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Radio 3YZ was the only show in town until 1964.
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DescriptionPhoto 1:Radio Announcer John Pike (aka) Uncle John. late 1940s.
Photo 2:Jim Breeze
Memories, maladies and Jan Newby writing letters to the paper demanding modern music*
Radio 3YZ was the only show in town until 1964. Non commercial local with links to the National Programme. John Pike voiced all the characters in 'Simon and the Gang', Hop Owen produced novelty recordings voiced by Reon Murtha, race caller, and local stories narrated by Bill Toft [The Barber explained as smoke from cooking pots up the Valley].
1964, 3ZA (3YW Westport), was launched with promotion in Grey Star. John Mortimer, copywriter, arrived. Roger Tennant also worked at Broadcasting House. Commercial advertising was well received.
On air, "Rocking" Reon did breakfast, there was Bob Sutton, later Paul Lineham ex Radio Hauraki and John Colwill.
The playlist was mixed: Sandy Posey, Hendrix, Paul Simon. Naturally, Jim Breeze was the newsman.Map[1] ContributorAlan Beck
Photo 2:Jim Breeze
Memories, maladies and Jan Newby writing letters to the paper demanding modern music*
Radio 3YZ was the only show in town until 1964. Non commercial local with links to the National Programme. John Pike voiced all the characters in 'Simon and the Gang', Hop Owen produced novelty recordings voiced by Reon Murtha, race caller, and local stories narrated by Bill Toft [The Barber explained as smoke from cooking pots up the Valley].
1964, 3ZA (3YW Westport), was launched with promotion in Grey Star. John Mortimer, copywriter, arrived. Roger Tennant also worked at Broadcasting House. Commercial advertising was well received.
On air, "Rocking" Reon did breakfast, there was Bob Sutton, later Paul Lineham ex Radio Hauraki and John Colwill.
The playlist was mixed: Sandy Posey, Hendrix, Paul Simon. Naturally, Jim Breeze was the newsman.Map[1] ContributorAlan Beck
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Location (city or town)GreymouthOrganisation (eg business)Radio 3YZ
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Category Tagradio
From Facebook
Date Created8th January 2023CommentsHeather Newby
Icons of the Coast in those days
Geoffrey King
even the building is gone
Ivan Murray Wilson
Some wonderful familiar faces right there.
Carolyn Luck
John Pike and Jim Breeze great broadcasters and lovely men.Kelvin Webster
Started at 3ZA in Jan 1965 before transferring to Wellington .. this was a reunion photo of the #ZA sraff from the early 2000's at the Paroa Hotel .. I'm on top left beside Reon Murtha...
Valerie Beavis
Kelvin Webster Reon was our neighbour in Reefton for 17 yrs we all grew up together when we were kids.
Kelvin Webster
Valerie Beavis yes I worked on and off with Reon for nearly 30 years.
Valerie Beavis
Kelvin Webster A real nice guy eh.
Trish Briggs
Bill Toft was a lovely guy. He boarded with my nanna in Fox Street.
John Rosanowski
The Request Sessions were a very popular feature of the 50s, weren't they ?
Heather Newby
John Rosanowski i remember the Saturday and Sunday Request sessions.."North to Alaska"... "Bobbies Girl",and “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” “The Wayward Wind”,among others. and of course...Gracie Fields..
John Rosanowski
Gill Desh ??
Heather Newby
John Rosanowski Robins return,Remembrance.
Des Kennedy
Heather, my sister Maureen was very good at playing those 2 music pieces.
Brian McIntyre
John Rosanowski sure were and you remembered the names of regular requestees and people you knew too.
Heather Newby
Brian McIntyre There used to be an old couple from Seddonville or Granity or Hector who requested every week...mostly songs by Gracie Feilds.,,one was a religious song,... cant remember the name of it..and White cliffs of dover..
Alan Beck
Author
It was a big operation for 'provincial' radio. 3ZA Commercial, 3YZ local, as breakouts from the National Programme, incl West Coast Top Ten at night. 3YZ broadcast sports commentaries on Saturday. 3YW was the Westport frequency.
Alan Beck
Author
Then..flood nights. John Pike and Jim Breeze worked as the water rose.
I gather Broadcasting House was affected by flooding when Russell Nelson was manager.
Anne Honey
In 1966 my wedding group and i were at the hairdressers when the Hawaiian wedding song came on the radio. All the wedding parties had requests in to 3yz.
Herb Hart
What a brilliant station 3YZ was in the 50s and60s.The range of locally produced programmes was quite extensive.John Pike was fantastic on the kids programmes. Simon and the gang.children’s requests,Saturday requests,Sunday Hospital requests. Bob Sutton and Reon Martha ran a great afternoon pop music show in the 1963 64 era.We also had great gardening programmes that Dad always tuned into.Rupert Kay and then Jack Flood did the Friday night weekly sports programme. Teddy Kehoe did a Forest and Bird show.Dad and Dave was another very popular show that came on about 4pm week days. John Pike produced the very popular Children’s Programme that came at 5pm Week days .Wow weren’t we lucky in the late 50s and 60s cheers.
Alan Beck
It was a big operation for 'provincial' radio. 3ZA Commercial, 3YZ local, as breakouts from the National Programme, incl West Coast Top Ten at night. 3YZ broadcast sports commentaries on Saturday. 3YW was the Westport frequency.
Ivan Murray Wilson
John Pike was very supportive when we got here in the 70s and did much to introduce me to The Coast. His voice had the same resonant tones when he came up for retirement as when he recorded material years earlier. A great chap indeed.
Carolyn Luck
Wonderful radio station, so many high class broadcasters worked there.
Icons of the Coast in those days
Geoffrey King
even the building is gone
Ivan Murray Wilson
Some wonderful familiar faces right there.
Carolyn Luck
John Pike and Jim Breeze great broadcasters and lovely men.Kelvin Webster
Started at 3ZA in Jan 1965 before transferring to Wellington .. this was a reunion photo of the #ZA sraff from the early 2000's at the Paroa Hotel .. I'm on top left beside Reon Murtha...
Valerie Beavis
Kelvin Webster Reon was our neighbour in Reefton for 17 yrs we all grew up together when we were kids.
Kelvin Webster
Valerie Beavis yes I worked on and off with Reon for nearly 30 years.
Valerie Beavis
Kelvin Webster A real nice guy eh.
Trish Briggs
Bill Toft was a lovely guy. He boarded with my nanna in Fox Street.
John Rosanowski
The Request Sessions were a very popular feature of the 50s, weren't they ?
Heather Newby
John Rosanowski i remember the Saturday and Sunday Request sessions.."North to Alaska"... "Bobbies Girl",and “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” “The Wayward Wind”,among others. and of course...Gracie Fields..
John Rosanowski
Gill Desh ??
Heather Newby
John Rosanowski Robins return,Remembrance.
Des Kennedy
Heather, my sister Maureen was very good at playing those 2 music pieces.
Brian McIntyre
John Rosanowski sure were and you remembered the names of regular requestees and people you knew too.
Heather Newby
Brian McIntyre There used to be an old couple from Seddonville or Granity or Hector who requested every week...mostly songs by Gracie Feilds.,,one was a religious song,... cant remember the name of it..and White cliffs of dover..
Alan Beck
Author
It was a big operation for 'provincial' radio. 3ZA Commercial, 3YZ local, as breakouts from the National Programme, incl West Coast Top Ten at night. 3YZ broadcast sports commentaries on Saturday. 3YW was the Westport frequency.
Alan Beck
Author
Then..flood nights. John Pike and Jim Breeze worked as the water rose.
I gather Broadcasting House was affected by flooding when Russell Nelson was manager.
Anne Honey
In 1966 my wedding group and i were at the hairdressers when the Hawaiian wedding song came on the radio. All the wedding parties had requests in to 3yz.
Herb Hart
What a brilliant station 3YZ was in the 50s and60s.The range of locally produced programmes was quite extensive.John Pike was fantastic on the kids programmes. Simon and the gang.children’s requests,Saturday requests,Sunday Hospital requests. Bob Sutton and Reon Martha ran a great afternoon pop music show in the 1963 64 era.We also had great gardening programmes that Dad always tuned into.Rupert Kay and then Jack Flood did the Friday night weekly sports programme. Teddy Kehoe did a Forest and Bird show.Dad and Dave was another very popular show that came on about 4pm week days. John Pike produced the very popular Children’s Programme that came at 5pm Week days .Wow weren’t we lucky in the late 50s and 60s cheers.
Alan Beck
It was a big operation for 'provincial' radio. 3ZA Commercial, 3YZ local, as breakouts from the National Programme, incl West Coast Top Ten at night. 3YZ broadcast sports commentaries on Saturday. 3YW was the Westport frequency.
Ivan Murray Wilson
John Pike was very supportive when we got here in the 70s and did much to introduce me to The Coast. His voice had the same resonant tones when he came up for retirement as when he recorded material years earlier. A great chap indeed.
Carolyn Luck
Wonderful radio station, so many high class broadcasters worked there.
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Feb 2025). Radio 3YZ was the only show in town until 1964.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 2nd Apr 2026 13:22, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/31789