Radio Nelson
| Company type | Private (after 1993) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | New Zealand Broadcasting Board (later Radio New Zealand) |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Nelson , New Zealand |
Area served | Nelson, Tākaka, Tasman Bay, Golden Bay |
| Products | Radio broadcasting |
Radio Nelson was a radio broadcaster located in Nelson, New Zealand, originally established in 1932 by Radio New Zealand (known then as the New Zealand Broadcasting Board). The station began transmissions on 1340AM under the call sign 2ZR and experienced multiple call sign updates—progressing through 2YN, 2XN, and ultimately 2ZN. In 1978, following nationwide AM band realignment, it shifted to 1341AM. The Radio Nelson identity was adopted during the 1980s.
Expansion occurred in 1985 when Radio Nelson extended service to Tākaka on 1269AM (2ZT), and in 1992 it added FM broadcasting at 89.8FM while continuing AM transmissions. After Radio New Zealand rebranded its heritage stations as Classic Hits in 1993, Radio Nelson transitioned to Classic Hits 90FM. Around this period, ownership passed to Radio Nelson Limited, a private entity incorporated that year. Unlike most Classic Hits stations that moved their AM frequencies to Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits Nelson preserved its AM channel into the mid-1990s for talkback programming before fully switching to Newstalk ZB on AM later in that decade.
By 1995, coverage expanded to include Tasman Bay and Golden Bay via 90.4FM. Starting in 1998, local programming was reduced to a four-hour breakfast segment (6–10 am), with Auckland-based nationwide shows filling remaining timeslots; this breakfast program was further shortened to three hours in 2012.
In 2002, the station was renamed Classic Hits 89.8 & 90.4, then simplified to Classic Hits 89.8 in 2006 after discontinuing broadcasts on 90.4FM, which was reassigned to Radio Hauraki that year. Radio Nelson Limited was officially deregistered in 2008.
A government-driven frequency adjustment in 2010 moved Classic Hits from 89.8FM down slightly to 89.6FM while leaving AM frequencies intact. An effort to relaunch Radio Nelson as a private station between 2012 and 2013 did not come to fruition.
On 28 April 2014, all Classic Hits stations were rebranded as The Hits, introducing networked breakfast shows hosted by Polly Gillespie and Grant Kareama. Following their departure in 2017, South Island stations reinstated local breakfast programs, with Scott Radovanovich presenting breakfast for The Hits Nelson and The Hits Marlborough.
Presently, The Hits Nelson produces a locally focused show from its Nelson studios airing weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm, hosted by Hayden Rose.