CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RDU! 1976 – 2026
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RDU! 1976 – 2026
February 20th, 2026
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast on RDU.
RDU commenced broadcasting on the 22nd of February in 1976 as a student project at the University of Canterbury and after five decades remains Ōtautahi’s only alternative to the mainstream.
Throughout the next 12 months RDU will be celebrating this milestone with a series of events and partnerships. Starting off strong with a stage at Nostalgia Festival and collaborating with Main Divide and Smash Palace for a live broadcast session from our very own 100% kiwi electronica show The Green Room (Saturdays 4-6pm). We’ve started how we mean to continue!
Coming up in March there’s the golden anniversary RDBRU brewed by Three Boys Brewery. Plus a beach party at Twominds Festival. And with plenty more in the calendar, you can stay up to date with what’s on at rdu50.org.nz.
Last but not least… since the 2000s the RDU logo has received a rework every few years. So for the gold anniversary we are pleased to unveil our fresh look, drawing inspiration from the past with a nod to the original Radio U moniker.