A crash course on how to be compliant, and what it all means!

I've spent a good chunk of my career touring with major musical theatre productions as an A2, responsible for wireless audio deployment and keeping every bodypack alive through eight shows a week. One thing that experience makes very clear is that every country has its own rules for wireless microphone frequencies. New Zealand is no exception.

Recently a customer asked me about the difference in audio quality between an "S band" and an "R band" Sennheiser system. There isn't one. Those letters simply indicate which frequency range the transmitter operates in, and they exist because manufacturers sell the same product across many countries, each with different frequency rules. It has nothing to do with audio quality.

That question is what prompted this article. Here's a straightforward look at how it all works in New Zealand.

What's Legal in New Zealand

This table covers the frequency ranges relevant to wireless microphone use in New Zealand. If you only read one thing, read this.

The most important thing to check: if your transmitter operates anywhere in the 698 to 806 MHz range, it cannot legally be used in New Zealand. Check the frequency label on the back of your receiver or under the battery cover of your transmitter.

How to Check Your Equipment

The frequency is usually printed on a label on the receiver unit, or under the battery cover of the bodypack or handheld transmitter. It will show either a specific frequency (like 734.000 MHz) or a tuning range (like 710 to 780 MHz).

Compare that number against the table above. If it falls within a legal band, you're fine. If it's in the 698 to 806 MHz range or the 606 to 622 MHz range, it can't be used here.

If you're not sure, any reputable NZ audio supplier should be able to tell you over the phone.

Transmitters vs. Receivers: What Actually Gets Regulated

This is worth knowing, particularly if you're looking at importing equipment.

A receiver is a passive device. It listens for a signal but doesn't broadcast one. New Zealand's Radiocommunications Regulations apply specifically to transmitters and the people supplying or using them. The receiver is not the regulated component.

What this means in practice:

• The bodypack, handheld, or beltpack transmitter must operate on NZ-legal frequencies
• The receiver unit itself is not subject to frequency restrictions

Most systems are sold as matched pairs, so this distinction mainly matters if you're mixing and matching equipment or buying components separately. Either way, the transmitter is what determines whether your setup is compliant.

What Do the Letter Bands Actually Mean?

Manufacturers like Sennheiser and Shure sell the same wireless systems across many countries, configured for different regional frequency ranges. To differentiate them, they assign letter designations to each frequency range.

A Sennheiser G4 system, for example, comes in A band, G band, R band, S band, and others. Each letter corresponds to a different slice of the frequency spectrum. The audio electronics, build quality, and features are identical across all of them.

The letter band tells you where in the spectrum the transmitter operates. It has no bearing on audio quality, reliability, or performance. S band and R band sound exactly the same.

The practical implication for New Zealand buyers is that a system purchased overseas may be configured for a frequency band that is legal in its country of origin but falls outside what's permitted here. A US-market system may be set up for the 700 MHz range, which is fine in parts of the United States but not available in New Zealand.

Always confirm the frequency range of any system before buying, especially online or from international retailers.

What Is the 606 to 622 MHz Gap?

The 16 MHz gap between the two legal wireless microphone bands is allocated to the Maori Television Service. Digital TV channels 38 and 39 in this range are held under a management right by Te Matawai, and that right runs until 2033. It's a protected broadcasting allocation, which is why wireless microphones cannot operate there.

Buying Gear Online or from Overseas

This is where most compliance problems start. Schools, churches, and community groups looking for a good deal online can easily end up with equipment that isn't legal to use here.

Before buying any wireless microphone system, check:

• Does the transmitter tune within NZ's legal bands (502 to 606 MHz, 622 to 698 MHz, or 1785 to 1805 MHz)?
• Does the equipment carry an RCM mark or R-NZ compliance label?
• Can the supplier confirm it's approved for use in New Zealand?

If the seller can't answer those questions, it's worth shopping elsewhere. A system you can't legally use isn't a bargain. Established NZ suppliers will already know which products are compliant and can point you in the right direction.

Older Equipment Still in Venues

The frequency changes in 2015 were well known within the professional audio industry, but that information didn't always reach end users. Plenty of venues are still running wireless systems purchased years ago that now operate on frequencies they're no longer permitted to use.

Equipment in the old 700 MHz band may still appear to work fine. The issue is that it's sharing spectrum with mobile broadband services, and interference can occur at any time. More to the point, it's not legal to operate.

If you look after audio at a church, school, community hall, or similar venue and your wireless gear hasn't been checked since before 2015, it's worth taking five minutes to look up the frequency on the label and compare it against the table at the top of this article.

Quick Checklist

• Find the frequency label on your receiver or transmitter
• Check it falls within 502 to 606 MHz or 622 to 698 MHz
• Avoid the 606 to 622 MHz and 698 to 806 MHz ranges entirely
• When buying new, confirm NZ compliance before purchasing
• Look for the RCM mark or R-NZ label on NZ-sold equipment
• If in doubt, ask a local supplier

Need Help?

If you're not sure whether your existing gear is compliant, or you're looking at buying something new and want to make sure it's right for New Zealand, feel free to get in touch. We're happy to take a look and point you in the right direction.

Information current as of April 2026. Always verify current regulations with RSM before purchasing.