Welcome to Whakatane which is in the Eastern Bay Of Plenty region on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand,

Here is the statue of Wairaka who is believed to have named the town of Whakatane. Her family were traveling on the waka, or canoe Mataatua when the men went onto land leaving the women in the waka. The outgoing tide was threatening to carry away the waka when Wairaka got up and exclaimed: "Kia whakatane au i ahau" (let me act the part of a man). In breach of tradition, the women paddled the canoe back to safety and from this incident, Whakatane received its name.

To the right of Wairaka is Whale Island or Motahora as it’s known in Maori.

I hope you can come and visit us some day here in Whakatane.

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Here we are outside the offices and studios of Radio 1XX (One Double X) and Bayrock. Both stations broadcast to the Eastern Bay Of Plenty region from the town of Whakatane in New Zealand.

Radio 1XX has been on the air since June 1971 – the 4th private commercial station in New Zealand and has a big community focus with regional news and information for the Eastern Bay Of Plenty.

Bayrock has been rockin’ the Eastern Bay Of Plenty since July 1994. Both stations also broadcast online so we hope you can tune in to 1XX or Bayrock, broadcasting from Whakatane in New Zealand.