Contract loss closes Maori radio service

By ALAN PERROTT

The Maori radio service Ruia Mai will close in June after having its contract ended by broadcasting funding agency Te Mangai Paho.

The station, part of the Ngati Whatua-owned Mai Media group, was the first to have 100 per cent Maori language programming.

It began broadcasting seven days a week on 1179 AM in May 1996.

Fifteen jobs will be lost when the station's news and current affairs contract is given to Radio Waatea, which can be heard on 603 AM, on June 30.

Radio Waatea is not aligned to an iwi and is based at the Nga Whare Waatea Marae in Mangere.

Its staff includes Willie Jackson, Tame Iti, Syd Jackson and Titewhai Harawira.

The station is owned by UMA (Urban Maori Authority) Broadcasting, which is also part-owner of the George FM network.

Te Mangai Paho chairman Wira Gardiner said it was decided Radio Waatea's proposal was likely to attract more Maori listeners and was a better match with the agency's guiding philosophy than that of Ruia Mai.

Mai Media managing director Graham Pryor said the company was extremely sad over the decision, but preferred to focus on the achievements Ruia Mai had made for broadcasting.

He said the station's success showed Maori language and culture could be retained and enhanced.

Herald Feature: Maori broadcasting

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