Publisher plans radio station

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 26 April 1988, Page 1

Publisher plans radio station

By

susannah

Walker

Ruapehu Publishers Ltd is spearheading moves to set up a temporary radio station in Ohakune to serve the Ruapehu region this winter. If a warrant can be obtained the station will broadcast for at least 12 weeks, starting in July. To be called Volcanic FM, it will have a format of hit music along with a high content of

local news and information. Managing Director Mr John Woods says Volcanic FM would be an experiment to see if a station could be maintained in the Ruapehu region. If the temporary station was a success the company would look at setting up a permanent station probably based at Ohakune. "At present more than half a dozen radio stations can be received in Turnpage2

Publisher's radio station

From page 1 the Ruapehu region," says Mr Woods. "We hope our station will cut across their formats to give a local approach and tie together what is now a fragmented audience and market." The company has yet to apply for a temporary warrant. Mr Woods says it has been more concerned with lodging an objection with the Broadcasting Tribunal to an application by Ceefor Communications Ltd for a permanent warrant to broadcast throughout the Waimarino district. Ceefor is proposing a Taupo-based station. The object is confined only to Ceefor's plans to absorb the Ruapehu region into the TaupoTongariro broadcast area. Ceefor has previously run temporary radio stations in the Ruapehu region during the ski season. Mr Woods says Ceefor has provided a valuable service, but sometimes its local news, information and promotions have been substandard. Ohakune, Taihape, Waiouru and Raetihi will be "tacked on" if Ceefor Communications Ltd broadcasts from Taupo on a permanent

warrant, he says. "I believe a large flaw in this is the presumption that this region wants to be aligned with Taupo. This area gravitates southward as well as to the north. "I believe it is utterly essential for a radio station to provide quality news and information." Mr Woods says he wants to see if Ruapehu Publishers Ltd, owners of the Waimarino Bulletin, can help provide "something better." He is open to Ceefor Communications becoming involved in the Volcanic FM project, but he wants to see the fruits of such a project kept in the district. "I believe our region deserves the profits from the seasonal stations and the rights to determine what sort of radio station we have." He says local ownership and involvement in Volcanic FM is important. Some funding for the station has already been approved by the Wanganui Regional Development Council. It now "just has to be rubber-stamped" by the Trade and Industries Department. "Then we can test the viability of a radio station in the Ruapehu region ourselves."

Mr Woods says a lo-cally-owned company would be formed to pursue the project once a warrant application was lodged. Already a number of investors have pledged support for the venture. It is intended using contractors and consultants to provide a business plan, equipment and other technical expertise and resources.