Indigenous Music Number One At Te Tau Ihu

Indigenous Music Number One At Te Tau Ihu Broadcaster

Four hours of Te Reo music and content a day on an on going basis, two hours of NZ Music at breakfast and a host of regular Kiwi music features has put Te Tau Ihu broadcaster Fresh FM out front when it comes to promoting New Zealand Music Month.

"It was interesting at the beginning of this month to hear artists calling for not only more kiwi music on air but indigenous sounds. The answer is on community access radio station, Fresh FM," said John Bullock Station Manager.

"Our aim is to develop our Te Reo content base to include news, documentaries and oral archiving. We could do it now but financial support is the issue, which given the priority on promoting Te Reo, surprises me," said John Bullock

Fresh FM is the regional public broadcaster for the top of the South broadcasting from studios in Takaka, Motueka, Nelson and Blenheim. The station is not for profit and is managed by a community trust.

The station has a programming contract with New Zealand On Air and its strategic partners are Ngati Koata and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

"We are very proud of what is being achieved with community programme makers producing shows that include schools, the mentally disadvantaged, baby boomers, poets, health professionals and local businesses - it's all on air. The station is also home to the New Zealand Radio Drama Competition," said Fresh FM Programme Director Jo Ann Firestone.

"Fresh FM does assist in the development of our region's identity through storytelling. The significant amount of Te Reo on air is an example of our commitment to telling the stories of the region we live in," said Jo Ann Firestone

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