Mai FM 88.6 Celebrates 10th Birthday

Te 25 o nga ra o Pipiri 2002

New Zealand's most successful commercial Maori radio station - Mai FM 88.6 - pumps up the volume during the month of July in a bumper 10th anniversary celebration.

Auckland's number one station will host the Mai FM 10th Birthday concert at the St James Theatre on Thursday, July 4.

Award-winning musician Che Fu and his band, the Krates, will headline the event with support from Australia's new R'n'B sensation Selwyn as well as local acts Katchafire, Dubious Brothers, DJ Sir-Vere, D2S and DJ CXL.

Earlier that day, Prime Minister Helen Clark will attend a powhiri at Orakei Marae hosted by the Ngati Whatua-owned station.

The welcome and concert kick off a month-long celebration which includes an anniversary tour with concerts in Gisborne, Rotorua and Hamilton; the launch of a special 10th birthday compilation album, 'Rappers Delight'; and the unveiling of the Rhythm Nation Talent Search for Sound winner.

Mai Media managing director Graham Pryor attributes the success of the top rating station to the people - from its owner, Auckland tribe Ngati Whatua, to the staff, audience and advertisers.

"We've got a great team and huge support from the community," Mr Pryor says. "We've also had immense success with advertisers and without their support, none of this would have been possible."

Mai FM 88.6 recently won the number one mantle with an 11.7 per cent share of the competitive Auckland radio market.

It has the second highest rating breakfast show with 9.7 per cent of the audience and is also the top station among those aged 18 to 39, and 18 to 34. It attracts nearly one in four of its target demographic of listeners aged 10 to 24.

Mai FM 88.6 is owned by Mai Media Limited which also runs the national Maori language radio service, Ruia Mai, and the record label, Mai Music.

ENDS

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