What you need to know
If you want to get air time for 1-2 hours without setting up a radio station
If you want to broadcast just for 1 or 2 hours, you can do this without setting up your own radio station or getting a licence in your own name. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage(external link) (MCH) has a list of community radio stations you can contact like Community Access Radio(external link) or Access Internet Radio(external link).
Another option is to negotiate air time with another community-based radio station, without getting a licence in your own name.
If you want to get a licence in your own name
You must get an Approved Radio Engineer (ARE) to apply for a licence on your behalf.
Having a licence doesn’t automatically give you preferential rights to broadcast from a certain site. You'll need to talk to the site owner or landlord to get approval to broadcast from your preferred location.
Fees
$150.00 per year.
You may be eligible for a funding grant. Contact MCH to apply.
Additional costs:
- An engineering fee, agreed between you and your ARE.
- Levies to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA)(external link) under the Broadcasting Act 1989.
- Performing rights and artist copyright or royalty fees to APRA AMCOS(external link).
Reserved frequencies
There are a number of frequencies around New Zealand that are reserved for non-commercial broadcasting. Some are in use, but there are other reservations that are available.
RSM grants and registers non-commercial licences for these reserved frequencies, with agreement from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage.
See Regional and Community Broadcasting Policy Framework(external link) for more information.
With this licence you must:
Follow the technical parameters of the licence, which include operating:
- on a specific frequency
- up to a set power
- from a defined transmitting location.
Pay an annual fee to keep your licence current. All non-commercial sound broadcasting licences are valid until April 2031.
Operate under the relevant Ministry of Culture & Heritage licence agreement.
Not operate in a way that causes interference to other radio services.
Process
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MCH will check whether:
- there are any competing applicants wanting the same reserved frequencies, and
- your licence application meets the criteria for regional and community broadcasting.
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If your application meets the MCH criteria, the ARE will engineer the licence based on a reserved frequency.
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Once your licence is certified you’ll get an email:
- Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your licence.
- Make payment if requested.
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You’ll receive a further email, confirming that your licence has been granted.
This will contain the conditions of your licence, and the date you can start broadcasting.
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Set up your equipment in line with your licence conditions.
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Start broadcasting within 21 months from the date your licence is registered.