[HCDX]: Fw: RADIO NZ INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS CUTBACK

["Paul Ormandy" <paulorm@xxxxxxxx>]

----------
> From: MBCby way of Ripple Shortwave mailing list <clarkb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Ripple - SW Mailing List:;
> Subject: RADIO NZ INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS CUTBACK
> Date: Wednesday, 15 July 1998 22:24
> 
> RADIO NZ INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTS CUTBACK
> 
> Confirmation came through on  July 13 that reduced funding from the NZ
> Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Radio New Zealand International will
> result in staff and programming reductions to take effect from August 3,
> 
> 1998.
> 
> With New Zealand's official shortwave voice already running on a very
> tight budget, the cut of NZ$166,000 (about US$85,000) or 13 percent
> reduction in annual funding means a significant cutback in programming
> services.
> 
> Weekly transmissions will be cut back by 12 hours, with the daily
> closedown moving from 1200 UTC back to 1015 UTC.
> 
> RNZI's own programming is reduced from 11 hours to 5 hours daily.  The
> breakfast session will be retained but from 10.30am till 10.15pm NZT
> (2230-1015 UTC) RNZI will relay Radio New Zealand's 'National Radio'
> domestic service.  The only exceptions are expected to be an RNZI
> Pacific Islands news bulletin insert at 4.00pm (0400 UTC) and occasional
> 
> Cyclone Warning Broadcasts.  The Foreign Affairs Ministry has made a
> small grant (US$9000) to ensure the latter unique service is maintained.
> 
> The only Pacific Island language programming to be retained will be the
> local morning news broadcasts in Samoan, Cook Islands Maori, Tongan and
> Niuean.
> 
> Evening programming to be dropped includes the popular Pacific Islands
> language music request programmes and a number of English language
> features including Rudi Hill's "On the March" feature.  At this stage
> the future of RNZI's listener feedback programme "Mailbox" is uncertain.
> 
> 5 part-time RNZI staff will lose their jobs, in effect reducing the
> total fulltime equivalent staffing by 25 percent to just 9.
> 
> Interviewed on RNZ's National Radio, former RNZI Head Ian Johnstone
> described the move as "a step backwards".  He noted that 3
> government-sponsored reviews  by independent analysts into the cost
> effectiveness of RNZI since it's return to air with a 100kw transmitter
> in 1990 have all supported its continued operation.  Sharon Crosbie,
> Chief Executive of Radio New Zealand says she is sad and frustrated that
> 
> RNZ has to implement cutbacks to such a valuable service.
> 
> Speaking on behalf of the NZ Radio DX League, the largest shortwave
> listener organisation in the Southern Hemisphere and presently
> celebrating its 50th anniversary, Bryan Clark notes that 1998 is also
> RNZI's 50th birthday.  The first official shortwave broadcasts from the
> 7.5 kilowatt transmitters at Titahi Bay north of Wellington took place
> on 25 September 1948.  Bryan says the year-to-year funding review by the
> 
> Foreign Affairs amounts to a slow strangulation of the broadcaster and
> its dedicate staff, who provides incredible value for money with an
> annual operating budget of under US$700,000.  Regretably, and like its
> Australian counterparts, the Foreign Affairs Ministry are only seeing
> international broadcasting as a cost, he says.
> 
> Bryan Clark for NZ Radio DX League.
> 
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