Today marks a big day in Newstalk ZB's history.
It's been 37 years since we transitioned from 1ZB to Newstalk 1ZB. 

The year was 1987.

The Post Office was split up into NZ Post, Telecom (now Spark) and Postbank (which got bought by ANZ).

Lotto tickets went on sale for the first time - the first division prize was a whopping $36,000!).

Te Reo Māori became an official language of our country.

Black Tuesday wiped billons off the value of New Zealand shares.

We had a boat in the America’s Cup for the first time – KZ-7, the old “plastic fantastic”.

The All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup, only to not win it again for another 24 years.

And 1ZB, which had been broadcasting in Auckland since 1926, had a new format, a new line-up and a new name.

On March 16, 1987 Newstalk 1ZB was born, with Paul Holmes on Breakfast, Leighton Smith remaining on Mornings, Phil Warren on on Afternoons, and John Cordery on Drive.

Within a few years of such a dramatic change, Newstalk 1ZB was winning the ratings war in Auckland, prompting then-owners Radio New Zealand to adopt the format for 2ZB Wellington and 3ZB Christchurch in 1991.

In that 37 years, we’ve been there with you for some of our country’s darkest days, and have celebrated New Zealand’s biggest wins with you - and we’ll be with you for many more years to come.

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

LISTEN: Mike Hosking, Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk about Newstalk ZB's birthday as they Wrap The Week

READ: Mike Hosking's full tribute to Newstalk ZB on its 35th birthday

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

PHOTOS: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MAGIC AT NEWSTALK ZB

MORE: READ LEIGHTON SMITH'S ACCOUNT OF NEWSTALK ZB FIRST YEARS