If you’ve spent any time driving through the Waikato or stuck in Auckland traffic with your thumb hovering over the AM dial, you know the feeling. You’re looking for that familiar crackle of live commentary, the heated talkback about the All Blacks’ latest selection, or the steady play-by-play of a Blackcaps test match. You search for radio sport new zealand live, but the frequency just isn't what it used to be.
Honestly, the landscape of New Zealand sports media has shifted so much lately that it’s hard to keep track. If you’re tuning in today, you might find yourself confused. Where did the "Home of Sport" go? Why is a classic hits station playing where your rugby talk used to be?
Here is the reality of what’s happening with sports radio in Aotearoa right now.
The Day the Music—and the Commentary—Died
It’s been a few years since the original Radio Sport network went silent, and many fans are still feeling the phantom limb. On March 30, 2020, at 1:00 PM, the station abruptly ceased broadcasting. It wasn't a slow fade; it was a guillotine. One minute Jason Pine and Sam Hewitt were talking sport, the next, a simulcast of Newstalk ZB took over.
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COVID-19 was the official reason. With global sports cancelled, NZME (the parent company) decided the business model no longer stacked up. They’ve since repurposed those frequencies for Gold AM. While Gold AM still carries some match commentaries, it’s not the 24/7 sports-only powerhouse we grew up with.
But it wasn't just the pandemic. The station had recently lost the rights to New Zealand Cricket, a blow that hit hard. Without those long summer afternoons of ball-by-ball coverage, the station's identity was already fractured.
Where to Find Live Sport in 2026
If you are searching for radio sport new zealand live because you need a game right now, you’ve basically got two main paths.
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First, there’s Sport Nation. This is the spiritual successor to the old Radio Sport vibes. Launched by Entain and the SEN network, it’s where you’ll find the big names like Ian Smith and Riccardo Ball. They are currently the heavy lifters for sports talk in the country. You can find them on the AM dial (1476AM in Auckland, for instance) or through their dedicated app.
The Current Big Players
- Sport Nation (formerly SENZ): This is the closest thing to a dedicated 24/7 sports network. They cover everything from the NRL to Super Rugby Pacific.
- Newstalk ZB: While it’s a news and talk station, ZB still holds the keys to the kingdom for major events. If the All Blacks are playing, you’ll find the commentary here, usually led by the likes of Elliott Smith.
- RNZ Sport: Don't overlook the public broadcaster. RNZ doesn't do "shouty" talkback, but their live updates and cricket coverage (when they have the rights) are top-tier and ad-free.
- Gold AM: They still pick up some of the NZME sports rights, often acting as a secondary outlet for commentaries when ZB is busy with breaking news.
Why the "Live" Experience Has Changed
Digital streaming has changed the game. Most people don't use a physical radio anymore. They use the iHeartRadio app or the Sport Nation app.
There’s a catch, though. If you’re at the ground—say, sitting in the stands at Eden Park or Sky Stadium—the "live" stream on your phone is usually delayed by 30 to 60 seconds. It’s incredibly frustrating to hear the crowd roar for a try before the commentator on your headphones even calls the line break. For that true, zero-latency experience, you still need an old-school transistor radio that picks up the actual terrestrial signal.
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The Talkback Culture Shift
The old Radio Sport was famous for its "grumpy old man" talkback. It was a place for venting. Today, the conversation is a bit more polished, a bit more data-driven.
We’re seeing a massive rise in sports podcasts as well. Instead of waiting for a 2:00 PM slot to talk about the Warriors, fans are just downloading "The Warriorholic" or "The Rugby Run" whenever they want. This shift from "appointment listening" to "on-demand listening" is why a 24/7 live station is so hard to maintain in New Zealand’s small market.
How to Get Your Sports Radio Fix Right Now
If you need to listen to radio sport new zealand live today, don't just search the AM dial and hope for the best.
- Download the iHeartRadio App: This gives you access to Newstalk ZB and Gold AM, which is where the NZME-owned sports rights live.
- Get the Sport Nation NZ App: This is your best bet for 24/7 sports chat. It’s basically the replacement for the old Radio Sport.
- Check the RNZ Website: For high-quality, long-form sports journalism and certain live match updates, RNZ is still the gold standard for accuracy.
The era of a single, monolithic "Radio Sport" station is over. We’ve entered a fragmented world where you have to chase the rights. One week the cricket is on one station, the next, the Netball is on another. It takes a bit more work to be a fan these days, but the content is still out there if you know which app to open.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your apps: If you still have the old Radio Sport app on your phone, delete it. It’s a ghost. Download Sport Nation and iHeartRadio instead to cover 90% of New Zealand's sports broadcasting.
- Find your local frequency: If you want zero-delay commentary at the stadium, look up the AM frequency for Sport Nation or Newstalk ZB in your specific city (e.g., 882AM in Auckland for ZB).
- Follow the commentators: In the modern era, personalities matter more than stations. Follow people like Jason Pine, Ian Smith, or Scotty Stevenson on social media; they usually post exactly where they will be broadcasting live before a big match starts.