Wellington Radio ZLW closed on 30 September 1993, after more than 82 years of service. At the same time, Auckland Radio ZLD also closed.
Peter Baird, acting manager of Wellington Radio ZLW, at the radiotelegraph desk on closing day, 30 September 1993. Evening Post photo
Pre-closing announcements
This announcement was transmitted from ZLW on 29 September 1993, the day before closure. (Recorded on 4277 kHz)
Transcript:
CQ DE ZLW ZLW = WELLINGTONRADIO/ZLW AND AUCKLANDRADIO/ZLD ARE NO LONGER OPEN FOR PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE STATIONS WISHING TO SEND TRAFFIC TO NEW ZEALAND PLEASE QSO SYDNEYRADIO/VIS. WE STILL ACCEPT OBS AMVER QUN AND TRS AND ANY SAFETY MESSAGES. = QSX 4/8/12/16/22 MHZ CH 3/4/10 +
Here is another pre-closing transmission from ZLW, although this video may have been a demonstration for the 3 NEWS camera. The operator is Peter Baird.
Transcript:
CQ CQ CQ DE ZLW ZLW QSW 417 NAV WNG 110 =
CQ CQ DE ZLW ZLW = NAV WNG 110 = ON 30TH SEPTEMBER ALL TRANSMISSIONS FROM COAST RADIO STATIONS AUCKLANDRADIO/ZLD AND WELLINGTONRADIO/ZLW WILL BE DISPLACED BY TAUPO MARITIME RADIO
Here is yet another advisory message, believed to have been sent on closing day. Unfortunately, the first bit of the recording is missing. (Recorded on 417.5 kHz)
Transcript:
… RADIO STATIONS AUCKLAND/ZLD AND WELLINGTON/ZLW WILL BE DISCONTINUED. THESE STATIONS WILL BE REPLACED BY TAUPO MARITIME RADIO/ZLM PROVIDING HF RADIO TELEPHONE DISTRESS AND MARITIMESAFETY INFORMATION SERVICES. ALL W/T TRANSMISSIONS CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY AUCKLAND AND WELLING COAST RADIO STATIONS WILL BE DISCONTINUE. ENDS =
“It was decided to hold an on-site party at ZLW on closure night,” recalls Lyn Turner (wife of station manager Graham Turner). “Several guests were invited, including Radio Officers from the Cook Strait ferries, ex Managers and Technicians. Several people turned up and were witness to the final broadcasts from the station.
“At 7pm the official end-of-operations messages were sent. Peter Baird sent the voice message over 2182 and 4125 kHz and Allan Burgess sent the final official Morse transmission on 500 kHz. In Allan’s words: ‘I was not about to let the opportunity to ‘go down with the ship’ pass without one final Morse message!’ From that point on, no further traffic was accepted from ships and they were advised to contact Sydney Radio.”
The following transmission (recorded on 4277 kHz) bears a message time of 1900 UTC on the 29th, which would have been 7am local time on the 30th, the closing day. Despite the time reference, it may have been the “official” closing message which was sent at 0700 UTC on the 30th (1900 hours local time), since it concluded by saying that ZLW was still listening on its regular frequencies (the actual shutdown was still five hours away).
Transcript:
CQ CQ DE ZLW ZLW 291900UTC = AT 301200UTC SEPTEMBER 1993 WELLINGTONRADIO/ZLW AND AUCKLANDRADIO/ZLD WILL CLOSE DOWN. WE BRING TO AN END AN ERA OF W/T COMMUNICATIONS FROM NEW ZEALAND SPANNING 82 YEARS. TO OUR MANY FRIENDS OUT THERE WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICES OVER THE YEARS AND FOR ALL THE MESSAGES OF GOODWILL WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. BON VOYAGE, FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK FROM ALL THE STAFF AT ZLW/ZLD. QSX 4/8/12/16/22 MHZ CH 3/4/10 +
Final transmissions
Shortly before 2400 hours local time on 30 September, the absolute final broadcasts went out on 4125 and 2182 kHz as well as 500 kHz. Radio Operator Larry Hibbert delivered the final voice message over 2182 and 4125. Prior to 2400 hours Larry set off the Morse converter in the 500 room to send a similar message of farewell.
The first recording is 417.5 kHz:
Transcript:
CQ CQ DE ZLW ZLW = AFTER 82 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO MARINERS, LOCAL AND FOREIGN, OUR FINAL MOMENT IS UPON US. NO LONGER WILL THE CALLSIGNS OF ZLW AND ZLD RING THROUGH THE ETHER. IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS WE TRANSMIT OUR FINAL MESSAGE AND CLOSE ANOTHER PAGE IN THE HISTORY BOOK OF A ONCE PROUD MARITIME NATION. WE EXTEND TO YOU ALL, OUR FRIEND, COLLEAGUES AND ACQUAINTENCES, OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE AND SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MESSAGES OF GOODWILL. THIS IS ZLW OUT AND NO LONGER LISTENING 500/HF VA
Larry Hibbert read the final message on 2182 kHz at midnight local time.
Here is the radiotelephone version:
Transcript:
HELLO ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, THIS IS WELLINGTON RADIO, WELLINGTON RADIO, ZULU LIMA WHISKEY. AFTER 82 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO MARINERS, LOCAL AND FOREIGN, OUR FINAL MOMENT IS UPON US. NO LONGER WILL THE CALLSIGNS OF WELLINGTON RADIO – ZULU LIMA WHISKEY AND AUCKLAND RADIO – ZULU LIMA DELTA RING THROUGH THE ETHER. IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS WE TRANSMIT OUR FINAL MESSAGE AND CLOSE ANOTHER PAGE IN THE HISTORY BOOK OF A ONCE-PROUD MARITIME NATION. WE EXTEND TO YOU ALL – OUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND ACQUAINTANCES – OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE AND SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND MESSAGES OF GOODWILL. WELLINGTON RADIO WILL OPEN UP 4146 FOR ANY FURTHER CALLS. THIS IS WELLINGTON RADIO – ZULU LIMA WHISKEY OUT, AND NO LONGER LISTENING ON 2182, 4125 OR CHANNEL 16 VHF. GOOD EVENING.
[pause while listening]
ARATIKA, WELLINGTON RADIO. THANK YOU.
ZLW staff and guests at the farewell party on 30 September 1993
Back row (L-R): Allan Burgess (Operator ZLW), Ken Jones (R/O Arahanga/ZMBN), Graham Turner (Manager ZLW), Linda Fowler (Operator ZLW), Nigel Hardy (R/O Arahura/ZMBS), Ken Grace (R/O Aratika ZMFL), Vince O’Sullivan (R/O Aratika/ZMFL), Larry Hibbert (Operator ZLW).
Front row (L-R): Craig Wratten (Operator ZLW), Harry Harrison (Operator ZLW), Peter Baird (Operator & Acting Mgr ZLW).
Absent: Brendan Comerford and Robert ‘Titch’ Gibson (Operators ZLW). Photo courtesy Lyn Turner
Graham Turner prepares to speak at the party
“It was a very emotional time for the staff,” recalls Lyn Turner, “as all but two of them were leaving a career of service to others that was a huge part of their lives. Craig Wratten passed away not long after the closure and Larry Hibbert and Harry Harrison went on to pursue new lives in Australia. Linda Fowler went on to work for Wellington Harbour Radio on Beacon Hill and Robert Gibson went to work at Porirua Hospital.
“Graham Turner and Brendan Comerford joined Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM, which took over the maritime radio service at 0000hrs 1 October 1993. A year or two later, they were joined by Peter Baird and Allan Burgess, so nearly half of the final crew at ZLW were able to continue working together and pursuing their passion for maritime communications into its new era.
“Wellington Radio ZLW was more than just a transmitting and receiving station. It was its own little community who worked, socialized and played together in a unique environment. Families grew up together, parents looked after each other’s kids, milestones were celebrated and lifelong friendships were formed. It was a community in the truest sense of the word. When ZLW closed, more was lost than just the radio communications side, and that loss is still profoundly felt today.”
24 years later
Former ZLW staff who went to ZLM, gathered in 2017. L-R: Peter Baird, Allan Burgess, Graham Turner, Brendan Comerford. Photo: Tony Graham
Graham Turner worked as a Senior Operator at ZLM until retiring in April 2013.
Peter Baird retired from ZLM in 2017 and died 26 September 2023, age 77.
Allan Burgess retired from ZLM in 2017.
MORE RECORDINGS AND INFO COMING SOON
RELATED: Hear the final transmissions from Auckland Radio ZLD, which closed the same day as Wellington Radio.
