Waatea News Begins Maori Regional News Service

Waatea News Begins Innovative Maori Regional News Service

Waatea News has set a precedent within the Maori Radio industry by working with regional stations to provide news relevant to individual Iwi. Six stations which include Te Hiku O Te Ika, Radio Tainui, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Manuka Tutahi, Te Reo Irirangi o Turanganui-a-Kiwa , Te Korimako o Taranaki, and Te Upoko O Te Ika will deliver news to their area with 6 bulletins a day each. Five stations have been broadcasting as part of Waatea News since 2 August, with Te Upoko O Te Ika starting within the next couple of months.

Waatea News is the current national Maori news provider contracted by Te Mangai Paaho. Waatea News is a division of UMA Broadcasting which also heads Waatea 603am and George FM.

Waatea News Editor-in-Chief Rau Kapa says “Waatea is proud to be working with the regions. It is important that each rohe have ownership of their news, their stories. Regional news will help promote area dialects and also improve the skill base of each station, strengthening the industry as a whole.”

Regional news bulletins are available at 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, and 5:30pm on:

Te Hiku O Te Ika 94.4FM (Kaitaia)

Radio Tainui 95.4FM(Waikato)

Te Reo Irirangi o Te Manuka Tutahi 98FM (Whakatane)

Te Reo Irirangi o Turanganui-a-Kiwa 91.7, 95.5FM(Gisborne)

Te Korimako o Taranaki 94.8FM(New Plymouth)

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