It’s invaded our Kiwi mates as well. 
Credit to Dallas Gurney, broadcasting live from his shop on Whananaki FM (which I’m streaming on iHeartRadio from Auckland) during the Northland weather event. Live guests in the studio, voices straight from the community, and constant local updates on road closures and flooding.
It sounds full, connected and genuinely community-led - not a relay or voice-tracked show from Auckland, but a broadcaster committed to actually serving the people around him. The localism that today’s “local” radio has forgotten (specifically the commercial networks).
And the perks of being station manager and announcer - this morning’s playlist includes “Singing in the Rain”, “It Keeps Raining” and “Waterfalls”.
Absolutely worth a listen. Community radio at its best.
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Would someone be able to do me a favour and get a recording please? I’d have a listen myself, but I’m in the UK, meaning that:
- I can’t spare the time to listen right now, courtesy of an early start at work tomorrow.
- iHeartRadio is geo-blocked
Audio aircheck from this morning. @BBI45
Some notes from me:
Background shop noise (customers chatting, general store ambience) gives the broadcast the feel of a live outside broadcast (OB).
Music selection fits the moment:
Sample playlist included:
- Islands in the Stream
- Takin’ Care of Business
- Waterloo
- I’m Still Standing
- Slippin’ Away
- Singing in the Rain
- It Keeps Raining
- Waterfalls
Frequent mentions of locals by name, including people who’ve sent in photos from their properties. In a small community, listeners know exactly who and where these people are.
Interview with Jodi Edwards, Civil Defence co-ordinator for Whananaki and also the local school principal.
Broadcast briefly interrupted when Dallas had to fix the store’s EFTPOS machine - a moment that perfectly sums up the reality of running a station from a general store and adds to the charm and authenticity.
10am top-of-hour NZME affiliate news and sport, followed immediately by a local breaking news sting.
Overall, a great example of what “live, local radio” actually sounds like - imperfect, human, community-focused and invaluable during significant local events.
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Dare I ask if the networks are covering anything locally? 
More FM and The Hits are running non-stop 10 formats with speedbreaks from Christchurch/Auckland network - opting out of going local despite both being local civil defence stations - go figure! (it’s not a declared local emergency hence why they probably haven’t opted to switch to local programmes)
Missed opportunity for More FM to go live with their new local breakfast show today IMO.
Dallas sounds like a lot like Marcus Lush!
Happy memories of going to whannanaki most summers
Hope everyone is doing ok up there
All the regular shows back on deck tomorrow
For 2026
When Whananaki FM goes live to air from a general store, its studio was not fully soundproofed.
Sometimes I pick up RNZ on shortwave from Melbourne overnight. Interesting how different it is to the ABC. No talkback. Much more formal atmosphere, people seem more… withdrawn or something? No fanfare on the hourly news. An entirely different culture
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Shhh, we’re not proud of ourselves.
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The lack of fanfare does feel very Kiwi to me. “Stop drawing attention to yourself. You’re not that great. It’s just the news.” I’m a dual citizen but have never lived in NZ so can only go off what I’ve heard as to the ways of my other people
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RNZ is a pretty dull or no fuss sounding product when it comes to its presentation which is a shame when you enjoy station branding and imaging.
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I appreciate that they are still on shortwave though, as I’m sure many others do throughout the Pacific and the world. The ABC foolishly cut Radio Australia on shortwave years ago. RNZ is now one of the few broadcasters in English that aren’t China or religious nutcases
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I live for the day RNZ finally drops the pips.
Is this what people on the internet call “rage baiting”?
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Dan Bernstone, co-founder of Southern Cross Country Radio - which ended broadcasting in November, has joined NZME as Music Director/Operations Manager for iHeartCountry NZ.
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If you cant beat ‘em join ‘em as the saying goes.
Dan’s gone full circle, I remember he worked for NZME (then TRN) on ZM about 20 years ago now. He’s certainly had an interesting career. Nice guy too (he trained me at radio school 
)
The guy who allegedly assaulted Dallas has appeared in court:
(I met Dallas as well and he was quite friendly too)