The first New Zealand record manufacturing plant was opened in Kilbirnie, Wellington in 1948 to press 78’s. HMV at the time described the factory as the most up-to-date in the southern hemisphere and was able to make one record every 40 seconds, or 50,000 per month.
The first disc pressed in this plant was “Buttons and Bows” by American singer, Dinah Shore, on the Columbia label.
In 1954 HMV moved from their Kilbirnie plant across the harbour to Lower Hutt. Here they remained (1972 changed to EMI) until 1988 when all record pressing ceased in New Zealand.
In 1948 the Radio Corporation of New Zealand decided to record and distribute local artists . Record presses were purchased in Australia and a recording studio opened in their Wellington headquarters.
The label decided on for these local releases was called TANZA (To Assist New Zealand Artists). Their first commercial release was “Blue Smoke” by Ruru Karaitiana and his Quintette
1953-the first vinyl 10” LP’s were released in New Zealand
1954-the first 7” singles were released. Spindle holes were made in the smaller UK size with a larger ‘snap-out’ surround for imported American jukeboxes.
1955-Elvis Presley’s first half dozen singles were released in New Zealand on the HMV (as in Britain) on both 45 and 78rpm.
1956-the same records appeared on the RCA Victor label
1957-The New Zealand Federation of the Phonographic Industry (NZFPI) formed to collect performance revenue on behalf of the now burgeoning New Zealand recording industry.
By 1958 New Zealand pressed discs outnumbered imports by over a million units. Four pressing plants were operating throughout the country. Most plants could produce around 100 45’s or 65 LP’s per hour. Minimum economic pressing run at this time was 300 records.
Also in 1958 saw the commercial introduction of STEREO pressings. Pye label sold stereo gramophones with special ‘demonstration discs’. Stereo discs were priced at 3/- above regular mono discs until 1967 when stereo became the standard.
1959-HMV were phasing out 78-rpm discs due to the growing popularity of radiograms able to play the new 12-inch, 33 1/3 microgroove discs
A Brief History of New Zealand Records