ZM Auckland
| Company type | Radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Predecessor | 1ZM Auckland (AM) |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
Area served | Auckland and nationwide network in New Zealand |
| Owner | New Zealand Media and Entertainment |
| Parent | The Radio Network (subsidiary of Australian Radio Network) |
ZM Auckland serves as a contemporary hit radio broadcaster based in Auckland, New Zealand. It functions as the primary station within the ZM network and is managed by New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Starting in 2002, multiple regional outlets were launched to relay ZM content from Auckland while incorporating localized advertisements. These include ZM Gisborne (2002), ZM Wanganui (2004), ZM South Canterbury (2004), ZM Blenheim (2007), ZM Wairarapa (2010), ZM Taupo (2013), ZM Queenstown (2014), ZM Wanaka (2016), ZM West Coast (2020), and ZM Coromandel (2021).
History
The origins of ZM trace back to 1973 when it began as three distinct AM stations: 1ZM Auckland, 2ZM Wellington, and 3ZM Christchurch, all operated by the government-owned Radio New Zealand. In 1987, Auckland’s 1ZM transitioned to a Classic Hits format, resulting in a ten-year period without the ZM brand in that market. Meanwhile, Wellington and Christchurch maintained their presence as local FM stations with their own regional networks.
In July 1996, Radio New Zealand’s commercial division, including the ZM stations, was acquired by The Radio Network (TRN), a subsidiary jointly owned by APN News & Media and Clear Channel Communications, functioning under the umbrella of the Australian Radio Network.
Under TRN’s management, ZM was reintroduced in Auckland in February 1997 on the 91.0 MHz frequency as 91ZM, replacing The Breeze on 91. In the Waikato region, The Breeze on 89.8 was substituted by a network broadcast of Auckland’s 91ZM named 89.8ZM, which featured a locally produced breakfast show during 1998–1999.
By the year 2000, ZM had unified its programming into a nationwide network feed broadcast from Auckland’s 91ZM. Between 2001 and 2014, the breakfast program hosted by Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama was broadcast nationally from Wellington. More recently, daytime segments included localized voice breaks tailored for Auckland audiences alongside generic content for other markets. Since 2013, all ZM stations have aired identical programming.
Local programming
Before full synchronization with the ZM network, the following shows were featured as local broadcasts on 91ZM Auckland:
- Breakfast slot (6 am–9 am)
- 1997–2001: Hosted by Marcus Lush
- 1997–2001: Produced by Natalie Crook
- 2001–2014: Networked from Wellington (6 am–10 am)
- From 2014: Networked from Auckland across all regions
- Daytime slot (9 am–3 pm)
- 1998–1999: Melanie Homer
- 1999–2000: Nicki Sunderland alongside Lana Coc-kroft
- From 2000: Networked from Auckland across all regions
- Drive time (3 pm–7 pm)
- 1999–2000: Mike McClung and Tim Homer
- From 2000: Networked from Auckland across all regions
- Evening show (7 pm–midnight)
- 1997–1998: Melanie Homer
- From 1998: Networked from Auckland across all regions