Private radio did not exist in New Zealand, the NZBC (New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation) was the only on-air organisation and controlled by the government. When Radio Hauraki was founded fresh and new ideas evolved to create interest by the listeners. Derek Lowe one of the directors created the 1480 club and this was in operation right from the start. I can vividly remember the day when a reporter turned up on Great barrier to interview staff and document the findings. Bill Robson , a journalist and showbiz columnist spent a week on the Tiri so he could write a story, take photographs and produced a booklet. Following are some of those photos and comments from the booklet produced and published by Bill.
FOREWORD.
A colourful collection of sleek pleasure craft, yachts and power boats, laze in the late afternoon sun playing on the gently rippling waters of Tryphena Bay as our flying boat banks steeply over the south-west coast of Great Barrier Island. But our eyes-Jim Coyle’s and mine-are heedless of the small but graceful craft. They pale into insignificance against the bigger, weather-beaten, far from beautiful vessel tied up at the wharf; rather, against what the big boat stands for. The ship’s name is not visible at that height, but we know it is theTiri, the controversial home of a handful of New Zealand’s most talked about young men, the pirates of Radio Hauraki. Only 10 minutes ago the pilot told us the Tiri was moored at Tryphena. We expected to have to find some way of reaching her transmitting site four miles out at sea-instead we have only to walk 100 yards or so around the rocks.We know now that we have arrived in time to witness a milestone in the pirate station’s hectic history-the erection of a 120ft. aerial to replace the 50ft antenna which has served since the original aerial toppled overboard one stormy night. But as the flying boat touches the wave-tops for a high-speed landing we are oblivious of the frustration and temper-testing experiences these men are going through.
We thought you might have been Marine Department inspectors,” said the unshaven, windswept young man as we picked our way over the rocks. He grinned as he said it, an expression vastly different from the wary inspection he and his friend had given us as we stepped off the plane onto the beach at Shoal Bay. Not that the pirates would have been unduly concerned if we had been officialdom. While the Tiri is tied up at the wharf in territorial waters it is safe so long as it is not transmitting. But as soon as it leaves for the open sea it is in danger, having no certificated skipper in command. Master of the ship is 24-year-old Denis ”Doc” O’Callahan a capable seaman as well as a brilliant technician. Within minutes we were standing on the wharf alongside the Tiri, watching the hustle and bustle of men at work. Dave Gapes, director of Radio Hauraki, wa there, and came across when he recognised Jim, who had been invited to spend a few days on the Tiri and had in turn invited me.
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