Mount Kaukau

Mount Kaukau, also known as Tarikaka, is in Wellington, New Zealand on the western side of Wellington harbour near Johnsonville and Khandallah. The summit is 445 metres above sea level and is the most visible high point in the Wellington landscape further accentuated by Wellington's main television transmitter tower the Kordia TV transmitter mast, which stands 122m tall. There is also a compass pedestal placed at the top. Spectacular views of the city, harbour and the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges can be experienced from the summit. On a clear day Mt. Tapuaeoenuku and the Bryant Range in the South Island may be seen, whilst northwest is the Porirua Basin and the broad expanse of the Tasman Sea. Mount Kaukau is also a field trip for primary schools and provides a great scenery spot for photographing.

Transmitter

Close-up of the Mount Kaukau television transmitter

The 122-metre Mount Kaukau television transmitter was built in 1965 to transmit television channel WNTV1 offering improved coverage over the channel's previous transmitter at Mount Victoria.[1] Today it is the main television and FM radio transmitter for the Wellington metropolitan area.

Transmission Frequencies

The following table contains television and radio frequencies currently operating at Mount Kaukau:[2]

TV Channel Transmit Channel Transmit Frequency Band Power (kw)
Sky digital 30 546.00 MHz UHF 40
MediaWorks digital 32 562.00 MHz UHF 40
TVNZ digital 34 578.00 MHz UHF 40
Kordia digital 36 594.00 MHz UHF 40
Radio Station Transmit Channel Transmit Frequency Band Power (kw)
Newstalk ZB 89.3 MHz VHF 40
ZM 90.9 MHz VHF 80
The Edge 91.7 MHz VHF 80
Radio New Zealand Concert 92.5 MHz VHF 80
Radio Hauraki 93.3 MHz VHF 40
The Breeze 94.1 MHz VHF 40
Coast 95.7 MHz VHF 4
The Rock 96.5 MHz VHF 16
The Sound 97.3 MHz VHF 16
Radio Live 98.9 MHz VHF 2
More FM 99.7 MHz VHF 40
Mai FM 100.5 MHz VHF 2
Radio New Zealand National 101.3 MHz VHF 8
Kiwi FM 102.1 MHz VHF 50
Niu FM 103.7 MHz VHF 8
Radio Sport 104.5 MHz VHF 2
105.3FM Wellington 105.3 MHz VHF 2

Former analogue television frequencies

The following frequencies were used until 29 September 2013, when Kaukau switched off analogue broadcasts.

TV Channel Transmit Channel Transmit Frequency Band Power (kw)
TV One 1 45.25 MHz VHF
Four 2 55.25 MHz VHF
TV2 5 182.25 MHz VHF
TV3 11 224.25 MHz VHF
Māori Television 44 655.25 MHz UHF
Prime 60 783.25 MHz UHF

Kaukau Challenge

Every year Khandallah School, which is at the base of Mount Kaukau, organises a fun walk / fun run from the school to the summit and back, called the Kaukau Challenge. The Kaukau Challenge has been an annual event since 2006 with about 500 people taking part each year.Coordinates: 41°14′00″S 174°46′39″E / 41.2332°S 174.7776°E

Snowfall of 2011

In mid-August 2011, two Wellington men, Nick Fone and Daniel McFayden claimed to be the first people to ski and snowboard down Mount Kaukau when they took advantage of the highly unusual weather pattern delivering snow to most parts of the North Island.

References

  1. ↑ "Skyline Track via Johnsonville and Karori". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "New Zealand Television Tramsmission Stations in Operation -- North Island". Kordia. March 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
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