[Sam B]

Firstly TV - in the UK I knew what sort of programmes to expect on each channel, and I knew what channels I liked. Channel 4 for cutting edge/postmodern/bit racy docs, dramas etc, BBC2 for worthy but interesting docs/dramas etc, and BBC1 for my bread and butter viewing, never really bothered with ITV, found it a bit trashy in general. But I can't seem to find the same patterns in Kiwi TV channels - are they different in a more subtle way, or are they all the same?

Newspapers - I know I can read the Guardian on line, but it's not the same and it doesn't have photos, and I want to find a newspaper here that I like as much. Any suggestions?

Radio - still not having much luck here. Are there any national stations, because I can still only find 2, and they're both local to the Waikato and I DON'T THINK I CAN TAKE ANY MORE PHIL COLLINS. Phew, sorry about that, don't know what came over me...

[Trigirl]

i think you need to count yourself lucky with phil collins - when i went to hamilton a few years back i had a couple of days where all i could get was some god channel. in the end i had to go and buy a couple of cds for the car!!!

[Sam B]

I found that channel too!!! AArrgghh!

[Super_BQ]

It's all about the ratings. NZ is not a big enough country to offer a large variety of 'set genre' channels. Each channel would have a specific show (usually from Hollywood and about 1 year behind) that would bring in the ratings as each channel competes.

[wiki]

Newspapers - I know I can read the Guardian on line, but it's not the same and it doesn't have photos, and I want to find a newspaper here that I like as much. Any suggestions?

Not sure if the Granny Herald gets sold in Hamilton these days, but most newspapers in NZ are regional based, rather than national (purely to do with the transport constraints - a paper printed in Auckland isn't going to be delivered cheaply to Invercargill before 4pm!)

The Waikato Times has a good reputation - at least in far as journalism awards goes (not helpful to the common reader, but I'm in the industry so my opinion is skewed lol) and it will focus on the big local issues (dairy farming, transport, tourism etc more than the Auckland Herald would)

The only national papers are the two Sundays - the Sunday Star-Times and the other one that completely escapes my mind because I never bought it.

All of the regional newspapers have their own website, even if it's only a section of stuff.co.nz

Stuff is the internet portal for all of the papers owned by the Fairfax Group - it includes the Dom-Post in Wellington, Manawatu Standard, Waikato Times, the Press in Christchurch, Taranaki Daily News, Nelson Mail, Marlborough Express, Timaru Herald and Southland Times so the main website has a pretty broad selection of national news.

(out of interest, all the regional papers get their national news from a service called NZPA - it's owned by the papers themselves and apart from having a few parliament reporters of its own and a small bureau in Auck and Chch all the copy it puts out comes from its member papers so that way stories about people from Hamilton on trial in Dunedin say will still get full coverage in the Waikato without the expense of sending a reporter all that way)

New Zealand Herald (main Auckland newspaper) has its own website, as does the Otago Daily Times (or the Oddity as it is known from its initials ODT) and they are not Fairfax papers.

I'd suggest you have a good poke around stuff.co.nz - and if you'd rather have your newspaper in print form, then the Waikato Times would be your most logical - or the NZ Herald if you can find it.

[veronica]

we use a mixture of online news channels here, stuff, msn nz, yahoo news nz
and with the radio there are generally a lot more channels than you realise as if you have a japanese import for a car very often the waveband isn't quite right for NZ, and you end up with a very limited range of stations. If you try seeking for channels on a stereo indoors or buy a carradio that is NZ compatible then you will find there are a lot more channels.

[KerryS]

Sam have you got the Guardian online version - or are you just looking at the webpage version? The full print version including the pics is available if you subscribe. (But I can't remember how much it is off the top of my head.)
I read the Herald, as I'm in Auckland, but it is nowhere near as informative or interesting. The international news coverage is appalling.

I hate most TV here - it all seems to be trashy American dramas or sitcoms and reality tv shows... There is an occasional decent drama or movie on, but the amount of ads makes watching a long drawn out affair. (A 2 hour movie lasts 3 hours!)

As Veronica said about the radio - get yourself a cheap NZ compatible radio and you'll get a far greater variety of stations to listen to. Kiwi Radio is national and plays all NZ music. There are a few other stations available nationally too - The Rock, More Fm etc.

[jess]

Press:
In addition to the usual papers listed above, Scoop (http://www.scoop.co.nz/) is an alternative source of news recommended to me by several people as 'independent news'. (Seems to be further to the left than many.)

TV:
I heard that of the two govt. channels - TV1 was for an older demographic than TV2. TV2 and the independent TV3 seem to fight it out for the younger set. It cracks me up that TV3 has a segment on a rock band every night on the news.

(I actually like about one show 5 nights a week, which is more than enough for me. Enjoyed the BBC dramas on TV1 lately - Jane Eyre and Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I. Like watching Scrubs, Heroes, Ugly Betty, My Name is Earl - OH likes Lost - all on TV2 or 3. Come to think of it, those are all from the states... guess the apple doesn't fall as far from the tree as I'd like to think :o).

[Sam B]

Thanks everyone - v helpful. Will get an NZ compatible radio I think. I get the NZ Herald each day, but agree with Kerry that the world news is limited and the quality of the journalism and commentary isn't great. I don't bother with the Waikato Times as I'm not that interested in dairy farming or horse breeding!

We're massive Lost fans, but download it each week, can't wait for NZ to catch up and don't like adverts. Anyway, we've just discovered the Sopranos and are working our way through every series thanks to Movieshack.

[Sam B]

Hey, I just bought the Waikato times, and it wasn't bad!

[ellenmelon]

channel one would be for a older demographic id say, though id watch it occasionally if they had a good doco on or something. the news is so serious and without personality. the morning shows from 6am-12 are shocking..they try a bit too hard on that channel. they've recently moved neighbours from tv2 at 5pm to channel 1 at 5.25 to compete with channel three who play home and away at the same time. theyre heavily advertising it so i wonder have they lost viewers?

channel 2 is pretty much a mix of kids programs in the morning and after school, dr phil etc during the day and ugly betty, friends, shorty st at night.

tv3 is a good channel i reckon, news presenters have a bit more personality and it doesnt feel so forced. they have a mix of stuff really..docos, a good bit of new nz drama..movies.

radio wise, the ZM stations and the edge are the two mainstream stations..more fm plays a bit of a wider range. kiwifm plays only new zealand music..to be honest i dont listen to the radio here as it doesnt play enough of the music im into (have a computer program that lets me listen to irish radio stations..bbc one too)

[sarahw]

i think you need to count yourself lucky with phil collins - when i went to hamilton a few years back i had a couple of days where all i could get was some god channel. in the end i had to go and buy a couple of cds for the car!!!

Ha!! I found that too when I went earlier this year - whole of NZ wide I managed to get ZM radio (yay!) and then within the region of Hamilton the Christian Channel or whatever it was was the only channel I could get - lets just say that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers CD won the very short battle as to whether I should perservere with the radio or put the CD on!!

I have to agree with Ellenmelon about TV3 News - plus the Campbell Live show we watch every night - can't stand the TV1 alternative - really stuffy.

[Sam B]

So basically I've moved to some weird area where the only option is Christian radio or nothing? Great!

[jubjub]

I have to agree with Ellenmelon about TV3 News - plus the Campbell Live show we watch every night - can't stand the TV1 alternative - really stuffy.

Ewwww John Campbell is sooo Mr Smooth, he bugs the heck out of me, give me Mark Sainsbury any day, he may not be pretty, but I like his humour (Has anyone noticed that Mark actually looks like the old cartoon character Mr Wimpey??) we watch TV1 news all the time, bring back Judy....

[sarahw]

Isn't that funny - we really like John Campbell but my parents were here recently & asked who that smarmy fella was & was he for real?!

Sam - yep looks like that's about it!! ;) No seriously, have a look on the main radio station's websites that cover the whole of NZ I'm sure you should be able to find what frequency to tune into. Otherwise, I think the CD collection could be widening!! :)

[aggelon]

If you are in the Waikato you should be able to pick up these radio stations.

Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

576 - Southern Star (1XSR) ... Christian music
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 400 watts - 1 kW (night) Address: {contact info}
Telephone: (09) 307-1251

855 - Radio Rhema (1XH) ... contemporary Christian
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 2 kW Address: {contact info}

954 - Radio Pacific/Radio Trackside (1XW) ... racing info, talk, music
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 2 kW Address: {contact info}

1143 - National Radio (RNZ) ... news/talk
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 2 kW Address: {contact info}

1206 - Community Radio Hamilton (1XHC) ... community
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 500 watts Address: PO Box 15-213 Hamilton
Telephone: (07) 834-2170 Fax: (07) 834-2174
Email: amcomrad@wave.co.nz

1296 - Newstalk ZB Waikato (1ZH) ... news, talkback
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 3 kW Address: PO Box 489 Hamilton
Telephone: (07) 838-1199 Fax: (07) 839-5813

88.1 - Drive Through FM
East Street, Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

88.2 - UnderGround Music ... alternative
Watch/Listen online Matamata (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts Address: PO Box 411 Matamata, New Zealand
Telephone: (07) 888-5030

88.4 - Deluxe FM
Waikato Hospital, Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

88.4 - Smack FM ... pop/rock/dance
Cambridge (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts Address: Level 2, Centreway Arcade, Victoria Street, Cambridge
Telephone: Office:07 823 0297 Studio:0800 4884FM (0800488436)
Email: smackfm@cambridge.net.nz

88.4 - The Frog
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

89.0 - The Generator 89FM (1WSU) ... active rock
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 100 watts Address: PO Box 19389; Level 5, Hallensteins Building, 391 Victoria Street, Hamilton
Telephone: Office: (07) 838-8980; Studio: (07) 838-8989 Fax: (07) 856-8984

89.8 - ZM Hamilton (1KIW) ... CHR-pop
Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 10 kW Address: Private Bag 92198 AUCKLAND

91.4 - Concert FM (RNZ) (1WCP) ... classical
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 40 kW Address: {contact info}

92.0 - More FM Waikato ... hot ac
Hamilton (Waikato)
Address: Level 7, 312 Victoria Street, PO Box 19293, Hamilton
Telephone: (07) 838-2693 Fax: (07) 838-2893

93.0 - The Rock ... AOR
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 400 watts Address: {contact info}

93.8 - Solid Gold FM ... oldies (60's-70's)
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 2 kW Address: {contact info}

94.6 - Life FM ... Christian rock
Hamilton/Tauranga (Waikato) NZ
Address: See 99.8FM Auckland

95.4 - Radio Tainui ... urban/Maori
Watch/Listen online Ngaruawahia (Waikato) NZ
Address: PO Box 207, 27 Jesmond Street, Ngaruawahia
Telephone: Office: (07) 824 5658 Studio: (07) 824-5656 Fax: Office: (07) 824 5659 Studio: (07) 824-5657
Email: onair@radiotainui.co.nz

96.0 - Radio Hauraki ... AOR (album rock)
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
Address: See AUCKLAND 99.0FM

96.3 - Radio Tainui ... urban/Maori
Watch/Listen online Kawhia (Waikato) NZ
Address: See 95.4FM NGARUAWAHIA

96.6 - Raglan Community Radio
Raglan (Waikato) NZ
Address: PO Box 92 Raglan
Telephone: (07) 825-7966

97.0 - Newstalk ZB Waikato ... news, talkback
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 50 kW Address: Private Bag 92198 , Auckland
Telephone: Network Studio: 0800 80 1080 TOLL FREE

97.8 - The Edge ... CHR-pop
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
B'casting power: 1 kW Address: {contact info}

98.6 - Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM (1ZH) ... classic hits (70s-90s)
Hamilton (Waikato)
Address: PO Box 489 Hamilton
Telephone: (07) 838-1199, STUDIO: 0800 00 CLASSIC Fax: (07) 839-5813

99.3 - The Breeze 99.3FM ... soft ac
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
Address: PO Box 19293; 312 Victoria St. Hamilton
Telephone: Office: (07) 838-2693, Studio: (07) 83 83 993 Fax: (07) 838-2893

100.0 - Radio Live ... talk
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato)
Address: {contact info}

100.5 - Double T FM ... nights
Hamilton (east) (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

100.6 - Hamilton East Radio ... student
Hamilton (east) (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

100.6 - The Can ... student
Melville, Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

101.0 - National Radio (RNZ) ... news/talk
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
Address: {contact info}

103.4 - Niu FM ... urban ac/Pacific Island
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
Address: See 103.8FM Auckland NZ

106.7 - Community Radio Hamilton ... community
Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
Address: PO Box 15-213 Hamilton
Telephone: (07) 834-2170 Fax: (07) 834-2174
Email: amcomrad@wave.co.nz

107.3 - George FM Hamilton ... eclectic/underground
Watch/Listen online Hamilton (Waikato) NZ
B'casting power: 0.3 watts

[Sam B]

OH MY GOD! WOW! Thanks! Are you some kind of radio genius? If you are, can you come round and tune my radio in, cos I definitely am NOT getting any of those!

[aggelon]

Actually I own 4 radio stations in Otago so genius might apply.
Sadly in NZ coverage can be quite patchy even in cities.
I don't know what kind of receiver you are using but the more sensitive one you can get the better. Also a good external antenna is definitely a good idea.
According to my map you are less than 20km from Hamilton so any of the stations over 300watts in the list should be receivable. And the ones that are over 2000watts should be easily heard.
Bit far for me to come and tune your radio but I do have an invite to Te Kuiti that I really should do something about this year.

[johnandbethcox]

Aggelon, you just made my day!!! I'm so happy I won't be tied to my iPod 24-7!!!

[annie abercrombie]

Radio Hauraki and More FM get my vote but More does have MORE than its fair share of Phil Collins. I was in Hamilton recently and got More FM and a younger more funky station easily.

If you liked Radio 4 news coverage (if from the UK) - try Radio New Zealand National which can be picked on via digital tv as well http://www.radionz.co.nz/ They sometimes have great stuff on NZ music and the feature programmes are good. Kim Hill on Saturday mornings is funny. The morning report 7-9 I think with Sean Plunket is good covering news outside NZ.

NZ does love NZ news more than anything. Even when the Crocodile Hunter died, the media here managed to find a New Zealander who lived 5 houses away from the CH's zoo - and interviewed him!

[Sam B]

Well, as the car I mainly drive is a work fleet car, I'm not at liberty to change the radio. So I'm stuck with the same 2 radio stations that I've had all along, despite all your kind suggestions. One is a Christian station, not for me, and the other is ZMFM which I have become quite fond of. They have outrageously inappropriate discussions about sex every morning around school-run time, swear constantly and are also anti-Brit, totally un-PC and play the same 5 songs over and over.