Maori Radio Service Unveils 2002-2003 Format

Te 26 o nga ra o Pipiri 2002

National Maori Radio Service Unveils 2002-2003 Format

New Zealand's leading Maori-owned, Maori language broadcaster launches a new programme format from this Monday, July 1.

Ngati Whatua station Ruia Mai is contracted by the Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, to deliver Maori language programmes to the iwi radio network seven days a week. The station was launched at Auckland's Orakei Marae on Saturday, May 18, 1996, and went to air two days later - only six weeks after signing the contract. It also broadcasts in Auckland on 1179AM.

Ruia Mai manager Pere Maitai says the extension of the contract until June 2003 allows the station to continue to develop and improve on the quality of programmes. In particular, the news and current affairs shows will be targeted at a wider audience of Maori speakers and language learners aged 21 years and over. Two reporters will work from Parliament in Wellington, and for the first time, a reporter will be based in Christchurch.

"We're proud of our achievements since the station was launched six years ago," Mr Maitai says. "We've proven that we can break news stories first and we have the awards to prove it. This is an exciting time for Maori broadcasting in general, and we're ecstatic to be playing such an important role in the preservation and protection of the Maori language."

Key features of the new format include:

* A new half-hour arts show every Sunday night from 6.30pm to 7pm;
* On-the-hour five-minute news and sports bulletins from 7am to 7pm;
* A half-hour current affairs show every weekday from 6.30am to 7am;
* One-hour morning and night current affairs shows - from 7am to 8am, and 7pm to 8pm.

Ruia Mai is part of Mai Media Limited which also runs Auckland's number one radio station, Mai FM 88.6, and the record label Mai Music.

ENDS

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