NATIONAL RADIO'S JOINT (AD)VENTURE

It was . . . really . . . when you think about it . . . um . . . an
odd place to smoke a joint. National Radio . . . yeah.

An Auckland rock band was recording a new album at Radio New Zealand's
Helen Young Studio on June 10, when smoke from their cannabis joints
wafted into the air-conditioning system.

The smoke quickly circulated throughout the building, where Radio New
Zealand's Concert FM and National Radio are located, along with The
Radio Network's Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, Radio Sport, Easy Listening
i, Radio Hauraki and 91ZM.

A band member said they had been working on tracks during a private
session in the studio, when they were "caught being naughty boys".

"A secretary came in and said a few staff members were complaining
about a funny incense smell coming through the air conditioning. She
had a wry smile on her face, she knew what it was. They probably all
went home feeling really good."

He said members of the band extinguished their joints after the office
worker politely requested they do so.

The Radio Network's chief executive, John McElhinney, said he found
the incident "somewhat amusing", though the matter had been taken
seriously. Cannabis smoke had filtered into The Radio Network's newsroom.

"Obviously people were enjoying the benefits of the band doing their
thing in the studio," McElhinney said.

A Radio New Zealand spokesperson said the band had hired Helen Young
Studio for four days of private sessions over the past two weeks. He
was not aware of the incident.