Radio New Zealand's transmission site at Titahi Bay in the news

Radio New Zealand, Titahi Bay transmitter site

"With panoramic views of Mana Island and nearby golfing greens, the future use of Radio New Zealand's surplus land at a popular public park in Porirua is up in the airwaves. The state broadcaster, which owns a portion of Whitireia Park by its transmission site above Titahi Bay, has told Porirua City Council it is interested in having the greenfield land re-zoned for residential development.

Radio New Zealand NZ has seen its need for land in the area fall along with the number of its transmission masts so it has been in discussion with the council, which is currently reviewing the city's district plan, over the land's future use. RNZ spokesman John Barr emphasized the organisation was "not a property developer and have no intention of developing this land ourselves". "Nothing has been confirmed or committed to as yet and any potential changes to land use are likely to be many years away. "RNZ is taking the opportunity to think ahead to the time when it will have more land than it needs at Titahi Bay and there may be better uses for it."

One of Radio New Zealand's landmark radio masts at Titahi Bay was felled for safety reasons in 2015. The area has long been a home for the state broadcaster. Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage spoke when it opened a building and tower there in 1937. But times have changed, and the number of transmission masts will have dropped from three to one new one being built to replace another later this year." (Stuff 1 Aug 2018)

In a response to this press article, Alma Hong, RNZ's Chief Technology and Operations Officer wrote that the new 137 metre mast will be positioned where the 220m mast removed in 2016 was located to the west of the transmitter building. The existing 137m mast in the north east corner of the property will be removed in 2019. The 53m mast that has since been removed, was at the southern end of the Titahi Bay Golf Club.

RNZ has been in discussion with the Porirua City Council as the council reviews its district plan and framework for land use in partnership with Ngati Toa. Given the likelihood that RNZ will not need the full site in the near future it made sense to look to other potential uses. Nothing has been confirmed or committed to as yet and any potential changes to land use are likely to be many years away.

RNZ is taking the opportunity to think ahead to the time when it will have more land than it needs at Titahi Bay, and that there may be better uses for this land" said Ms Hong.
(Bryan Clark-Mangawhai-NZL/NZ DX Times magazine NZRDXL Sept 3)
(WWDXC-Top Nx 1354/07 Sept 2018)

(photo/wikipedia)