Radio host Brian Kelly, also known as BK, is heading home to Tauranga to host Coast Tauranga, a breakfast show starting early next year.
BK, who considers himself a local, started his breakfast radio career in Tauranga and has split his time over the past six years between Tauranga and Auckland, where he currently hosts the national show.
BK said he was excited to move back to Tauranga.
"I can't wait to get on the air with a local breakfast show. Tauranga is where I started in breakfast radio, and I have always considered myself a local so it is a real privilege to go back with a localised Coast show."
BK will be the only regional Coast announcer in the country, while the nationally-broadcast show will continue around the rest of New Zealand. Jason Reeves, the current Drive host on Coast, will replace BK as the national breakfast host.
Coast content director Raylene Ramsay said BK had achieved phenomenal results as the Coast breakfast host during his time in Auckland.
"This is the first time we've localised the station and as Tauranga is a core market for Coast's continued success, Brian's ties to this community can only enhance our brand there."
Both BK and Coast have had a strong performance in the Tauranga market, with his breakfast show rating as the number one listened-to music show in the last survey, and Coast taking out the title of overall top station.
NZME's Bay of Plenty general manager, Greg Murphy, was looking forward to seeing BK around the office.
"The team here in Tauranga is stoked to have another local show.
"With Coast rating so highly with our listeners here, having BK in the city talking about local issues and events will solidify our position as number one, and provide outstanding opportunities for local advertisers."
However, audiences all over the country will still be able to catch BK on air, with his new show being available to stream on iHeartRadio, and he will continue to be the Saturday morning host for Coast.
BK will start his local Tauranga Coast breakfast show on January 15, 2018. Reeves will start as the national breakfast host the same month.