Community TV plans for Ruapehu

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 307, 3 October 1989, Page 1

Community TV plans

for Ruapehu

One of the Ruapehu District Council mayoral candidates is promising New Zealand's first community television channel for the new Ruapehu District.

Waiouru candidate Gordon Mottram told the Bulletin he has applied for a broadcasting licence for a channel, based on Canadian operations which broadcast to populations of as little as 5000 people. He said it could be delivered by cable transmission, ground Jbased aerial or by

satellite. $250,000 would be needed to set up the channel and some of the money is already pledged, said Mr Mottram. The station would be operated by a trust, overseen by the Ruapehu District Council. "There is not one single reason why a television, and radio, Turn page 3

Ruapehu television

From page 1 system to cover our entire district with perfect sound and vision cannot be in place in a very short time," said Mr Mottram. He says activities of schools, drama clubs and "every type of leisure activity" could be taped and shown as required. He claims the proposal would see "the forgotten 50 per cent" of the population

twomen) would have their unique skills and experience "given full rein". "The speedy interchange of ideas and actions would provide unity of ihinking from shared interests," said Mr Mottram. "While the men decide how to fix the drains, the rubbish and the pot-holes, the women can, and will, continue to expand their horizons."