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A documentary about Radio Hauraki's 1,111 days at sea on the Tiri and the Tiri II. Includes actuality of transmission and the ship wreck, interviews, and recollections from broadcasters and others involved with the radio station.
Station founder David Gapes talks about the station's beginnings and the support of its suppliers, who offered extended credit. He talks about the young broadcasters who left the Broadcasting Corporation to join them.
The documentary includes recordings of an early broadcast from 1966 by announcer Bob Leahy, and the 1967 mayday broadcasts by Paul Lineham when the ship's engine failed and it hit rocks on Great Barrier Island. A siren is heard, and announcer Paul Lineham signs off to abandon ship.
The station relaunched on another vessel, the 'Tiri II', which was soon damaged in the 1968 Wahine storm, which destroyed the transmission mast. A test broadcast from 1968 by announcer Mike Jack is heard.
Another storm in which the 'Tiri II' was beached in Northland is described by Captain Lloyd Griffiths, who also describes life on-board. Bill and Ngaire Gibbs of the 'Marauder' of Tryphena, Great Barrier Island, are thanked for their continued support of Radio Hauraki.
In 1969 Radio Hauraki was able to apply for a licence, and gained a warrant which lead to the final broadcast from the "Tiri II".
Other identified speakers are:
- Adrian Blackburn, journalist with The New Zealand Herald.
- Captain Fred Ladd, former pilot with Tourist Air Travel.
- Mike Parkinson, former announcer.
- Captain Warwick Dunsford, who lead the salvage operations on both the Tiri and Tiri II.
- Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, Mayor of Auckland.
Excerpts of music are played throughout including:
- Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
- The Times they are A-Changing' - Peter, Paul and Mary
- Born Free - Matt Monro
- Theme to '2001 A Space Odyssey' - Sprach Zarathustra
- Sign of the Times - Petula Clark
- God Defend New Zealand