The launch of Newstalk 1ZB on March 16, 1987

Newstalk ZBeen

The year was 1987.
The Post Office was split up into NZ Post, Telecom (now Spark) and Postbank (which got bought by ANZ).
Lotto tickets went on sale for the first time - the first division prize was a whopping $36,000!).
Maori became an official language of our country.
Black Tuesday wiped billons off the value of New Zealand shares.
We had a boat in the America’s Cup for the first time – KZ-7, the old “plastic fantastic”.
The All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup, only to not win it again for another 24 years.
And 1ZB, which had been broadcasting in Auckland since 1926, had a new format, a new line-up and a new name.
On March 16, 1987 Newstalk 1ZB was born, with Paul Holmes on Breakfast, Leighton Smith remaining on Mornings, Phil Warren on on Afternoons, and John Cordery on Drive.
Within a few years of such a dramatic change, Newstalk 1ZB was winning the ratings war in Auckland, prompting then-owners Radio New Zealand to adopt the format for 2ZB Wellington and 3ZB Christchurch in 1991.
We’ve been there with you for some of our country’s darkest days, and have celebrated New Zealand’s biggest wins with you - and we’ll be with you for many more years to come.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.