For almost 20 years (1999-2017), Radio Cartolina followed the activity of the Italian communities in New Zealand, in particular the Italian community living in Christchurch. This Radio – always supported and sponsored by the Italian Embassy in Wellington – was the focal point for Italy-related cultural events.
These events – open to New Zealand public – included the presentation of the National Research Project in Antarctica, and the creation of the first Italian Festival in Christchurch (Ciao Italia) in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce of New Zealand and the Dante Alighieri Society based in Christchurch.
In 2005, Wilma Giordano Laryn – producer and presenter of the programme– was awarded by the Italian Government with the title of Knight of the “ Ordine della Stella d’Italia” for her work both as a journalist and as a teacher.
Radio Cartolina, broadcast by the community radio station Plains FM 96.9 (now Plains Media), documented the bilateral relations between the two countries, contemporary immigration, the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, and the strong Italian presence in the reconstruction of Christchurch after the devastating earthquakes of 2010-11.
The programme has a significant documentary value. For this reason, in 2025 Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision – which is part of the New Zealand National Archives – acquired a selection of 200 episodes, accessible online to researchers and to the public.
To facilitate the search for material of interest, a Facebook page of Radio Cartolina New Zealand has been created. In the page, the collection is divided into nine thematic groups, with detailed contents for each episode and access to the corresponding audio files: Books and Arts, Italian Ambassadors in New Zealand, Italy in Antarctica, Christchurch Earthquakes and Reconstruction, Second World War, Italian Immigration, Italian Film Festival, Italian Opera in New Zealand, Culture and General Interest.
