The Auckland Radio Trust (ART) has announced that its long-running rebroadcast of the BBC World Service on 810 AM will conclude at midnight on April 15th, 2026.

The decision follows a significant infrastructure change by RNZ at the Henderson transmission site. Currently, 15 stations roadcast across two masts; however, as these structures reach their end-of-life, they are being replaced by a single northern mast. Due to technical frequency interference and the repurposing of the southern site for the Northwest Busway, 810 AM is among several frequencies that can no longer be accommodated on the new, single-mast Since its inception, the Auckland Radio Trust has been dedicated to providing high-quality international news and local cultural programming to the Auckland region. Alongside the BBC's global coverage, the Trust has proudly hosted beloved local segments including:

• Sweet Ingredients with Matthew Crawley and Shannon Fowler
• The New Zealand Book Club with Doris Mousdale

“It is the end of an era for a service that has brought an international element to broadcasting in Auckland for nearly 35 years” says Alan Sherlock, Chair of the Auckland Radio Trust. “While we are saddened that technical constraints at the Henderson site mean we can no longer broadcast on the AM band, we are immensely proud of the service we have provided. We thank our listeners for their decades of loyalty.”

While the AM broadcast is ending, the Auckland Radio Trust’s mission to support high-quality, in-depth journalism remains steadfast. The Trust will continue to fund the Vince Geddes Long Form Journalism Fund in partnership with The Spinoff, ensuring that the legacy of rigorous reporting lives on in a digital-first environment.

Listeners wishing to continue accessing the BBC World Service can do so via the BBC's digital platforms at www.bbc.com/audio/schedules/bbc_world_service or via the BBC App