Bill Gibb and his fishing vessel Marauder servicing the Radio Hauraki pirate radio ship Tiri II.

Photo: copyright Bob Whitmore

 

Timeline

1965 David Gapes seeks to establish a private radio station. All stations at the time were Government run.

1966 The Tiri is bought and in November, 1966 Radio Hauraki goes on the air outside NZs then 5 mile territorial limit in the Colville Channel.

        A close association with Great Barrier Island begins.

1968 January, the Tiri is wrecked at the entrance to Whangaparapara Harbour.

1970 Radio Hauraki is finally given a radio licence and goes ashore at last. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tiri in Auckland on 2nd October, 1965. Photo supplied by David Shepherd. Thanks David.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiri is shipwrecked at Great Barrier Island January 1968 

In Brief

Live Broadcast of Shipwreck

Auckland- Disc jockeys in New Zealand’s only pirate radio ship, the 160 ton Tiri, broadcast a running commentary as she drifted on to the rocks of Great Barrier Island, off the east coast of North Island. Thousands of listeners heard the commentary and with a grinding crash, the wail of a siren, and the words : “The rocks are within swimming distance…I love you mum and dad”.

United Press International said the Tiri, which broadcast as Radio Hauraki, developed engine trouble as she returned to her mooring after joining the search for a man missing from a fishing launch. She is believed to have broken her back on the rocks, but all seven of the crew reached safety.

Source: The Times (London) Monday January 29th 1968.