Classic NZ TV Listings

TV History
1227

Top of the Morning was like a daytime version of I Like That One: 2 which, as a viewer request show, aired in primetime.

It was first shown in a later Saturday morning timeslot, i.e. 11.50am, but moved to 12.05pm as transmission hours across TV One (now TVNZ 1) and SPTV (now TVNZ 2) were cut by the end of 1977. The title should have changed to Top of the Afternoon because of the change in time.

When TV One and SPTV merged to become TVNZ in 1980, Top of the Morning returned to its old 11.50am slot.

1 Like
1228

I remember I Like That One: 2 because the most commonly requested clip was the Goodnight Kiwi and then later came the debate about how the Cat got to the tower before the Kiwi.

Which I have my own opinion about.

And I think after that came the Southern Cross debate and how it was in the wrong position. I believe it was a mistake by Sam Harvey, but at the same time it could have been intentional.

And I recall from reading New Zealand Television: The First 25 Years by Robert Boyd-Bell the transmission cuts in '77 and how it came about.

To this day I still have the book in pretty good condition.

1 Like
1230

Today’s TV: Monday 21 February 1983
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.00am Play School (Rpt)
10.25 You and Your Child (Rpt)
10.30 The Richard Simmons Show
11.00 Yoga with Sandra Riddle (Rpt)
11.05 Tenko (Starting today, part 1) (Rpt)
Noon News
12.05 The Young and the Restless
1.00 See Here
1.05 Beauty and the Beast
1.30 Days of Our Lives
2.25 You and Your Child (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
2.30 Play School (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
2.55 The Wombles (Rpt)
3.00 Chic Chat
3.30 After School, including (all times approx):
3.30 Fish Tales
3.45 Five Magic Minutes
3.55 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids Show
4.15 Once Upon a Story (Rpt)
4.30 The Elephant Boy (Rpt)
4.55 Olly’s Guest Spot
5.00 Watch All Night (Part 4) (Rpt)
5.30 Wildtrack (Rpt)
6.00 Alice
6.30 News
Includes Nationwide and regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Close to Home
8.00 Tom, Dick and Harriet (Series premiere)
8.30 Hill Street Blues (Series return)
9.30 Solo (Series premiere, part 1)
10.05 Dallas
11.00 News
11.05 Closedown

TV2
2.30pm Prisoner
3.20 Monday Afternoon Movie: She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952)
5.15 Mork & Mindy
5.45 News
5.55 Te Karere (Starting tonight)
6.00 The Young Doctors
6.30 The Dukes of Hazzard (Series return)
7.30 Our World - Sexual Encounters of the Floral Kind
8.30 Falcon Crest (Series return)
9.30 Eye Witness News
10.00 Levkas Man (Starting tonight, part 1)
11.00 Kojak (Series return)
11.55 Closedown

TVNZ’s longest running Māori news programme, Te Karere (described by the NZ Listener as the “News in Māori”), made its debut on the evening of Monday 21 February 1983.

For 40 years, Te Karere has provided its viewers with a Māori outlook of the day’s news and covered Māori issues of national significance - whether it be Māori grieving the loss of their loved ones, celebrating their achievements, or voicing their concerns. Notable members of the Te Karere team have included Derek Fox, Whai Ngata, Pere Maitai, Hone Edwards, Wena Harawira, Arana Taumata, Rereata Makiha, Tukoroirangi (Tuku) Morgan, Tini Molyneux, Erana Reedy, Te Aoterangi McGarvey, Pierre Lyndon, Dan Hiramana-Rua, Rau Kapa, Moari Stafford, Hirini Henare, Martin Rakuraku, Joe Glen, Tawini Rangihau, Matekino Wihongi-Mangu, Maihi Nikora, Mihingarangi Forbes and many more.

It started out as a pilot programme during Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori) in 1982 and became a permanent fixture in the TVNZ schedules a year later.

When Te Karere began it was shown at around 5.55pm on TV2 (now TVNZ 2) everywhere - except the East Coast/Tairāwhiti where, because of reception problems, it was shown on TV One (now TVNZ 1).

With the introduction of Te Karere, TV2’s early news was moved from 5.50pm to the new timeslot of 5.45pm on weeknights but the weekend bulletin remained at 5.55pm.

3 Likes
1231

I see that Wikipedia, NZ On Screen and even Te Karere on Twitter considers the pilot as the first screening.

But as you say it was a “pilot” and I don’t consider those as a true part of a series.

And look at the gap between the pilot and regular screenings. I only recognize Feb 21, 1983 as the true debut of Te Karere because that’s when it began and has been on screen regularly since then.

The pilot was a one off at the time and as far as I’m concerned that was it until the decision was made to make it a regular part of the schedule in '83.

So I personally think we need to re-write Te Karere’s legacy and change it’s debut to Feb 21, 1983.

What do you think?

1232

Pretty nice, @Damo.

In 1982 TVNZ made changes to its nightly news and current affairs line-up which included:

  • an hour-long 6.30pm news programme on TV One (now TVNZ 1); and
  • the 45 minute Eye Witness News on TV2 (now TVNZ 2) at 9pm before moving to 9.30pm by mid-year.

TV2’s early news was broadcast at 6pm (right after The Young Doctors which, initially, aired at 5.30pm before moving to 6pm) and ran for 10 minutes, and by mid-year it moved to the earlier 5.50pm slot. To celebrate Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori) in 1982, the 5.50pm news on TV2 ended with a two-minute bulletin in Māori.

1 Like
1233

Paddy do you have any TV lisitings for the 2002 Te Matatini festival?

1234

I don’t have any listings for the 2002 Te Matatini festival but, from my memory, TV One (now TVNZ 1) had live coverage of the finals day which took place on a Sunday.

2 Likes
1235

Te Matatini is back on TVNZ and this time it is now on TVNZ 2 after being a Maori TV staple for years from 2004 network launch

1236

You are right, @Sheldon_Betteridge. The last time Te Matatini aired on TVNZ was in 2005 and within two years, Māori TV (now known as Whakaata Māori) secured the broadcast rights. And after seven years of broadcasting (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019), Te Matatini has returned to TVNZ and is showing on TVNZ 2.

While TVNZ 2 has live coverage of Te Matatini from 22-25 February, there is a two-hour highlights package on Whakaata Māori from 7pm.

2 Likes
1237

Today’s TV: Friday 24 February 1978
from the NZ Listener

TV One
Noon News
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Forearmed
12.35 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 The Nature of Things
1.25 Days of Our Lives
2.20 Play School
2.50 Peyton Place (Rpt)
3.15 Nice One
3.20 Noveltoons
3.30 Arthur of the Britons
3.55 Nice One
4.00 Sport on One - International Cricket
NZ v England - second test, day four; live from Lancaster Park, Christchurch
6.00 Happy Days (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 Weekends with One
7.40 CHiPs
8.30 King of Kensington
9.00 That’s Hollywood
9.30 News
9.40 Breakdown
10.40 Villains (Part 8) (Rpt)
11.30 Sport on One - International Cricket
NZ v England - second test, day four; highlights
12.00am News and Weather
12.05 Closedown

South Pacific Television (SPTV)
3.00pm Search for Tomorrow
3.20 Chic Chat, including:
3.20 Romper Room
3.50 Roger Ramjet
4.00 Chapi Chapo
4.10 The Lone Ranger
4.20 Clutch Cargo (Rpt)
4.25 Hey Hey It’s Andy, including:
4.25 Daniel Boone
5.15 Freewheelin’
5.35 Top Cat (Final) (Rpt)
6.00 News at Six
6.30 Police Five
6.35 The Sullivans
7.00 Sykes
7.30 Snooker Break
8.00 Gibbsville
8.45 News Stand
9.00 Zodiac
10.00 Late Edition News
10.10 Kaleidoscope - Music from the Flames (Rpt)
Followed by Closedown

All programmes in colour unless otherwise specified.

1 Like
1238

Today’s TV: Thursday 27 February 1986
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.30am The Richard Simmons Show (Rpt)
10.50 Tai Chi (Rpt)
11.00 Crossroads
11.25 The Magic Roundabout (Rpt)
11.30 Play School (Rpt)
11.55 You and Your Child (Rpt)
Noon The Young and the Restless
1.00 Doctor in the House (Rpt)
1.35 Days of Our Lives
2.30 You and Your Child (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
2.35 Play School (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
3.00 Sesame Street
3.55 After School, including:
4.05 Margaret Mahy Theatre (Part 6, final) (Rpt)
4.30 Video Dispatch
5.00 The Ravelled Thread (Part 6, final) (Rpt)
5.30 Colour in the Creek (Starting tonight, part 1)
6.00 Happy Days (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Coronation Street (Double episode)
8.30 The Beginner’s Guide To…
The Census - click the NZ On Screen below to watch

9.00 Grammy Awards 1986
11.00 News
11.03 Closedown

TV2
11.10am Royal Visit 1986
1.00pm Newsline
1.25 See Here
1.30 Beauty and the Beast
2.00 Miller’s Court
2.30 A Country Practice
3.40 Bewitched (Rpt)
4.10 Thursday Afternoon Movie: Stranger at My Door (1956) (B&W)
5.45 News
5.50 Te Karere
6.00 Sons and Daughters
6.30 Three’s Company (Rpt)
7.00 The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs
7.30 Scarecrow and Mrs King
8.30 Dynasty
9.30 Eye Witness News
10.00 Lou Grant (Final)
11.00 Prisoner (Rpt)
11.55 Closedown

2 Likes
1239

Today’s TV: Wednesday 28 February 1990
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.00am Teletext in Vision
10.15 Play School (Rpt)
10.40 The Adventures of a Mouse (Rpt, G)
10.50 Willo the Wisp (Rpt, G)
10.55 Doctor Snuggles (Rpt, G)
11.00 Crossroads (Double episode)
11.55 Te Karere Headlines
Noon One Network News
12.15 Film on One: Women of Valor (1986)
2.00 Pulaski (Part 8, final) (Rpt, AO)
2.55 Knots Landing
4.00 Designing Women (G)
4.30 227 (G)
4.50 Emmerdale Farm
5.20 North and South Island Programmes
NORTH
5.20 Te Karere
5.30 M-A-S-H (Rpt, G)
SOUTH
5.20 Bugs Bunny
5.35 Te Karere
5.45 The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) / The South Tonight (Dunedin)
6.00 One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Sale of the Century
7.30 Coronation Street (G)
8.00 The Bill
8.30 Murder, She Wrote
9.30 Anything but Love (Part 4) (G)
10.00 One Network News
10.30 One World of Sport - Yachting
Whitbread Report
10.40 Hannay (PGR)
11.40 A Very Peculiar Practice (Part 5) (Rpt, AO)
12.45am Closedown

Channel 2
6.15am Teletext in Vision
6.30 The Telebugs (Rpt, G)
6.35 The Muppet Babies (Rpt, G)
7.00 Breakfast News
7.05 Ox Tales
7.30 Breakfast News
7.35 Defenders of the Earth
8.00 Breakfast News
8.05 The Flintstone Kids
8.30 Breakfast News
8.35 Porky Pig (Rpt, G)
9.00 Bangers and Mash
9.05 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
10.05 Hi-de-Hi! (Final) (Rpt, PGR)
10.40 Aerobics Oz Style
11.05 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless
1.00 Days of Our Lives
1.55 Heartland (G)
2.25 After 2, including:
2.26 Play School (Rpt)
2.50 Care Bears (Rpt, G)
3.15 Wowser
3.40 The All-New Popeye Show (Rpt)
4.05 C.O.P.S
4.30 Woof
5.00 Batman (Rpt)
5.30 Blind Date
6.00 Happy Days (Rpt, G)
6.30 Neighbours (Double episode)
7.30 Island Son
8.30 The Star Movie: The Woman in Red (1984) (Rpt, AO)
10.15 Newsbreak
10.20 The Equalizer (Final) (AO)
11.20 The Two Ronnies (Final) (Rpt, AO)
12.20am British Comedy Classics: Billy Liar (1963) (Rpt)
2.05 Closedown

TV3
Noon The Oprah Winfrey Show (PGR)
1.00 Give Us a Clue (G)
1.30 Trial by Jury (PGR)
2.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (PGR)
2.30 Another World (PGR)
3.30 Mickey Mouse Club
4.00 The Real Ghostbusters (G)
4.30 Saber Rider (G)
5.00 Police Academy (G)
5.30 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (G)
6.00 Home and Away (G)
6.30 3 National News
7.00 Perfect Match (G)
7.30 Empty Nest
8.00 Wednesday Night at the Movies: Broadcast News (1987)
10.30 3 National News: Nightline
11.00 Flamingo Road (AO)
12.00am (approx) Closedown

2 Likes
1240

Today’s TV: Monday 1 February 1993
from the NZ Listener

TV One
8.00am ITN World News
8.30 Memories 1970 - 1989
9.30 Country Calendar (Rpt)
10.05 Film on One: Kisses (G)
11.00 Tidy Endings (Rpt, PGR)
Noon ITN World News (Rpt)
12.30 Eldorado (PGR)
1.10 Sally Jessy Raphaël (G)
2.10 Embassy (Series premiere) (PGR)
3.15 Neighbours (Starting today, double episode) (Rpt, G)
4.20 I Love Lucy (B&W) (Rpt, G)
4.55 Take the High Road (G)
5.30 Sale of the Century (New timeslot) (G)
6.00 One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Wheel of Fortune (New timeslot) (G)
7.30 One World of Sport - Moro Sports Extra
8.30 Taggart: Ring of Deceit (Part 2) (AO)
9.35 Kinsey (Part 4) (AO)
10.45 One Network News
10.55 Street Stories (AO)
11.55 Film on One: Made in Heaven (1987)
1.55am Closedown

Channel 2
6.30am Teen Wolf (G)
6.55 Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (Rpt, G)
7.25 Land of the Lost (Rpt, G)
8.00 Bob in a Bottle (Rpt, G)
8.30 The Magic Roundabout (Rpt, G)
8.35 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
9.35 Play School (Rpt, G)
10.00 Baby Talk (G)
10.30 America’s Funniest People (G)
11.00 Santa Barbara (G)
Noon The Young and the Restless (G)
1.00 Days of Our Lives (PGR)
2.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (G)
2.30 Play School (Rpt, G)
2.55 Thomas the Tank Engine (Rpt, G)
3.00 Wally Gator (Rpt G)
3.05 C.A.B. (Rpt, G)
3.30 The Smoggies (Rpt, G)
4.00 The Flintstones (Rpt, G)
4.30 Swans Crossing (G)
5.00 The Cartoon Company (Starting today)
5.30 The Cosby Show (Rpt, G)
6.00 Neighbours (G)
6.30 Face the Music (Starting tonight) (Rpt, G)
7.00 Shortland Street (PGR)
7.30 The Flying Doctors (Series return) (G)
8.30 The Monday Night Movie: Presumed Guilty (1991) (AO)
10.20 Studs
10.50 Scene of the Crime (AO)
11.55 The Professionals (Rpt, AO)
1.00am Closedown

TV3
5.30am 3 National News (Rpt)
6.00 Living Earth (Rpt, G)
6.30 The Adventures of Skippy (G)
7.00 The Scheme of Things (G)
7.30 The Real Ghostbusters (G)
8.00 The Torkelsons (G)
8.30 You and Me (Rpt, G)
8.55 Parent Time (Rpt, G)
9.00 Lenny (Rpt, PGR)
9.30 Crosstown (Rpt, PGR)
10.00 The Price Is Right (Rpt, G)
10.30 Empty Nest (G)
11.00 Take Six Cooks (G)
11.30 Amen (PGR)
Noon Donahue (PGR)
1.00 The Oprah Winfrey Show (G)
2.00 Generations (PGR)
2.30 Parent Time (G)
2.35 You and Me (G)
3.00 Widget (Rpt, G)
3.30 Speed Racer (Rpt, G)
4.00 Transformers (G)
4.30 Tarzan (G)
5.00 Carson’s Law (Rpt, G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Give Us a Clue (G)
7.30 3 Special - Bill Cosby’s You Bet Your Life Preview
8.30 Monday Night at the Movies: Hello Again (1987) (PGR)
10.35 Nightline
11.05 Hunter (Series return) (AO)
12.05am Closedown

Sky Sport
6.30am ESPN Direct - Basketball
NBA - LA Lakers v Boston; live
9.00 Skiing
US Men’s Pro Ski Tour
10.00 Ski World
10.30 American Football
NFL Super Bowl XVI - San Francisco v Cincinnati; highlights
11.00 American Football
NFL Super Bowl XXIII - San Francisco v Cincinnati; highlights
11.30 American Football
NFL Super Bowl XXVI - Buffalo v Washington; highlights
Noon Sky Sport - American Football
NFL Super Bowl XXVII - Buffalo v Dallas; live from Pasadena, California
4.00 International Cricket
Australia v West Indies - fifth test, day three; live from the WACA, Perth
6.00 Skiing
US Men’s Pro Ski Tour
6.30 International Cricket (Continued)
Australia v West Indies - fifth test, day three; live from the WACA, Perth
11.00 Golf
PGA Tour: Phoenix Open - final round; highlights from Phoenix, Arizona
12.30am American Football
NFL Super Bowl XXVII - Buffalo v Dallas; full replay
2.30 ESPN Direct - Up Close
3.00 Body by Jake
3.30 Bodyshaping
4.00 Sportscenter
5.00 Fitness Pros
5.30 Getting Fit (Continues to 6am)

Sky News (CNN)
CNN News 24 hours a day, plus:
BBC News at 8.30am & 7pm and One Network News (TVNZ) at 8.30pm

Sky Movies (HBO)
11.45am Resurrection (1980) (GA)
1.30pm Always (1989) (GY)
3.30 Yogi and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goos (G)
5.00 Home to Stay (1978) (GY)
6.20 HBO Video Jukebox
7.00 The Sign of Four (1984) (G)
8.35 Living a Lie (1991) (GA)
10.05 My First Forty Years (1989) (R16)
11.55 Phantasm II (1988) (R16)
1.28am Closedown

2 Likes
1241

When did NZ commence broadcasting its first breakfast news program? was it the late 90s?

1 Like
1242

Breakfast launched in August 1997 on TVNZ 1 and a decade later Sunrise launched in 2007 on Three. NZ was relatively slow to embrace Breakfast television and still lacks a weekend Breakfast show on both TVNZ 1 and Three.

2 Likes
1243

@BJT2 @Leotv The morning of Monday 6 November 1989. When TVNZ introduced early morning television via Channel 2 (now TVNZ 2) instead of TV One (now TVNZ 1), our first morning news programme, in fact, was known as Breakfast News.

Initially, Breakfast News was a half hour bulletin of national and international news, business and weather information, with a particular focus on overnight events via satellite. With Tom Bradley as anchor and Penelope Barr as weather presenter, Breakfast News aired on Channel 2 at 7am every day from Monday to Friday and there was a five-minute news and weather update at 8am.

Within days of launch, TVNZ attempted to change the name of Breakfast News to Good Morning New Zealand, but RNZ had lodged an application in the Wellington High Court for an injunction to stop TVNZ using the name “Good Morning New Zealand” (which was RNZ’s three-hour morning news and information programme and incorporated Morning Report) and Breakfast News was reinstated as a result.

In 1990, the Breakfast News format was changed to five-minute news and weather bulletins at 7am, 7.30am, 8am and 8.30am (during Channel 2’s children’s programming) with former Top Half presenter John Hawkesby taking over as anchor.

By August that year, John Hawkesby replaced Lindsay Perigo (who moved on to front a new, weekly current affairs/interview programme entitled Perigo) as co-anchor of the late night edition of One Network News (now 1 NEWS) and Breakfast News was axed.

We had to wait until Monday 11 August 1997 when Breakfast finally made its debut on TV One, although it was preceded by a daily business news programme called Telstra Business.

Before Sunrise came along, TV3 (now Three) began its weekday transmission at 7am with the Early Bird Show as its first regular broadcast took place on the morning of Monday 27 November 1989 - the day after it launched with a two-hour grand preview.

In fact, the puppet-driven Early Bird Show was hosted by Russell Rooster, Kiri Kea and friends and featured such cartoons as Garfield, DuckTales, The Wuzzles and Dennis the Menace, plus half hourly news bulletins with Joanna Paul. It initially ran from 7-9am every day from Monday to Friday.

February 1990 saw the relocation of the Early Bird Show to Saturday and Sunday mornings and the removal of all morning programming, with TV3 beginning its weekday broadcasts at the slightly later time of midday.

5 Likes
1244

Cheers Paddy for a very thorough history of Breakfast Television in NZ.

3 Likes
1245

You’re welcome, @Leotv.

2 Likes
1246

Great read. Thanks for clarifying in detail.

3 Likes
1247

Today’s TV: Tuesday 3 March 1987
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.20am Sport on One Special - International Cricket
NZ v West Indies - second test, day one; live from Eden Park, Auckland
12.35pm News
12.45 Kohanga Reo
1.05 Sport on One Special - International Cricket (Continued)
NZ v West Indies - second test, day one; live from Eden Park, Auckland
3.15 Science World
3.30 Sport on One Special - International Cricket (Continued)
NZ v West Indies - second test, day one; live from Eden Park, Auckland
5.45 Te Karere
6.00 Sport on One Special - International Cricket
NZ v West Indies - second test, day one; highlights
6.30 Network News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Hi-de-Hi!
8.00 Moonlighting
9.00 Tuesday Documentary - The British Connection
10.00 Hill Street Blues
11.00 The Sandbagger (Rpt)
11.55 Closedown

TV2
Noon Magnum PI (Rpt)
12.55 The Pallisers (Rpt)
1.50 Crown Court (Rpt)
2.20 The Moomins
2.30 Play School
2.55 Sesame Street
3.55 After School, including:
4.00 The Voyages of Dr Dolittle
4.25 The Flintstones (Rpt)
5.00 Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (Part 4)
5.30 Dr Who - Planet of Evil (Part 1) (Rpt)
6.00 Sons and Daughters
6.30 Highway to Heaven
7.30 EastEnders
8.00 The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Part 4)
8.30 The Golden Girls
9.00 Carson’s Law
10.00 Eye Witness News
11.00 Naked City (B&W) (Rpt)
12.00am Closedown

1 Like