Birdcall to live on amid National Radio tinkering

Checkpoint’s Mary Wilson.

The bird call has survived but host Wayne Mowat has been left with a reduced role in changes at National Radio. The changes usher in a new set of afternoon programmes and the extension of Checkpoint - the 5pm current affairs show hosted by Mary Wilson - to a two-hour show with more business and sport.

The threat to the birdcall's future prompted a deluge of listener support.

Despite predictions of his downfall, weekday afternoon host Wayne Mowat is to stay on as a contributor to a new weekday regional afternoon show, for which a new presenter will be appointed.

His weekday afternoon music show, Wayne's Music, will be relegated to late on weekend nights.

The changes follow a six-month review started by chief executive Peter Cavanagh, who said it was time for a stocktake of how well the state radio station was meeting its charter to provide for diversity and be relevant to a broad swathe of New Zealanders.

Key morning programmes Morning Report, Nine to Noon, Kim Hill and Chris Laidlaw emerged largely unscathed.

Most change was to the afternoon shows. New Zealand music gets a boost - Home Grown is being re-born into a three-hour show on Saturday afternoons. A new books, arts and movies programme will start on Sunday afternoons.

Critics have argued that National Radio was dull and needed spicing up for younger listeners. Commentators noted the changes were conservative, but most agreed a complete overhaul would have been dangerous.

Geoff Lealand, Waikato University screen and media studies professor and National Radio listener, said National Radio could justifiably argue it was working well as the dominant station in New Zealand.

"I do value National Radio but sometimes I want it to surprise me a bit more. I would want to hear some younger, newer voices and see more active provisions to get the younger audience in."

AUT radio lecturer Matt Mollgaard said any major changes would have provoked an outcry at the station.

"It is still the number one station in New Zealand and its job is not to be flashy and commercially savvy, but to be completely reliable, as well as relevant, which is hard to do."

Christchurch Broadcasting School head Paul Norris applauded the decision to set up a more comprehensive web service and the extension of Checkpoint through to 7pm.

National MP Murray McCully, who has frequently argued National Radio was politically biased, said the review seemed to be much ado about nothing.

"I just find it baffling they could review themselves without coming to the conclusion they have an unremitting left-wing bias being dished up."

The changes, which would include a new presenting style, were expected to happen in September, Radio New Zealand said. No staff would lose their jobs.

National Radio changes

Checkpoint becomes a two-hour show with more business and sport.

Wayne Mowat's weekday afternoon music show, Wayne's Music, relegated to late on weekend nights.

Morning Report, Nine to Noon, Kim Hill and Chris Laidlaw largely uchanged.

New Zealand music show Home Grown now a three-hour show on Saturday afternoons.

A new books, arts and movies programme on Sunday afternoons.

The birdcall survives.