Maori radio opens tomorrow

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 442, 30 June 1992, Page 6

Maori radio opens tomorrow

Te Reo Irirangi Ki Ruapehu starts broadcasting from Ohakune on Wednesday. The Maori radio station is linked to Te Reo O Wanganui, and will broadcast from Waipuna Ridge on 91.2 FM in mono. After many technical delays, the station starts up Wecjnesday at 9.00am, following a Karakea (blessing) and official opening at 6.30am. The first broadcast will be done by local identity Kaumatua Pehi Waretini, who presently lives in Wanganui. Invited guests will join with radio and Marae people at 9.30am. The coverage area of the station includes the Whanganui Riverbank settlements of Jerusalem, Ranana, Pipiriki as well as Matahiwi, which is very important to the local Iwi, said Kaumatua Matiu Mareikura. He said covering these areas was technically very difficult but important because

people in those areas as well as the Waimarino are the Tamaupoko people - from the middle reaches of the Whanganui. Waiouru and possibly Taihape will be covered, though special aerials may be required. Staffing the station will be Hemi Mareikura

who has been training at Wanganui for the past month, Aurora Mareikura, Vera Wilson, and Wehi Mareikura. Maungarongo Marae Kaumatua will carry out Maori interviews on the station, and they will also monitor the Maori input into the station. Ross Wallis will manage

the station. Initially the station will broadcast for six hours daily, five days a week, then switch to Te Reo Irirangi O Whanganui. Later they plan to broadcast the local signal 8-10 hours a day, seven days a week. "The station is an important part of the

Tamaupoko development and our marae' s development," said Mr Mareikura. "And it will also be a community station. In our area there are a lot of different peoples and we want to invite them to speak on our airwaves, to enhance the communication and all the happenings in the area."