July 1966, an advertisement appeared in the Auckland Star for a proposed offshore commercial station – Radio Maverick – and its onshore non-commercial base called Radio Ventura. Another group in Wellington also planned to anchor a ship in the Cook Strait, to transmit to the North and South Islands. Later on 25 July, The Sunday News headline announced "PIRATE RADIO BATTLE: TWO NEW STATIONS IN FIGHT FOR AIRWAVE FORTUNE" - A former Radio Hauraki team member Keith Ashton, who’d left over policy differences, planned to start Radio Southern Cross on 24 October 1966, with 24 hours a day programming. Another radio station, Radio International, (Radio i) was preparing to start broadcasts in September 1966. Furthermore, plans for an offshore television station were also announced.  

These developments led to the Prime Minister, Keith Holyoake, announcing that his Government was studying the then draft British legislation, the "Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Bill", with the intent of introducing similar legislation. 

Meanwhile, the Radio Hauraki team resolved to continue with its own plans to come on air by 1st October 1966 or earlier if possible.

Source:

Papers Past:  The Press, "More pirate radios" (Vol. CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, p.15) 

Offshore Radio Museum: Radio Hauraki - History,  http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page204.html 

'Tiri' ship outfitted as 'Radio Hauraki', Aug 1966

In August 1966, the Radio Hauraki team were notified the Hokianga was to be further delayed by four months. The team accepted Jim Frankham's alternative offer of the coaster vessel Tiri. The refitting of the Tiri was carried out in readiness for it to receive a Marine Department certificate. 

Find out more about the outfitting of Radio Hauraki's technical equipment from the following interview:  

"Denis O’Callahan’s personal history of Radio Hauraki", New Zealand Radio DX League, 26 April 2018, https://www.radiodx.com/denis-ocallahans-address-to-nzrdxl-convention-2018/

Radio Hauraki directors meet with Govt Minister Jack Scott, 17 Sept 1966

Radio Hauraki directors & staff arrested, 23 Oct 1966

Broadcasts at sea from Radio Hauraki 'pirate' ship

Test transmissions failure on 12, 13 & 21 Nov 1966:

On 10 November 1966 at 10pm, the Tiri set sail and arrived the next morning at 6.30am in the triangle of international waters within the Hauraki Gulf. They then experienced a delay in their preparations due to stormy weather. To meet the planned transmission time on 12 November, it was decided to save time by erecting a temporary aerial rather than installing the pre-fabricated aerial mast that lay in sections aboard the deck. When power was fed to the transmitter an output valve blew halting the transmission. Another attempt the next day also encountered transmitter problems.

On the afternoon of 21 Nov 1966, Radio Hauraki broadcast its first test signal using the temporary aerial, which was too weak to reach Auckland. On 24 November, when the Tiri was berthed at Port Tryphena on Great Barrier Island, the crew erected the permanent aerial mast - 100 feet long with a a 30 foot telescopic aerial.  

Test transmissions succeed on 1 Dec 1966:

During the evening of 1 December 1966, the Tiri sailed back to her anchorage in the Colville Channel and began test transmissions at 8pm with the permanent aerial mast. "This time the signal was loud and clear throughout Auckland and the surrounding area."   

First broadcast on 4 Dec 1966 & first breakfast session on 5 Dec:

"Success was short-lived, however. The next day another storm blew through the Coleville Channel and it was decided to sail the Tiri back into Port Tryphena for shelter.  Before the ship reached port disaster struck when the newly erected aerial mast collapsed over the side and had to be cut away and abandoned. Once in port the crew set about erecting a replacement mast, using a spare 50' section of the original structure with a 20' whip aerial mounted at the top. With this new arrangement in place the Tiri once again took up her position in international waters and test broadcasts resumed at 9.00am on 4th December 1966, although the signal was not as clear as the transmissions a few days earlier with the original, taller mast. Two hours later, at 11.00am, Radio Hauraki started regular broadcasts."  

Source: Offshore Radio Museum: Radio Hauraki - History, http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page207.html  

Broadcasting legislation, 1967

"In November 1967 anti-offshore broadcasting legislation, based on the British Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act, was finally introduced into the New Zealand Parliament and referred to a Select Committee for detailed consideration. Subsequently a Broadcasting Authority Bill was also introduced which provided for the establishment of a new independent body to consider and grant licences for private radio and television stations. It was estimated that it  would take nearly a year before either piece of legislation  could pass onto the statute books, so Radio Hauraki seemed would be secure at sea for another year at least." 

Source:  Offshore Radio Museum: Radio Hauraki - History, http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page207.html

'Tiri' ran aground on rocks, 27 Jan 1968

On 27th January 1968, the crew on the Tiri helped search for a seaman who had fallen overboard from a launch in the area between Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island.  On returning during darkness to find its mooring buoy, the Tiri's engines began to fail and the ship was driven onto the rocks by a south-westerly wind. The Radio Hauraki disc jockey Paul Lineham kept listeners informed. His final broadcast was "Hauraki News: Hauraki crew is abandoning ship. This is Paul Lineham aboard the 'Tiri'. Good Night." followed by a station jingle “Radio Hauraki - Number 1”.  The Tiri’s crew and radio staff abandoned ship and swam ashore to spend the night on the beach.

Source: Audio (4.10min): Radio Hauraki: The final broadcast from the Tiri on January 28th 1968 

'Tiri' replaced with 'Tiri II'

Radio Hauraki received licence to broadcast on land, March 1970

Last broadcast held aboard 'Tiri II', 1 June 1970

After being granted its private radio licence for a land-based station in Auckland, the Radio Hauraki team made plans to cease transmitting from the ship Tiri II.  The Broadcasting Authority had also granted a private radio station licence in the Auckland area to Radio International (Radio i). Radio Hauraki wanted to get started as soon as practical before the 'competition' was fully underway.

"A decision was made to close the offshore operation at 10.00 pm on 1st June 1970, 1111 days after Radio Hauraki had started its broadcasts from the original Tiri. During the last three days of broadcasting from sea all programmes were presented live from the ship. Commercial airtime was sold at premium rates for those three days and 'thank you' messages were recorded by major artists, including The Beatles, Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones for inclusion in the final programmes. After the station's final hour, which was an up-dated documentary about the history of Radio Hauraki, arrangements were made for the Tiri II to sail triumphantly into Auckland Harbour where a reception party was planned."

However,  DJ Rick Grant was lost overboard during the return voyage to Auckland that evening.  After being involved in the search, which was called off at midday due to rough weather, the Tiri II berthed in Auckland at 5pm on 2 June.

Source: Offshore Radio Museum: Radio Hauraki - History, http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page210.html

New era begins, 26 Sept 1970

To listen to Radio Hauraki's first land broadcast with Ian Magan which also opened with song 'Born free' sung by Matt Monro: Radio Hauraki:  1970 Radio Hauraki first ever land broadcast (4.36 min)

Commemorations

For names and photographs of some of the DJs / "Good Guys" on Radio Hauraki, see:  Murray Cammick, "Radio Hauraki: The Pirate Days – The Good Guys", Audioculture, https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/radio-hauraki-the-pirate-days-the-good-guys

Find out more:

Brian Pauling, 'Radio', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/radio/print  

Murray Cammick, "Radio Hauraki: The Pirate Days – The Good Guys",  Audioculture, https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/radio-hauraki-the-pirate-days-the-good-guys

New Zealand Radio DX league: "Denis O’Callahan’s personal history of Radio Hauraki", https://www.radiodx.com/denis-ocallahans-address-to-nzrdxl-convention-2018/

Offshore Radio Museum: "Radio Hauraki - History", http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page199.html   

Offshore Radio Museum: "Tiri",  http://www.offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page824.html

Pirate Radio Hauraki - 40 years on, http://www.radioheritage.net/hauraki/PirateRadioHaurakiImages.asp

Radio Hauraki: Hauraki 50th,  https://www.hauraki.co.nz/hauraki-50th/

Wikipedia: "Radio Hauraki", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Hauraki