CAMA welcomes new leadership at Planet FM and Access Radio Taranaki

With almost 40 years of radio experience under their respective belts, CAMA is delighted to welcome Planet FM radio and development manager Brent Harbour and Access Radio Taranaki manager Tracey Blake. 

Brent joined Planet FM late last year. He has worked in on-air and programming radio positions for 37 years in New Zealand, Australia, Dubai, and the United Kingdom. Most recently, he hosted and produced podcasts in Wanaka. 

Community Access Media is a great way to connect communities and tell great stories. 

“I want to make sure everyone knows what an asset community access radio is and encourage them to think about new ways to communicate and connect.”

Tracey Blake also brings 35 years of rich radio experience to the Community Access Sector. Having worked as an announcer, and promotions and marketing manager for MediaWorks and the Radio Network/NZME, Tracey hopes to increase ART’s visibility and awareness. 

“Coming from commercial media, I saw over my career how what was once about the people has become just a money-making racket, and the sense of community has gone.  

“Consumption of media has changed so much over the past 10-15 years and continues to do so, but I believe society will always want to connect. Community Access Media is one of the only means for this to happen. This excites me.” 

Brent and Tracey replace long-time sector station manager trailblazers Anne Dawson (ART) – and Christine McKechnie (Planet FM). Anne and Christine contributed immensely to the sector and Aotearoa’s communities, representing the industry in CAMA executive leadership roles over the last decade. 

To celebrate, CAMA spoke to Brent and Tracey about their backgrounds, their love of Community Access Media, and their plans for the sector. 

1. Tell us about yourself

Tracey: Hi, I’m Tracey, and I’m in my mid-50s and have recently started as the new Manager at ART (Access Radio Taranaki). I’ve two adult daughters and a new grandson who is the love of my life. I live on a lifestyle block in central Taranaki where my 91-year-old mum lives independently in a wee flat in my house. I come from a large family of seven children and grew up in Tauranga after my parents sold their farm in Te Awamutu. We became townies, but I guess that love of the land ran deep through my veins.

Brent: I am married to Kezia, and we have three wonderful daughters, our eldest, Aidan and twins Aspen and Keira. I have loved radio all my life since getting a microphone from Dick Smith Electronics in Avondale and recording radio shows with records on my parents’ stereo system when I was nine. That and flying!

2. Where did you work previously?

Tracey: For the past 15 months, I have worked as project manager for the Stratford Park Project, an exciting new sporting hub in central Taranaki that’s just been started. Before that, I worked as a Regional Manager at NZME and previously was an announcer & promotions and Marketing Manager for Mediaworks and the Radio Network for nearly 35 years.

Brent: I have spent the last two years hosting and producing podcasts for a company called the iAppnetwork based in Wanaka, providing podcasts on a variety of topics from charities, councils, mayors, tech innovators and conservationists for local apps in Wanaka, Queenstown, Central Otago and Southland. Previously, I worked in radio in on-air and programming positions in NZ, Australia, Dubai, and the U.K. This wonderful medium has allowed me to have fantastic experiences worldwide, including remotely hosting a breakfast show for the Cayman Islands last year!

3. What brings you to the Community Access Media sector?

Tracey: Coming from Commercial Media, I have seen over my career how what was once about the people has become just a money-making racket, and the sense of community has disappeared. Media consumption has changed so much over the past ten to fifteen years and continues to do so. Still, society will always want to connect, and Community Access Media is one of the only ways to do this. That excites me. 

Brent: Being out of radio after doing it for 37 years, I missed it, and Community Access Media is a great way to connect communities and tell great stories. Over the last couple of years, I have discovered some incredible people from diverse backgrounds doing incredible work, and Community Access Media is a great way to showcase them.

4. What are you hoping to achieve in your new role?

Tracey: I want us to always strive for improvement. I want to create excitement in the marketplace about ART, get our name out there, and celebrate our history and accomplishments. Equally, I want to look for new ways to grow and engage with the community. 

Brent: I want to get more people on-air and create some original podcasts, using all the skills I have learnt to help people tell their stories and be a source of important information for their communities.

5. What are some of the challenges the station/sector has/is facing, and how are you hoping to navigate these challenges? 

Tracey: Station visibility and awareness are challenges, and I am focusing on adding to the team’s work with restricted staff and tools. They’ve created a fantastic new website that goes live soon and a sizzling new logo that will be out there for all to see shortly. I believe that this will assist in enticing and retaining Content Creators to want to be a part of ART more and hopefully attract more people of interest to want to be a part of all the fun.

Brent: Like all media, there are financial pressures and attention pressures in an overcommunicated world. I hope to develop both the on-air sound and the podcast content to make us the go-to place for the community to have their voice. I want to ensure everyone knows what an asset community access radio is and encourage them to think about new ways to communicate and connect.

6. How do you see the future of your stations? Are there any changes or strategic objectives you’re hoping to achieve? 

Tracey: Change will happen—it always does with a new skipper. But ultimately, it’s about the goal and achieving it, as that drives you to get there. I believe we have an amazing opportunity for the community, and it’s just about getting that story out there more, as many people are unaware of this amazing tool in our Taranaki kete.

I want to grow our SM presence and promote our Podcasts more. We should also consider revenue streams to support our funding. Let’s face it—we’re all finding it hard—so it’s time to think outside the box, explore what other Community Access Media stations are doing well, and implement some of these opportunities in revenue operations and programming.

Brent: We are incredibly lucky with our new community hub and studios. Airtime is finite; online time is not. So, part of my overall plan is to use our airtime more effectively, offer a diverse range of content to listen to and help train communities in effective storytelling and communication.