Kaitoa ZMGC

• Home
• General Information
  ▼
  • Latest updates
  • 2018 Commemorations
  • History of NZ spark stations
  • Coast radio callsigns
  • Recruitment advertising
  • Radio Section history
    ▼
    • Radio Section, part 2: 1939-1940
    • Radio Section, part 3: 1941-1943
    • Radio Section, part 4: 1943-1944
    • Radio Section, part 5: 1944-1946
    • Radio Section, part 6: 1946-1950
    • Radio Section, part 7: 1950–1955
    • Radio Section, part 8: 1955–1960
    • Radio Section, part 9: 1960-1965
    • Radio Information Bulletins
  • NZPO Crystal Laboratory
    ▼
    • Additional Comments on NZPO Crystal Laboratory
  • Radio regulation in NZ
  • 1900 – 1909
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    • 1907: Marconi proposes to build NZ wireless stations
    • 1909: First recorded case of radio interference in NZ
    • 1909: Wireless to link the South Pacific
  • 1910 – 1919
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    • 1912: German wireless stations for Pacific
    • 1912: Wireless to link New Zealand and Australia
    • 1912: RMS Tahiti aims to break wireless record
    • 1912: How wireless works
    • 1912: Letter 1 to NZ from Telefunken
    • 1912: Letter 2 to NZ from Telefunken
    • 1913: Wireless reaches nearly 3000 miles
    • 1913: Post Office progress in radiotelegraphy
    • 1914: The Australasian Wireless System
    • 1914: Radiotelegraph charges as low as possible
    • 1914: NZ wireless stations and operators praised
    • 1914: Military commissions for P&T staff
    • 1915: Letter from De Forest
    • 1916: Wireless weather forecasts resumed
  • 1920 – 1929
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    • 1923: Portable radio tests in Wellington
    • 1924: Government steamer tests radio direction-finding
    • 1924: NZ radio amateurs communicate with England
    • 1926: Ships limit 450m use to reduce interference
    • Morse in the NZ Post Office
  • 1930 – 1939
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    • 1934: Changes to radio callsigns
    • 1935: Government upgrades wireless stations
  • 1940 – 1949
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    • World War 2 ZC1 transceiver
  • 1950 – 1959
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    • 1958: NZPO Report on Overseas Radio Services
  • 1960 – 1969
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    • 1960: NZPO Report
    • 1962: Assessing effect on radio of nuclear detonation
  • 1970 – 1979
  • 1980 – 1989
  • 1990 – 1996
  • Little mysteries
• Auckland Radio
• Awanui Radio
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  • Awanui Radio Managers
  • Awanui Radio 1911-1913: Planning & Construction
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    • 1911: Search narrows for Northland wireless site
    • 1911: Awanui site plan
    • 1912: Preliminary work completed at Awanui
    • Awanui accommodations
    • Awanui tower and aerial
    • Awanui spark transmitter
    • Awanui operating room
    • Awanui engine house
  • Awanui Radio 1913-1919
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    • 1913: New Zealand’s first wireless press report
    • 1913: High-power Awanui wireless station on air
    • 1915: Awanui Radio replaces Auckland station
    • 1916: Nillson appointed officer in charge at Awanui
  • Awanui Radio 1920-1930
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    • 1920: Navigator seeks time signals from Awanui
    • 1921: Awanui Radio VLA location not ideal
    • 1928: Pellow leaves Awanui, closure likely
    • 1930: Twopence would buy Awanui mast
  • Awanui Radio 1931-Now
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    • Audio: The spark-gap men of Awanui Radio
    • 1950s: Photos at Awanui
    • 1970: Memories of Awanui
    • 1980: 50th anniversary of the closure of ZLA
    • 1994: Photos at Awanui
    • 1995: Awanui ZLA returns
    • 2002: Awanui active again!
    • 2004: Awanui Radio ZLA gets infringement notice
    • 2013: Hams mark 100 years since VLA opening
    • 2015: Update on the new Awanui Radio ZLA
    • 2018: Visit to the site of Awanui Radio
• Awarua Radio
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  • Awarua Radio Staff
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    • Radio amateurs at ZLB
  • Awarua Radio 1908-1913: Planning and Construction
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    • 1911: Search on for Southland radio station site
    • 1912: Awarua station described in detail
    • 1913: P&T prepares to take over Awarua Radio
    • 1913: Awarua and Awanui stations to open tomorrow
  • Awarua Radio 1913-1919
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    • 1913: Awarua Radio opens
    • 1918: Wizard lighting system a success
  • Awarua Radio 1920-1929
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    • 1929: AW Head to take command at Awarua Radio
  • Awarua Radio 1930-1939
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    • 1930: Amateur licence for Awarua Radio station
    • 1935: Yacht Ngataki reports via Awarua Radio
    • 1938: Awarua Radio’s original 400ft tower to fall
    • 1938: Awarua Radio’s 400ft tower demolished
    • Frank Barlow remembers Awarua Radio 1939-1941
    • Water treatment plant at Awarua Radio
  • Awarua Radio 1940-1949
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    • 1940: Additions and renovations at Awarua
    • 1941: Three new towers at Awarua Radio
    • Frank Barlow remembers Awarua Radio 1941-1945
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      • Frank Barlow remembers Awarua Radio: Sequel
    • 1941: RT service for small ships at Awarua Radio
    • 1945: Aerial plan for Awarua Radio ZLB
    • 1945: Awarua Radio steps up when lines go down
    • NZ Navy Wrens in secret ops during WW2
  • Awarua Radio 1950-1959
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    • 1953: Green fingers at Awarua Radio
    • 1956: The Awarua Radio story
  • Awarua Radio 1960-1969
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    • 1960s: Unknown voices of Awarua Radio
    • 1967: No more train stop at Awarua Radio
    • 1967: Fire at Awarua Radio ZLB hostel
    • 1967: Awarua photo feature
  • Awarua Radio 1970-1979
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    • 1970: ZLB featured in The Katipo magazine
    • 1975: New solid-state Nautel transmitters at ZLB
    • 1976: Two Awarua Radio masts to topple
    • 1976: Two Awarua Radio masts demolished
    • 1976: Two new towers for 500 kHz at Awarua
    • 1977: Third Awarua Radio tower to fall
    • 1978: New transmitter building for Awarua Radio
    • Memories of Ron Lowry and Awarua in the 1970s
  • Awarua Radio 1980-1991
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    • 1984: Awarua ‘airport’
    • 1985: Map and plan of Awarua Radio ZLB
    • 1985: Plans of housing at Awarua Radio
    • 1985: Plans of operating buildings at Awarua Radio
    • 1988: 75th jubilee plans
    • 1988: 75th jubilee event
    • 1991: Awarua Radio closes
  • Awarua Radio 1991-Now
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    • Unwin Radar
    • Awarua Tracking Station
    • 2014: Awarua centennial
    • 2016: Awarua researcher seeks home guard stories
    • 2016: New Awarua book
  • Awarua Communications Museum
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    • 2013: Awarua museum supporters at Owaka
    • 2015: Museum set to open
    • 2015: Museum opens
    • 2016: Awarua theatre
    • Creed telegraph key
• Chatham Islands Radio
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  • Chathams Radio Staff
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1902-1913: Construction
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    • 1902: Chatham Islands ask for wireless service
    • 1913: Chathams wireless station to open in August
    • 1913: Davies takes charge at Chatham Islands Radio
    • 1913: JL Davies helping to build Chathams station
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1913-1929
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    • 1913: New wireless station opened at Chathams
    • 1913: Chatham Islands station performing well
    • 1913: Wireless man tells of Chatham Islands life
    • 1917: Life at Chatham Islands wireless station
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1930-1949
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    • 1934: Wind power for Chatham Islands Radio
    • 1939: Chatham Islands in NZ history
    • 1941: Radio station off air while Holmwood attacked
    • 1946: First flights to Chatham Islands
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1950-1969
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    • 1956: A radio operator’s life on the Chatham Islands
    • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 1
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      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 2
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 3
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 4
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 5
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 6
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 7
      • Jack Ryan remembers ZLC 1957-1966, part 8
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1970-1979
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    • Remembering Chatham Islands radiotelegraph
  • Chatham Islands Radio 1980-1991
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    • 1988: 75th anniversary of Chatham Islands Radio
• Taupo Radio
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  • Transmitter site
  • Receiver site
  • MEOSAR earth station
  • Taupo Radio 2000-2009
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    • 2003: When trouble strikes, Taupo Radio is listening
  • Taupo Radio 2010-2019
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    • 2016: Tongan radio op trains at Taupo Radio
    • 2016: Taupo Radio antennas damaged by ice
• Wellington Radio
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  • Wellington Radio Staff
  • Wellington Radio 1911-19
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    • 1911: Land to be acquired for Tinakori Hills station
    • 1911-1912: Tinakori Hill construction
    • 1912: Sketch of Tinakori Hill wireless aerial
    • 1912: Opening of wireless station on Tinakori Hill
    • 1914: Radio site to be named ‘Mt Wakefield’
  • Wellington Radio 1920-29
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    • 1923: Steel tower erected
    • 1926: Steel tower collapses
    • 1929: Wellington Radio to get short-wave ability
  • Wellington Radio 1930-39
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    • 1934: Extension at ZLW receiving station
  • Wellington Radio 1940-49
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    • 1941: RT service for small ships at ZLW Wellington
    • 1945: Access to Tinakori Hill under review
  • Wellington Radio 1950-59
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    • 1954: Clyde Williams returns to ZLW
    • 1958: Clyde Williams returns to ZLW for last time
  • Wellington Radio 1960-69
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    • 1965: The life of a junior technician at ZLW
    • Mt Crawford receiver site
    • Grid-block keying for small ships transmitter at ZLW
  • Wellington Radio 1970-79
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    • Mysterious misbehaving Navy transmitter
  • Wellington Radio 1980-93
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    • 1985: Description of ZLW site and buildings
    • 1993: Wellington Radio ZLW closes
  • Wellington Radio 1993-Now
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    • 2011: Centenary of Wellington Radio opening
    • 2013: 20th anniversary of Wellington Radio closure
    • 2017: Former techs visit Wellington Radio ZLW site
• Himatangi-Makara
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  • Himatangi Radio
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    • Chief Technicians
    • Technical Details
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      • Himatangi Radio in detail by George King
      • Himatangi Radio bearers
      • Himatangi carrier room
      • Himatangi drive room
      • Underfloor services
      • Himatangi Radio aerial feedlines
      • Emergency power system
      • STC DS13 transmitter
    • Himatangi Radio 1951-1959
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      • 1951: Himatangi Radio under construction
      • 1953: Opening of Himatangi Radio
      • 1953: Himatangi sends Queen’s Christmas message to world
    • Himatangi Radio 1960-1969
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      • 1968: Wahine storm strikes Himatangi
      • The life of a Himatangi technician
    • Himatangi Radio 1970-1979
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      • Raoul and Campbell Islands radio circuits
      • Survival stories from Himatangi Radio
    • Himatangi Radio 1980-1993
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      • 1988: Himatangi house sales stalled
    • Himatangi Radio 1993-Now
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      • 1996: Himatangi Radio reunion
  • Makara Radio
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    • Chief Technicians
    • Makara Radio 1944-1949
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      • 1945: New radio station at Makara
      • 1945: Evening Post feature on Makara Radio
      • 1945: Heavy traffic as radiotelephone resumes
      • 1945: How two-way radio link is operated
      • 1945: First call to New York via Tinakori and Makara
    • Makara Radio 1950-1959
    • Makara Radio 1960-1969
    • Makara Radio 1970-1979
    • Makara Radio 1980-1996
    • Makara Radio 1996-Now
  • Radiotelephone Terminal Services
  • Radiotelegraph and Cable Terminal, Wellington
• Other Stations
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  • Lighthouses and beacons
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    • 1917: Wireless for lighthouses
    • Baring Head Lighthouse
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      • Brothers Island Lighthouse radio station
    • Brothers Island Lighthouse
    • Cape Reinga Lighthouse
    • Centre Island Lighthouse
    • Cuvier Island Lighthouse
    • Dog Island Lighthouse
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      • 1983: Dog Island Lighthouse profile
    • Farewill Spit Lighthouse
    • Kahurangi Point Lighthouse
    • Pencarrow Lighthouse
    • Puysegur Point Lighthouse
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      • 1925: Wireless at Puysegur Point Lighthouse
      • 1942: Fire destroys Puysegur Point lighthouse
    • Stephens Is Lighthouse
    • Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse
  • Apia Radio (Samoa)
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    • Apia Radio Managers
    • 1913: Materials arriving
    • 1914: NZ asked to seize Apia wireless station
    • 1914: Samoa surrenders
    • 1914: Samoa occupation
    • 1919: Apia Radio in Telefunken news
  • Campbell Island
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    • 1963-1964: Observing the ionosphere from Campbell Island
  • Caswell Sound
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    • Caswell Sound Radio – Part 2
  • Christchurch Radio
  • Gisborne Harbour Board
  • Macquarie Island
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    • 1915: Wireless operator describes life on Macquarie
    • 1915: Macquarie Island radio station closed
  • Milford Sound
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    • 1946: Frank Barlow at Milford Sound Radio
    • 1952: Clyde Williams at Milford Sound Radio
      ▼
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 2
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 3
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 4
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 5
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 6
      • Clyde Williams at Milford Sound – Part 7
    • 1968: VHF radio testing on the Milford Track
  • Niue Radio
  • Nuku’alofa Radio (Tonga)
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    • 1920: New wireless station in Tonga
    • 2016: Tongan radio op trains at Taupo Radio
  • Papeete Radio (Tahiti)
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    • 1915: Papeete radio opens
  • Pennant Hills (Australia)
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    • 1910: Change of location raises cost and questions
    • 1911: Pennant Hills official testing
    • 1912: Pennant Hills model for Awanui and Awarua
  • Port Moresby Radio (PNG)
  • Quartz Hill (NZBS)
  • Raoul Island (Kermadecs)
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    • Raoul Island: 1939-1949
    • Raoul Island: 1950-Present
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      • 1950: Visiting vessels
      • Raoul Island transport
      • Bull Paddock adventure
      • Weather observation
  • Rarotonga Radio (Cook Is)
  • Rotoroa Island
  • Roviana (Solomon Islands)
  • Scott Base (Antarctica)
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    • Scott Base: 1956-1960
    • Scott Base: 1960-1970
    • Scott Base: 1970-1980
    • Scott Base: 1980-1992
    • Vanda Station (Antarctica)
  • Other marine radio stations
• Ships
  ▼
  • 1995: Final morse signals from Cook Strait ferries
  • Abel Tasman VLKT
  • Arahanga ZMBN
  • Arahura ZMBS
  • Aramoana ZMRD
  • Aratika ZMFL
  • Awatea ZMBJ
  • Dominion Monarch GRGG
  • Flinders Bay GYSA
  • Gothic MAUQ
    ▼
    • 1953-1954: SS Gothic as royal yacht
  • Holmburn ZMFV
  • Holmlea ZMJH
  • John Wilson
  • Kaimiro ZMEC
  • Kaitoa ZMGC
  • Kawatiri ZMKX
  • Kokiri
  • Maui Pomare
  • Maranui ZMLA
  • Oriana GVSN
  • Pamir ZMKG
    ▼
    • 1941: New Zealand seizes barque Pamir
  • Persic GDRZ
  • Port Waikato ZMJN
  • Rangitane GDBV
  • Tainui
  • Tamahine
  • Tarihiko ZMLP
  • Tofua ZMLI
  • Tutanekai
  • Wahine ZMGW
  • Waikare ZMCT
  • Waimea ZMRU
  • Waiotahi ZMJW
• Distress
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  • 1924: Ripple founders
  • 1926: Manaia strands
  • 1930: Tahiti sinks
  • 1934: Barque Favell
  • 1939: Waikouaiti wrecked
    ▼
    • Waikouaiti aground near Bluff [PDF]
    • Underwriters abandon stranded Waikouaiti
    • Inquiry: Waikouaiti captain’s error of judgment
  • 1940: Niagara sunk by German mine
  • 1940: Holmwood sunk by German raider
    ▼
    • 1941: Officers and passengers describe attack
    • 1941: Inquiry criticises Holmwood captain
  • 1940: Rangitane sunk by German raider
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    • 1941: Rangitane prisoners describe their treatment
    • 1941: Captain Upton recalls attack on Rangitane
  • 1943: Arahura strands
  • 1951: Yacht Race Disaster
  • 1954: Hauiti wrecked
  • 1959: Holmglen sinks
  • 1966: Monte Palomares
  • 1966: Kaitawa sinks
  • 1968: Wahine sinks
    ▼
    • 1968: Victims of the Wahine disaster
    • 1968: Wahine rescue
    • 1968: Salvaging Wahine
    • 1973: 5th anniversary of Wahine disaster (video)
    • 1988: 20th anniversary of Wahine disaster (video)
    • 2018: ZM50GW – 50th anniversary of Wahine disaster
    • 2018: News reports on the Wahine 50th anniversary
  • 1968: Maranui sinks
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    • 2018: ZM50LA – 50th anniversary of Maranui sinking
  • 1968: Gothic fire
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    • News: Seven die in fire at sea on liner SS Gothic
    • News: Damaged Gothic heads back to NZ
    • News: Mother died on Gothic trying to save family
    • Captain and crew sail crippled Gothic back to NZ
    • Radio communication with SS Gothic after the fire
      ▼
      • News: Morse signal XXX MAUQ told story of tragedy
    • Preliminary report: Fatal fire aboard SS Gothic
      ▼
      • Preliminary Report: Gothic fire, part 2
      • Preliminary Report: Gothic fire, part 3
      • Preliminary Report: Gothic fire, part 4
      • Preliminary Report: Gothic fire, part 5
    • Repairs after fire on liner SS Gothic
    • SS Gothic: The final chapter
    • 1991: Gothic fire, the night Judi will never forget
    • 2010: Letter from Charles Glennie about Gothic fire
    • 2017: Face-to-face with disaster: The Gothic fire
    • 2018: ZM50MAUQ – 50th anniversary of Gothic fire
    • 2018: Media coverage of SS Gothic fire anniversary
  • 1971: Endeavour II
  • 1973: Stina sinks
  • 1981: Pacific Charger runs ashore
  • 1986: Mikhail Lermontov sinks
    ▼
    • Testimony of radio officer Anatoliy Krutkov
    • Radio equipment aboard HMNZS Taupo
    • Report by radio operator David Hopgood, Arahura
    • Radio log from inter-island ferry Arahura
  • 1991: Celtic Kiwi sinks
  • 2009: Princess Ashika
  • 2018: Butiraoi capsizes
    ▼
    • Butiraoi a week overdue, NZ asked to search
    • NZ Air Force completes first day of ferry search
    • NZ Air Force finds seven survivors of Butiraoi
    • Australia, USA join search for Butiraoi survivors
    • Aerial search for Butiraoi survivors suspended
    • Official reports into the sinking of MV Butiraoi
• Training
  ▼
  • Radio technician training at Wellington East Post Office
  • Radio technician training at Trentham
  • Radio technician training at Rugby Street
  • Radio technician training at New Zealand polytechs
  • Radio Officer training at Wellington Polytechnic
  • Radio technician training at Post Office radio stations
  • 1985 Syllabus for Technicians Cert (Radio)
  • Memories of Post Office radio tech training
• People
  ▼
  • Ray Allsop
  • George Askey
  • Peter Baird
  • FE (Frank) Barlow
  • Frank H Bissmire
  • JU (Jack) Bonisch
  • LW (Pat) Bourke
    ▼
    • 1917: LW Bourke leaving Awanui wireless station
    • 1921: LW Bourke retires
  • DC Boyes
  • Paul D Burke
  • Arthur Cheshire
  • WRH (Harry) Clarke
  • PJ (Joe) Collett
  • Patrick J (Pat) Columb
  • David J Currie
  • John L Davies
    ▼
    • 1917: JL Davies moves from Awarua to Awanui
  • James B Dolan
  • Brian J Donaldson
  • JT (Jim) Dudley
  • John R Duncan
  • EE (Dun) Dunwoodie
  • Elvin (Ellie) Ellenden
  • LJ (Les) Elliston
  • Laurie G Emens
  • Fred W Gates
  • Tom Gates
  • C Alan Glennie
  • Tony Graham
  • CN (Chas) Hair
  • James H Hampton
  • AW (Hec) Head
  • AJ Helean
  • JG (Jack) Hogan
  • Dennis E Horan
  • John Houlihan
  • Frank Hunt
  • George King
  • EH Lawn
  • George W Marston
  • D McMahon
  • H John Milne
  • Reg Motion
  • Joseph J Orchiston
  • Alf Pellow
  • Lester J Price
  • Eugene Reinhard
  • JF (Jack) Ryan
  • L George Scull
  • DC Shaw
  • AF (Andy) Smith
  • Palmer O Spry
  • LH (Les) Steel
  • KW Walford
  • HW (Bill) Walker
  • WA (Alec) Wallace
  • Ralph S Wheeler
    ▼
    • 1916: RS Wheeler leaving Chatham Islands
  • WFC (Frank) Whiteman
  • R Clyde Williams
  • ALM (Les) Willis
  • CR Wyllie
• Roll of Honour
• Audio/Video – New Zealand
  ▼
  • Audio/Video – Australia
  • Audio/Video – Europe
  • Audio/Video – Ships
  • Audio/Video – General
• Resources
  ▼
  • Morse Code resources
    ▼
    • Message handling forms
    • Morse Code abbreviations
    • Morse Code prosigns
    • Q Signals for amateur radio
    • Signal Reporting
  • Radio room clocks and clock faces
  • NZ Straight Key Night
    ▼
    • Results – December 2018
    • Results – June 2019
  • Sources & References
  • Links
• Contact
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  • Feedback