Mai Media And Tahu FM Unite

Te 21 o nga ra o Hongongoi 2002

Mai Media And Tahu FM Unite

An alliance between two major players in Maori broadcasting will strengthen media coverage of Maori news and current affairs in the South Island.

Mai Media Limited – which operates the national Maori language radio service, Ruia Mai – will sign a memorandum of understanding with Ngai Tahu Radio and Television Limited at a ceremony in Christchurch on Monday (22/7). Mai Media also runs Auckland's number one radio station, Mai FM 88.6, and the record label, Mai Music.

Under the agreement, a reporter from Ruia Mai will be based in the Christchurch office of Ngai Tahu Radio and Television. Roihana Nuri (Te Arawa, Ngati Awa, Tuhoe, Te Whanau-a-Apanui), who has a National Diploma in Journalism from Taranaki Polytechnic, joined the Auckland-based Ngati Whatua station earlier this year.

Ruia Mai staff contribute to the morning and night current affairs programmes, Te Kowae Paneke and Te Kawe Purongo, as well as the on-the – hour news and sports bulletins, Nga Rangona Korero. Seven days a week, the team of presenters, reporters and producers generate some 40 hours of programming for the national network of iwi radio stations as well as broadcasting on their own 1179AM frequency in Auckland.

Mai Media Managing Director Graham Pryor says the agreement will strengthen a long-standing relationship between the two companies, and provide a pathway for further co-operation between Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

“With this move, Ruia Mai will have the ability to extend our coverage of news and current affairs from Te Waipounamu to the iwi radio network. We’re dedicated to providing a strong, independent Maori news service and this alliance with Ngai Tahu will ensure a better future for Maori broadcasting as a whole."

Gabrielle Huria, Managing Director of TAHU FM, says she is pleased that more South Island news will be delivered to the iwi radio network. Maori broadcasting in Te Waipounamu received a big boost during the last two years when TAHU FM extended its broadcast to Dunedin, Invercargill and Kaikoura.

However, she says she is disappointed that Te Mangai Paho which is mandated by the Government to provide Maori radio programmes to the entire country, is not funding the delivery of iwi radio programmes beyond Christchurch to Dunedin and Invercargill. "Hopefully, our joint initiative with Ruia Mai will help to highlight similar issues facing the Maori people living in Te Waipounamu."

ENDS

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