Television in New Zealand
TV emerges in New Zealand - Timeline
New Zealand’s first non-experimental television transmission was made on 1 June 1960. But this wasn't the country's first foray into television. A New Zealander, Robert Jack, successfully experimented with TV in the 1920s. Many more had their first taste of it as the government debated what path to take in the 1950s.
Early evening news on TV - Timeline
New Zealanders are used to receiving their early evening news on television at 6 p.m. every night of the week. But the current format only stabilised in the early 1990s as competition intensified – and channels realised that news would win them the night's audience. Until then the news screened sometime between 6 and 8 p.m.
Kiwi music shows on TV - Timeline
New Zealanders can now view music videos over the internet or on music channels C4 and Juice TV. But after TV was introduced in 1960 several generations of New Zealanders kept up with the music scene through dedicated music shows on mainstream TV. Popular shows included C’mon in the 60s, Happen Inn in the 70s, Ready to roll, Radio with pictures and Shazam in the 80s, and RTR in the 90s.
Radio and TV - Election Days
Radio days
Robert Jack
First live TV in NZ begins in Auckland
Shows a machine workshop where two men are working at lathes. One questions the other who has 'square eyes'. A calendar on the wall show the date June 2, the day after commercial television broadcasts began.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-310-078
Cartoonist: Lodge, Nevile Sidney
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
Elections on TV - Timeline
It took a while for television to make its mark on New Zealand elections, but since the 1980s the small screen has been the decisive campaign battleground. Politicians and parties seek to sway voters through slick TV advertisements and try to outsmart their rivals in live leaders’ debates. At the same time, campaign and election-night news coverage has become more extensive and lavish, especially since TV3 emerged as a rival to Television New Zealand (TVNZ) in 1989. Here we explore a few of the highlights – and lowlights – of New Zealand elections in the TV age.
Nash says NZ to get TV
A series of vignettes re Nash's announcement in November 1959 that New Zealand will have TV within the next 12 months.
The first picture shows Prime Minister Nash and Minister of Broadcasting, Raymond Boord with a television set; the second shows a family gathered around a set; the third shows a man watching a programme called Tom Mix; the fourth shows a newspaper seller with a billboard; the fifth involves people watching the screen and the sixth shows party leaders Nash and Holyoake in an election campaign. Refers to the belief that television will show nothing but rubbish.
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