TV, Radio & Newspapers

No matter where you live, television, radio and newspapers will keep you in touch with world events. These are also another great way to work on your English skills and learn more about New Zealand's fresh-thinking culture.

There are 4 free-to-air VHF national television channels and 1 UHF channel, plus regional television in many areas. There is also subscriber cable and satellite television. The television programmer timetable is advertised in newspapers and magazines and on the Internet, and includes ratings for programmes.

Some broadcast are in Maori, and local television channels usually have some programmes in other languages too, without subtitles. NICAM is used for stereo television. The video system is PAL/625. You can hire commercial videos from shops and libraries. Many of the newer video machines can play PAL, NTSC and Secam videos.

Radio

There are many different AM and FM radio stations, both national and local, including Christian, ethnic/community input, student radio, and stations specialising in sport, talkback, Maori and Pacific Island languages, and classical, rock or popular music.

Newspapers

Newspapers can be bought at a shop or delivered to your home. Most cities have their own daily newspaper, others are weekly or bi-weekly. Most suburbs also have a weekly local paper that is distributed free to every household and contains a lot of useful information about community events and services. Read the "letters to the editor" page to find out what New Zealanders are thinking and talking about.

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