The N.Z. Vintage Radio Project

AWA is an Australian company, but produced radios here under the Columbus brand name in the mid-50's by providing technical assistance* to Radio Corporation of New Zealand (who at this stage were just beginning their death throws).  Models from Radio Corp NZ in the 1955-60 era contained a number of rebranded AWA Radiola models. 

After the Pye takeover of Radio Corp NZ in around 1960 the arrangements with AWA seem to have been terminated and Radio Corp made Astor (another Australian brand) sets for Pye in their Wellington factory.

Fisher and Paykel, through Allied Industries, manufactured AWA Radiola sets for AWA under licence (from 1960?).  Predominantly this was the era of stereograms - so most AWA sets found in NZ are of this type - although there are portables around as well.  There were a few valve-based units (?) but NZ produced Radiola is largely solid state.

Allied Industries also produced Murphy under licence from Rank Bush Murphy in the UK, and while Radiola and Murphy sets (usually) had different cabinets, often the circuitry was the same - with the difference being the chassis code with Murphy codes beginning with an M while Radiola codes began (mostly) with an A.

*mention of this assistance can be found in their annual shareholders reports from the era