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Post Auction 10 policy update
VHF-FM Licences: Post Auction 10 Policy Update - 29 May 2008
Full commercial licences
A number of fully commercial long term licences were allocated in Auction 10. These were generally licensed and used on a short term basis prior to the auction.
Applications for further short term licences will be considered by the Ministry provided they are technically compatible with the published band plan for the period after 2011. Any such short term licences created will expire no later than 30 June 2009 and will be considered for a long term allocation in a future auction. An auction may be practicable prior to 30 June 2009, depending on the number of licences, but would need to be confirmed and approved by Government nearer to the time. However if a long term allocation is not held, further short term licences may be considered in accordance with normal policy.
The Ministry will also consider applications for further short term licences for frequencies which are not compatible with the 2011 band plan, but only where there was a licence in operation on the frequency/site immediately prior to Auction 10 held on 22 May 2008. Any short term licences in this category will expire no later than 30 June 2009, to enable the transition of licence frequencies from the current FM band plan to the new 2011 band plan.
Local commercial licences
The Ministry also auctioned a number of local commercial licences at main coverage sites where these were technically available. These licences are for a medium term period (10 years) and are at sites which give a broad coverage of the surrounding area. The licences are also restricted as to ownership and programming.
The Ministry will consider applications for use of an alternative site which retains a full coverage of the area, but is unlikely to agree to applications for changes of site or power which significantly reduce the area of coverage of the auctioned licence.
A number of local commercial licences were not sold at auction or subsequently passed in. The Ministry will be developing policies, for Government approval, for the future use of these unsold licences. In the meantime the Ministry will not allocate the unsold licences and will not accept applications for short term use of the relevant frequencies.
These licences are:
| Area | Site | Frequency |
| Eastern Bay of Plenty | Putauaki | 93.7 MHz |
| Eastern Bay of Plenty | Putauaki | 104.9 MHz |
| Rotorua | Pukepoto | 105.5 MHz |
| Gisborne | Wheatstone Rd | 100.5 MHz |
| Gisborne | Wheatstone Rd | 105.3 MHz |
| Hawkes Bay | Mt Erin | 105.5 MHz |
| Wanganui | Shakespeare Rd | 100.8 MHz |
| Wairarapa | Otahoua | 100.7 MHz |
| Wairarapa | Otahoua | 105.5 MHz |
| Nelson | Grampians | 100.2 MHz |
| Timaru | Mt Studholme | 105.9 MHz |
| Dunedin | Mt Cargill | 106.2 MHz |
| Queenstown | Peninsula Hill | 100.8 MHz |
| Queenstown | Peninsula Hill | 105.6 MHz |
| Invercargill | Hedgehope | 104.4 MHz |
Reserved frequencies
As a part of the policy announced in October 2006 the Ministry has planned a number of frequencies at various sites reserved for future use after 2011 to address specific issues as in recommendation 13.4 of 26 July 2006 Cabinet policy committee decision. The sites and frequencies are:
| Area | Site | Frequency |
| Eastern Bay of Plenty | Putauaki | 105.7 MHz |
| Western Bay of Plenty | Kopukairoa | 106.2 MHz |
| Rotorua | Pukepoto | 106.3 MHz |
| Gisborne | Wheatstone Rd | 106.1 MHz |
| Hawkes Bay | Mt Erin | 106.3 MHz |
| Taranaki | Mt Egmont | 106.0 MHz |
| Wanganui | Shakespeare Rd | 106.4 MHz |
| Wairarapa | Otahoua | 106.3 MHz |
| Nelson | Grampians | 106.4 MHz |
| Dunedin | Mt Cargill | 105.4 MHz |
| Queenstown | Peninsula Hill | 106.4 MHz |
| Invercargill | Forest Hill | 106.0 MHz |
Licence applications for use of these frequencies will not be accepted. Policy for the use and allocation of these frequencies after 2011 will be developed in due course. Any inquiries should be addressed to: Manager, Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning.
