Merry Christmas from Radio New Zealand, Split Enz and Warner Music. Here's the press release that came out today:

Split Enz Milestone for Radio New Zealand

Radio New Zealand has announced a landmark agreement with Warner Music Australia and Split Enz Management which will allow free public access to on-line podcasts of Enzology, the acclaimed ten-part radio documentary of the Split Enz story.

Radio New Zealand Chief Executive, Peter Cavanagh, said the agreement was a significant milestone for New Zealand music, allowing free public access to a valuable audio resource about the iconic band.
“ Radio New Zealand is proud to lead the way by instigating this formal pod-cast agreement with a major music label, reinforcing our public commitment to make quality programming available to our audiences wherever, whenever and however they want to receive it. ”
Enzology, the Radio New Zealand National documentary covers the story of Split Enz from their beginnings in Auckland as an acoustic ensemble in 1972, to their final concerts as an Australia-based, internationally acclaimed pop band in 1984.

Today’s announcement coincides with high public interest in an upcoming New Zealand tour by the re-united band.

Each of the 10 Enzology episodes takes the title of a Split Enz studio album, and includes recollections from each member of the band, record producers and managers.
The series is illustrated with music from all the hits & numerous album tracks, plus previously unreleased demos, live recordings and rough mixes gathered from the Enz members’ personal archives and those of Radio New Zealand Sound Archives.

Split Enz strove to be original in their music and their look. The hit songs I Got You, My Mistake, I See Red, Message to My Girl, Poor Boy, Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Dirty Creature are now part of New Zealand and Australian culture. Around the world, Split Enz continues to attract fans as new listeners discover their music.

Episode one of Enzology: The Beginning of the Enz will be available from Saturday afternoon, 22nd December, and a new episode will be added each week for ten weeks. Episodes will then remain available for download for at least twelve months.

Listen on-line or download Enzology episodes from Saturday 22nd December.
www.radionz.co.nz/enzology

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And I'd like to add that the audio is compressed at 256 kb, 44.1khz and there's a four minute trailer on the main page now.

Yay.

Great news, Jaffa - but will the downloads be available worldwide this time, or only for New Zealand residents?

Worldwide.

Amazing, and totally unexpected after all this time. Such quality, and whole heartedly recommended to all enz fans, truly a labour of love, now if only the full songs could be played...

podcasts, they're like buses, you wait for ages and ages for one, and then ten all come at once...

Wow, this is truly an amazing gift, just in time for the holidays! I've been patiently waiting to hear this for sometime now

Thank you to all who made this happen for the Frenz.

Congratulations, Jaffa!

Oo very cool. Its my birthday that day *grin*. Its that my present from the Radio New Zealand lol.

This is awesome news. Enzology thoroughly deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible. You folks who haven't heard are in for a real treat. Nice birthday present for ya eh Lisa!

*Listening to Enzology 5 now "But I'm, I'm up up up up against a brick wall..."*

Here's the press release from Parliament:

Hon Trevor Mallard
Minister of Broadcasting

19 December 2007

Media Statement

Stranger than Fiction becomes real for Radio New Zealand National listeners

Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard welcomes the announcement from Radio New Zealand of their agreement with Split Enz and Warner Music to podcast Enzology, Radio New Zealand National's documentary of the History of Split Enz.

The first episode, entitled Beginning of the Enz, will be available on the Radio New Zealand website for download on Saturday 22 December.

"This agreement is an excellent example of Radio New Zealand leading the field with a digital application that will benefit all New Zealanders," Trevor Mallard said.

"I am looking forward to the series. Enzology provides an insight into the history of Split Enz and its music will now be available to New Zealanders when and where they wish to hear it. Songs like Give it a Whirl, I See Red and History Never Repeats have become part of our culture."

Finally I will get to hear Enzology.
Excellent.Thanks for letting us know.

Mr. Mallard's not so beleaguered after all! On ya, man!

Wow, what wonderful news! I can't wait to hear these!

i never heard this series originally, so i'm more than excited to finally get the chance

big thanks to everyone involved with this!

FINNTASTIC News.

Jaffaman - Could you please check with your department heads wether I need clearence to air the Enzology episodes once we are up and running and APRA Licenced with FRENZ RADIO.

It would be great to start Frenz Radio by airing the episodes weekly (airing at different times to be friendly for all time zones).

As a pure fan - this is a great Christmas - cheer Jaffaman, great work and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Peter
(FRENZ RADIO - Starting soon)

Hi Peter

Yes, you'll need to seek permission.
From http://www.radionz.co.nz/podcasts/enzology.rss :
Note: the programmes in this podcast are for personal use only. Please respect the rights of the copyright holders. If you wish to broadcast this series contact Radio New Zealand.

Best to contact Radio New Zealand early next year after the Christmas/New Year break: rnz@radionz.co.nz or go to http://www.radionz.co.nz/contact

In the meantime, Merry Christmas too yooo toooo!

I've been meaning to say a big Thank You to Iarla for unintentionally prodding Radio NZ two months ago into reinvestigating getting Enzology audio online. With the Luton CD, the box set, the live tour and continuing solo projects all happening at this time, it seemed appropriate that we have some sort of audio on the Enzology site. I went through all ten episodes and selected (and re-edited and remixed) twenty-one excerpts that contained no commercially released music, thinking that we'd never get permission to put the episodes up in full. Ah well. A fun exercise. I like the final outcome better!

I am SO looking forward to hearing these Enzologies!

This is awesome news! Can't wait!!

Thanks a bunch to all involved in getting this aired again!

Is there a way you can save these to your hard disk?

quote:

Originally posted by six species on leaky boat:
Is there a way you can save these to your hard disk?

You can indeed,
http://www.radionz.co.nz/podcasts/enzology.rss
right click the Enzology Part 01 - Beginning of the Enz (1950s-1975) link and "Save Link As..."

(I'd post the direct mp3 link but that might be breaking some rules..)
The great news is this is better quality than the, uh, 'versions' I'd been listening to in the past...

Thanks!