Today marks a big day in Newstalk ZB's history.
It's been 30 years since we transitioned from 1ZB to Newstalk 1ZB. 

WATCH HERE: THE RAT RACE - A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE START OF NEWSTALK ZB

On this date, March 16^th thirty years ago, the radio station formerly known as 1ZB, announced a new format, a new on-air line-up and a new name.  Newstalk 1ZB was born. The reaction was immediate and brutal.

Opposition stations had a field day. Some laughed, some wrote off the move as a loser and others plotted and schemed how to capture the mantle of what had been for a long time the number one station in Auckland and therefore the country.
- Read Leighton Smith's full tribute to Newstalk ZB

PHOTOS: NEWSTALK ZB'S ADS AND FEATURES IN THE MEDIA

PHOTOS: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MAGIC AT NEWSTALK ZB

I celebrated my 35th anniversary in radio in January, so the better part of my career has been involved with ZB in some way shape or form. A handful of  years was spent in music radio, public radio, and there’s been the cross over with TV and Print too, so I’ve been lucky to have worked for a lot of different groups, people and outlets. I’ve worked for commercial, non commercial, public and privately owned, and in 35 years I have seen, if not all, then most of it, and I can tell you without any hesitancy, that ZB’s the greatest operator of them all. 
-Read Mike Hosking's full tribute to Newstalk ZB

SEE ALSO: Mike's Minute: Happy birthday to us!

• Mike's Minute: Happy birthday to us!