Iwi radio seeks support

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 462, 17 November 1992, Page 5

Iwi radio seeks support

Tamaupoko korero

by

Tamaupoko

Korero

Te Reo Irirangi Ki Ruapehu is the local Maori radio station operating on 91.2FM frequency. The radio station opened on 1 July this year and is based in the Information Centre, 54 Clyde Street, Ohakune. Initially the station operated from 7 am through to 7pm. However, restructuring and a training programme for new announcers saw local broadcasts cut back to 7am to 12noon Mondays through to Sundays with the exception of Wednesdays and Fridays when

specialist afternoon/evening shows are aired. Some of the highlights for the station have been the 'Aunty Tulip Show'; the Tanneca Top 6; live reports from Phoenix, Arizona; the live outside broadcast of the ordination of Peehi Waretini; and the many visits to the station of peoples from all walks of life. A special feature has been the early childhood education programmes

including local kohanga reo and kindergarten and playcentres. With the exception of the manager, Ross Wallis, the rest of the staff are voluntary. Mr Wallis said he could not speak highly eno,ugh of the efforts the staff have put in to keep the radio running. "We receive no funding from New Zealand on Air and it is always difficult to balance the budget but considering our rela-

tive inexperience I think our announcers and a small support group in the community have done a great job," said Mr Wallis, "although we have made many community contacts through our free community access to the airwaves many people out there still perceive us as inaccessible because we are a Maori station". "I think this is probably the reason also why the business community

has been a little reticent in supporting us. However by lifting our public profile so that people know we are here

for all, the community will help. "The fact that we are now the only radio staTurn to page 6

Iwi radio support

From page 5 tion that is locally based will also help," he said. Mr Wallis said they had a good relationship with Ski FM sharing a transmitter facility at Waipuna Ridge. 91.2 Iwi FM covers the Tamaupoko rohe (area) which extends from Taihape to Waiouru across to Owhango and over to Whakahoro on the Whanganui River, then down the river to Matahiwi and back across the Parapara to Taihape. Mr Wallis said Tamaupoko was the tupuna rohe of the iwi authority for Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board. Mr Wallis said the radio station was not sure of its broadcast for the Christmas period but that it was planned for the radio station to be an allyear round operation. "We have the flexibility of being able to link to Wanganui 100 FM and through there to star link to other iwi stations throughout Aotearoa. An example is our trialling of controversial

Auckland rap station Mai FM on Saturday nights, and links with Tainui FM (Waikato) Radio Aotea (Auckland) and Te Upoko o Te Ika (Wellington) give us important cultural and political links with other iwi".

Summing up, Mr Wallis said "91.2 Iwi station is a Maori broadcast unit but it is open to use by the general public. If you've got something you want to go to air we're only a phone call away."