2ZA
| Company type | Radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Founder | Radio New Zealand (National Broadcasting Service) |
| Headquarters | Palmerston North , New Zealand |
| Products | Radio broadcasting |
| Parent | Radio New Zealand (until 1996), then The Radio Network |
2ZA operated as a radio station based in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Initial period
Established in 1938 by Radio New Zealand (known then as the National Broadcasting Service), 2ZA originally transmitted on 940AM. Following New Zealand's adjustment from 10 kHz to 9 kHz AM frequency spacing in 1978, the station moved to 927AM.
Transition to FM broadcasting
In 1991, 2ZA expanded its transmission to include 97.8FM alongside the existing 927AM frequency, adopting the brand AM-FM 2ZA. By September 1992, the station divided its services: the FM channel became the music-centric The New 98FM (later shortened to 98FM), while the AM channel focused on talkback, news, and sports under the name The Manawatu's 2ZA.
Adoption of Greatest Hits 98FM branding
Starting in 1993, Radio New Zealand undertook a rebranding initiative for local stations under the Classic Hits umbrella. Due to competition from a local station named Classic Hits 828 and 98.6FM, Radio New Zealand renamed their FM service to Greatest Hits 98FM, aligning logos and promotional material closely with other Classic Hits outlets. Concurrently, the AM frequency introduced the networked Newstalk ZB station for Manawatu while maintaining some localized programming.
In response to the rival station’s rebranding as Magic 828 & 98.6FM in 1994, Radio New Zealand updated Greatest Hits 98FM’s name to Classic Hits 97.8FM.
Ownership transfer and local content reduction
In July 1996, the commercial segment of Radio New Zealand—including all Classic Hits stations—was divested by the New Zealand Government and acquired by The Radio Network, a subsidiary jointly owned by APN News & Media and Clear Channel Communications, operating under the Australian Radio Network umbrella.
By 1997, Classic Hits 97.8FM was rebranded as Classic Hits ZAFM, sharing its name with a Southland station. Local programming was curtailed by 1998 to a four-hour morning slot (6–10 am), with Auckland-based national shows occupying other airtime; presenters referred to it simply as Classic Hits. In 2012, breakfast shows across all Classic Hits stations were shortened to three hours, and local weekend broadcasts were discontinued.
The station’s branding evolved from Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM in 2001 to Classic Hits 97.8 by 2008.
Rebranding as The Hits
On 28 April 2014, the entire Classic Hits network underwent rebranding to become The Hits. A centralized breakfast program hosted by Polly Gillespie and Grant Kareama was launched across most stations, while previous breakfast hosts were reassigned to a daytime slot between 9am and 3pm. The daytime show from The Hits Wanganui, presented by Daryl Mallett, was syndicated into Manawatu. Since September 2017, Jesse Archer has been delivering live daytime broadcasts from the Main Street studio.