Paul Hickey: A fond farewell to a classic studio

The old studio has been home to some classic Rotorua radio presenters.

About 30 years ago I walked into my first ever radio station studio, and was pretty much hooked. I decided that was what I wanted to do one day.

Last Friday I walked out of that very same studio for the last time.

The building on the corner of Fenton and Arawa Sts was officially opened on October 14, 1967, and since then has been broadcasting across our city in various guises; from 1YZ and 1ZC to Radio Geyserland to Classic Hits and now The Hits, and our many other radio stations.

I grew up listening to guys like Brian Palmer, MK, Mark Roughton, Pete Gentil, John McNeill and others.

Ironically though I started my radio career working for the opposition!

But a couple of years ago I ended up back in the building where my career dreams began.

A building that has more recently seen the likes of Mike Baird and AJ & Chloe doing their thing.

I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of these names over the years, so it is with sadness but also pride that I got to close off a big chapter of Rotorua history.

So today marks the start of a new era as we begin broadcasting from our new purpose-built offices in Hinemoa St, and boy is it flash. It's been exciting watching it take shape over the past couple of months.

The brand new state of the art digital studio is pretty darn flash and I'm looking forward to playing with my new toys!

But you shouldn't notice anything different from your stereo or app - unless I push the wrong buttons.

Over the weekend one of the biggest sporting parties in the country took place when Auckland hosted the NRL Nines for the second time and it looked like it was a heap of fun for everyone who was there.

It seems though that the Wellington Sevens event has certainly lost its appeal with numbers for that event dropping away significantly in the past few years.

At these spectator-based events, keeping them interesting and relevant to patrons is an ongoing battle for event organisers, as has been shown in the sevens scenario.

This weekend I'm off to Palmerston North for an event that has been running for nearly 35 years and continues to draw massive crowds.

Close to 20,000 people a night will pack the speedway track for the Annual Superstock Teams Championships, an event which really does rival the old sevens party atmosphere.

Twelve teams from all over the country will race for the title, which our Rotorua side last won back in 1986.

Yes it's been a while, but along with hundreds of other locals making the trip I will be there cheering them on and soaking up the atmosphere - bring it on and go The Rotorua Rebels!

-Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Facebook The Hits Rotorua and on Twitter @paulhickeynz.