Hokonui Gold - History

History

The station was formerly known as 4ZG or Radio Hokonui, which broadcast on 558 AM and was operated by Radio New Zealand. 4ZG was first started in 1981 and the station was used in the evenings to broadcast the Concert Programme until 1990 when Concert FM began broadcasting on its own frequency in Southland. Overnight during the 1980s the station carried the ZM All Nighter from the 1ZM studios in Auckland. In 1992 4ZG was reduced to just 4 hours a day of programming and outside this time a simulcast of 4ZA was played. In the eyes of many this change seemed the station was dying of a slow and painful death so as a result two locals purchased the station. In 1994 4ZG became Hokonui Gold and reverted back to being live and local.

In 1996 Hokonui Gold made the move to FM when it began broadcasting on 92.4 (Forest Hill) and 94.8 (High Peak) but with a lack of FM Stereo sound found on most FM Stations. The 558 AM frequency was taken over by The Radio Network and was first used as a second frequency for Classic Hits ZAFM but later this frequency was used for Radio Sport.

Over the years Hokonui Gold continued to operate independently and competed well against many new network stations that arrived in Southland during the late 1990s. Hokonui Gold prided themselves on being a local station and once published advertisements stating We believe Auckland radio should stay in Auckland and Our bosses don't live in Canada or Ireland, emphasizing the fact the station is locally owned and operated.

In 2004 the station was leased back to The Radio Network, the successor to Radio New Zealand's commercial operations. Despite this change Hokonui Gold still remains live and local but now uses Newstalk ZB news service and The Radio Network advertising. One of the most popular shows on Hokonui Gold is The Farming Show and this show is now played on Newstalk ZB in rural areas and across all of New Zealand on Radio Sport the show is now produced from the Radio Network studios in Dunedin. In 2005 both frequencies were moved to Hedgehope and the 92.4 FM frequency reassigned to Coast. In 2006 spot coverage to West Otago was established on 95.2 FM High Peak.

Hokonui Gold secured a major coup picking up popular Southland radio broadcaster Carl Mills (or "Millsy") as their new breakfast host from Southland's 89.2 More FM, after he was dumped from his timeslot of 2-7pm in favour of a network show and moved into production and occasional announcing. His tenure as breakfast host began on 18 January 2010, however ended in January 2012 for personal reasons. He has been replaced in the meanwhile by well-known Invercargill personality and former afternoon host Craig "Wal" Waddell. Millsy is still on the station as the host of the pre-recorded afternoon show from Invercargill, however left altogether after Brad Richards replaced Craig "Wal" Waddell as breakfast host, and Wal returned to his afternoon slot.