Radio Heritage Foundation
Christchurch Radio Heritage Meeting: February 22, 2005
Notes
Present: Organization:
Rose Crossland Tenth Dot Management (Carter Heritage Week)
Jo Del Monaco Board Member, Radio Heritage Foundation
Tony Forster Radio Ferrymead 3XP
Kelly Hansen Recreation Planner, Christchurch City Council
Russell Hay Radio Rhema, Southern Star, Life FM
John Hirtzel Christchurch Amateur Radio Club
Ron Killick NZ DX Radio Association
Ron Kjestrup Plains FM
Rachel Lord National Radio, Concert FM, Radio NZ Sound Archives
Rod Mackintosh Vintage Radio Society
David Ricquish Chairman, Radio Heritage Foundation
Amanda Ross Assistant Heritage Planner, Christchurch City Council
Frank Salisbury UCB, Radio Rhema, Southern Star, Life FM
Dave Smith Radio Pegasus FM, Just Country FM
Apologies:
Jo Bain NZ Historic Places Trust
Gabrielle Huria Tahu FM
Ross McRobie Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, ZMFM, Radio Sport, Radio Hauraki, Coast
Chris Muirhead MORE FM, Radio Pacific, Solid Gold, The Rock, The Edge, Channel Z, The Breeze
Paul Norris New Zealand Broadcasting School
Including apologies, this was a 100% turnout of organizations invited. Private meetings were held the day before with nearly all those who couldn’t attend because of prior commitments, so the Christchurch radio and heritage community responded overwhelmingly to this opportunity to meet and discuss two key issues and establish closer contact with each other.
(1) Carter Heritage Week
Rose Crossland outlined what Carter Heritage Week is about and distributed copies of the 2004 program, and event proposal application forms. For more copies, contact Rose at: .
The dates for 2005 are 7-14 October. The complete program is supported by the Christchurch City Council, and approved events are given free publicity in the printed program, in media releases, advertising, and other outlets.
Some suggestions for radio heritage related events from Rose and others included:
(1) static displays (such as the Mountain Search & Rescue 4WD radio command vehicles),
(2) open days (such as Sound Archives which was overbooked in 2004 when it offered a similar experience),
(3) special broadcasts (such as extended hours for Radio Ferrymead, a series of local radio heritage interviews and documentaries for Plains FM, pairing former radio DJ’s from the 1970’s and earlier with their contemporary counterparts - as guests in their former timeslots),
(4) magazine and newspaper articles (celebrating some of the characters, personalities and events of the Christchurch radio scene since the 1920’s),
(5) walking tours of radio heritage sites (such as the original A R Harris building (3YA) now TVNZ in Gloucester Street, former studio sites, contemporary studio sites and the Old Physics Building in the Arts Centre where Ernest Rutherford broadcast from in 1894),
There was considerable enthusiasm to find events that could be easily created using existing resources, or re-timed to
take place during the Carter Heritage Week period. Given some more time for consultation and thought, other proposals could be planned for the full 12 month period from the 2005 to the 2006 celebrations. This would include events for the 100th anniversary of the first broadcasts in New Zealand during the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906.
Agreed:
(1) each organization would consult with members, staff, etc to try and develop easy events for 2005
(2) co-operation within the radio community may see some shared events so resources weren’t stretched
(3) contact details for everyone would be circulated so people could make their own contacts with each other if they wanted to do so
(4) the Radio Heritage Foundation offered to act as a secretariat for coordinating radio heritage events in consultation with Tenth Dot Management and helping obtain media coverage and public participation
(5) to bring specific event proposals to a second meeting in late April. Suggested date: Thursday, 28 April.
Closing date for 2005 event applications is Friday, 10 June.
(2) 3ZB Transmitter Building
Amanda Ross briefly outlined Christchurch City Council policies towards radio heritage sites, including the fact
that a specific lack of information about these had been identified as part of the heritage planning process. The council would work with the local radio community and the Radio Heritage Foundation to remedy this situation.
Kelly Hansen explained that a management review of the Rawhiti Domain was underway and that the original 3ZB transmitter site was identified as being ‘out of place’ with the existing golf course use, and was under consideration for removal.
In light of its possible heritage significance, such moves were on hold whilst the matter was investigated. Kelly added that the building was currently leased to Avon Cosgrove Rangers, a request for proposals would likely be issued for future use and public consultation would have to take place before any other use could be considered.
The Radio Heritage Foundation circulated a background paper on the radio heritage significance of the site and potential future use (copies available from David Ricquish at ).
Discussion covered:
(1) as the building was solid concrete, it couldn’t be removed without destroying it.
(2) heritage values included not just the building, but the site itself, and the broadcasts which took place from there during the ‘Golden Days’ of Christchurch radio from 1937-1950
(3) what were the original contents and layout of the equipment and could people be found who once worked there
(4) what had happened to the transmitter (it’s possible a similar model is housed at Radio Ferrymead) and the tower (dismantled and removed to Balmoral Forest) and other equipment
(5) what kinds of displays and equipment could be safely contemplated for the site if a future radio heritage use arose
(6) whether it was possible to install a plaque of some kind outside the building to raise awareness of its history
The Radio Heritage Foundation noted:
(1) The Avon Cosgrove Rangers have been disbanded for some time according to the NZ Scout Association.
(2) The Burwood-Pegasus Community Board was obtaining a report on the building and site for consideration and had been provided with background information
(3) Future use of the building and site should be relevant to its national radio heritage significance and be in consultation with the Christchurch radio community, the local community, and the NZ Historic Places Trust.
Conclusions:
(1) Amanda Ross and Kelly Hansen would keep the Radio Heritage Foundation informed of council procedures, important dates and timelines in the process for all relevant aspects of the management review and community board report
(2) The radio community would talk with members, contacts and others to see what they could find out about the building, its equipment, personalities who were involved with the early days of 3ZB, and what resources or materials they could provide to (1) prevent the building from being demolished and (2) contribute to its future use as a radio heritage site and (3) help raise public awareness about the building and the site and (4) would contact David Ricquish () with specific suggestions.
(3) The Radio Heritage Foundation offered to act as coordinator of these activities, to maintain contact with the council and to keep everyone regularly informed.
Publicity:
(1) Some information is already on www.radioheritage.net and more will be added soon.
Thanks:
The Radio Heritage Foundation wishes to thank all those members of the local radio and heritage community who were able to attend or from whom apologies were received for their thoughtful comments and interest in the two issues and looks forward to continuing the initiatives that emerged from the meeting in partnership with everyone. Special thanks to Amanda Ross for arranging the meeting room in the Civic Offices.
<email addresses snipped>
Reminder : Next Meeting is on 28 April to bring forward specific event proposals for Carter Heritage Week 2005, specific suggestions and update on the 3ZB transmitter site, and any other items people wish to raise.
The Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable organization fully dependent on the radio community and the public for funding, resources and contribution of stories and radio heritage items. If you can help us with any of these resources, please contact me directly. If you’re not already a radio heritage partner, please consider becoming one, and if you haven’t already claimed your free membership, please visit www.radioheritage.net and do so and invite your friends and colleagues to visit the web site and claim their free membership also. There are benefits to membershipJ .
Warm regards
David Ricquish
Chairman
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.net
March 3 2005