Maori News Service Opens Rotorua Office

Maori News Service Opens Rotorua Office

National Maori language radio service Ruia Mai will officially open its third branch office tomorrow (20/9/03), this time in Rotorua.

New Waiariki journalist Mere McLean (Tuhoe, Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou, Ngati Tuwharetoa) - who will be responsible for news coverage from Taupo across to Tauranga and down to the East Cape and the Urewera - will be officially welcomed at Mataatua Marae in Old Taupo Road at 11am.

At 1pm, the offices of both Ruia Mai and Rotorua's number one rating station, Mai FM 96.7, will also be officially blessed. Both Ruia Mai and Mai FM 96.7 are part of the Mai Media group of companies.

Ruia Mai general manager Pere Maitai says the expansion into Rotorua and the greater Bay of Plenty area will increase the service's ability to provide a local perspective to their Maori language news and current affairs programmes. Ruia Mai already has two reporters based at Parliament in Wellington, and another in the South Island.

"Mere is a young, talented bilingual broadcaster who has previously worked as a current affairs, news and sports reporter for Ruia Mai in Auckland," Mr Maitai says. "Her new position will establish her as the principal agent in providing community notices and local Rotorua news for Mai Media."

Mai Media also operates its own music label, Mai Music, and will officially launch its third station, Mai FM 97.8, in Northland next week with a series of gigs at the Adrenalin Bar in Whangarei.

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