New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters

Here's your invitation to a high-tech hobby that's got fun for everyone. Amateur Radio operators are people from all walks of life - no matter what age, gender or physical ability. Getting started in Amateur Radio has never been easier!

Want a certificate to hang on your wall to announce your achievement, that you have radio qualifications? With a radio transmitting licence to display alongside it too?

With an amateur radio licence and your own transmitting station, you can talk to people around town, around the country, or around the world. You can also talk to astronauts on the Space Shuttle or aboard the International Space Station.

You can become involved with communications for Civil Defence and for Search and Rescue.

Amateur Radio is a great stepping stone into a career in electronics, communications or other technologies. There are many satellite systems and digital communications systems that you can experiment with.

There are many different and exciting aspects to Amateur Radio communication that can involve people of all ages. New Zealanders as young as 8 become radio amateurs and senior citizens study and succeed too! About one person in 600 of the New Zealand population is a Radio Amateur.

In New Zealand there are two licence levels, or "licence grades". The licences are issued by the Ministry of Economic Development - Radio Spectrum Management Group. They open the world to you! Your licence gives your station a unique CALLSIGN.

The usual entry licence is the Limited licence, which does not require a Morse Code test. It gives you all the amateur radio privileges above 30 megahertz (MHz) and includes the very popular 2-metre band.

As a Limited licensee you can enjoy using small 2-metre hand-held radios to stay in touch with other amateurs in your area. You may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice and several other interesting modes too. You can even make international radio contacts via amateur radio satellites, using relatively simple equipment.

To earn a Limited licence, you'll need to pass the written test. This is a computer-generated test made up from questions taken from a public-domain question-bank. You can usually find an amateur radio class in your area sponsored by friendly volunteers who will help you to learn the ropes, or you can successfully study on your own, as many others have done.

The examination questions are all multiple-choice. The examinations are administered by volunteer supervisors. Your result is given to you on the spot following the conclusion of the test. With a pass result, you can take your result notification the local office of the Ministry of Economic Development Radio Spectrum Management and apply for an Amateur Radio Licence. The licence and callsign are usually also available on the spot.

Postal Address:

NZART
PO Box 40 525
Upper Hutt
New Zealand

Physical Address:

NZART HQ
5th Floor
Astral Towers
Upper Hutt

Phone:

in NZ:

04-939 2189
International:

+64-4-939 2189

Fax:

in NZ:

04-939 2190
International:

+64-4-939 2190

email:

nzart@mail.nzart.org.nz

Postal Address:

NZART
PO Box 40 525
Upper Hutt
New Zealand

Physical Address:

NZART HQ
5th Floor
Astral Towers
Upper Hutt

Phone:

in NZ:

04-939 2189
International:

+64-4-939 2189

Fax:

in NZ:

04-939 2190
International:

+64-4-939 2190

email:

nzart@mail.nzart.org.nz