NZART Centenary 2026
NZART was founded in Auckland in 1926.
This is the official page for the NZART centenary
commemorative activities planned for 2026.
NZART Centenary 100 QSO Challenge
This one-off event has come and gone. Thanks to all members who participated, either as a contestant or as contact.
The 9 stations that made 100 QSOs in 24 hours were:
Graeme Hunt ZL1ANH
Norman Macleod ZL4SY
Bill Cousins ZL3VZ
Nick Lynch ZL3NLA
Ian Wright ZL1MVl (using ZL100AM)
Steven McQueen ZL4CZ
Greg Barton ZL2GBX
David Karrasch ZL1DK (using ZL100C)
Rick Jackson ZL3RIK
Endorsements granted were:
Most Portable Stations: ZL3RIK 80
Most DXCC Entities in their 100 QSOs: ZL3VZ 45
Fastest to 100 QSOS: ZL1DK 2 hours 3 min (all phone)
Most modes: ZL3NLA and ZL1ANH, both with 3
Most memorable QSO: ZL100AM with VK4AVO.
Portable Activity Day
While Portable Activity Day has also come and gone Branches are encouraged to make themselves visible to the community throughout 2026, our centenary year. Consider running clubroom open days and offering visits to organisations such as service clubs.
ZM prefix
The Radio Operator Certificate and Callsign Rules (PIB 46) document permits amateurs and club stations to use “ZM” rather than “ZL” as a prefix during commemorative events. NZART members are encouraged to use the ZM prefix during the 2026 year as a celebration of our centenary.
ZL100 callsigns
There are three ZL100 stations currently active – ZL100C, ZL100AM and ZL100MVL.
Look out for a news of a special award for contacting ZL100 stations, to be launched at Conference 2026.
Official Broadcast
Official Broadcasts during 2026 will include historic items with audio clips featuring NZART members who were instrumental in creating our 100 year history. Tune in to 3.900 MHz LSB at 2000 hours on the last Sunday of each month from February.
NZART History Book
A fully-illustrated book documenting our association’s history will be published in 2026. All members that pay a full-registration to the NZART Conference will receive a free copy of this book. Additional copies will be made available for purchase after conference.
2026 Conference
Put the dates of 30 May to 1 June in your 2026 diary. Our 100th Conference will be held at the Waipuna Conference Centre, Mt Wellington, Auckland.
The organising committee is developing a programme aligned with the dual conference themes of commemorating our 100 year history and exploring our future.
More centenary celebratory activities will be added soon.
Craig Crawford ZL3TLB, NZART Historian, email: milestones@nzart.org.nz