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AM/FM 2031 expiry and potential reassignment

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is responsible for managing radio spectrum in New Zealand, including allocating rights for the use of the spectrum. There are currently around 1,053 licences held within the AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) spectrum bands. These licences sit within 2 Crown Management Rights:

• AM (0.521-1.612 MHz) under Crown Management Right 206
• FM (88.4-106.63 MHz) under Crown Management Right 207.

These 2 management rights, along with the licences registered under them, expire on 2 April 2031. We understand there is demand for spectrum access after the 2031 expiry, so this paper proposes options for the potential reassignment of these licences. We want your feedback on: 

• the proposed policy objectives
• the reallocation process and timeline for commercial broadcasting
• pricing methodology and related assumptions for commercial licences
• the duration of AM/FM licences beyond 2031
• the allocation and reservation of the amount of spectrum available for non-commercial (community and iwi/Māori) AM/FM radio broadcasting beyond the 2031 expiry.

The total industry estimated population counts are 32 million for FM and 27 million for AM. These estimates are the aggregate of the estimated population coverage for each individual licence – which is why the estimated total industry figures are higher than the New Zealand population of 5.3 million people. For instance, in Wellington the main FM transmission site at Mount Kaukau has 20 active licences contributing to the aggregated Wellington population coverage (20 x 209,000 = 4,180,000).   

These estimates are based off existing coverage and population estimates, which used older census data. We have adjusted these by regional population growth rates to provide the current estimates. There are also some licences (community and iwi radio) for which we do not hold data, so the populations covered by those licences, are not captured in these figures. Of the 896 FM and 155 AM spectrum licences, we do not have data for 276 FM and 53 AM licences respectively.

How to make a submission

Please send your written submission by 5pm on 4 July 2025. Please include your name or the name of your organisation and contact details. You can make your submission by email or post.

Email (preferred option)

Attach your submission as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment and send to Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz, subject line: ‘AM/FM radio broadcasting submission’.

Post

Send your submission to:

Radio Spectrum Management Policy and Planning
Building, Resources and Markets
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
PO Box 1473
Wellington 6104

Contact us

If you would like information on the estimated population coverage for your company (across the total number of licences you hold), please email us: Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz. We aim to reply to you within 5 working days.

Please direct any questions you may have on the submissions process to: Radio.Spectrum@mbie.govt.nz