The Little Radio Station That Could – and Still Does. Hokonui Radio Turns 25

What has become a stalwart of local radio in the south celebrates a notable milestone today.

The Gore based station previously known as 4ZG had been around for several years before relaunching as Hokonui Gold under the stewardship of Lee Piper and Jamie McKay.

Lee Piper woke everybody up with his energetic breakfast show and Jamie MacKay had his finger on the pulse of the local agricultural scene, the lifeblood of the eastern Southland region with his midday Farming Show.

The pair joined forces on the weekend’s to become The Scream Team providing a unique slant on sports commentaries on Saturday’s and the next day a look back at sports action with their Sunday Sport Show.

The station has come under the umbrella of multi platform media company NZME but still provides a watching eye on the Gore and Eastern Southland community with award winning broadcaster Luke Howden’s Breakfast Show and The Muster from 1pm.

Lee Piper was back behind the mic today presenting the Breakfast show. Jamie Mackay will reprise his local Farming Show this afternoon with many of his original contributors.

The Hokonui local radio concept has been a huge success with several regions boasting a Hokonui Radio station.

Hokonui content director Bruce Appleton says Hokonui’s 25th is another great milestone in Kiwi radio and something to be very proud of.

He say’s it’s a station that, over the years, has always punched well above it’s weight, and did, and still does show the big players how local radio is done.

Hear’s to another 25 years of local southern radio in the form of Hokonui Radio!