Access media welcomes collaboration with RNZ

RNZ (Radio New Zealand) and CAMA (Community Access Media Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand) have agreed to share content and work together to benefit audiences across New Zealand.

RNZ and CAMA, the national representative body for the 12 independent access media stations across Aotearoa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (Friday 3 November 2023).

RNZ’s Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Paul Thompson said increasing collaboration was a strategic priority for RNZ as it looked to help keep the sector strong and reach New Zealanders where and when they want.

“We hope in time to be able to share our news bulletins, free of charge, to all of CAMA’s media stations. These stations are reaching audiences in 54 different languages, meaning a much broader, more diverse, range of New Zealanders will have access to a trusted source of news at a time when the need for outstanding public media has never been greater.”

The MOU also allows for RNZ to rebroadcast CAMA content and for CAMA office space to be offered to visiting RNZ staff when they need a space to work from while travelling. This builds on the shared offices that already exist in some parts of the country, for example in Manawatū and Taranaki.

Community Access Media Alliance co-chair Jo Holsted said the history between RNZ and Community Access Media goes back more than 40 years.

“While our respective sectors have evolved dramatically over that period, we have maintained a quiet and complementary dynamic in the media landscape. We each serve a unique role in serving and reflecting Aotearoa, and this Memorandum of Understanding not only acknowledges that dynamic but lays the foundation for active collaboration.”

For Radio Hawke’s Bay station manager Kelly Reid, the MOU is recognition of community access media’s role in the bigger picture of public media.

“The benefits of being able to work collaboratively with RNZ will empower our sector and our regions. Community access radio is a true community resource, often providing what others cannot or do not provide for minority audiences. The collaboration will allow us to draw on RNZ’s resources to the benefit of all our audiences.”

About RNZ’s content sharing programme

RNZ has more than 60 content sharing agreements in place that means that RNZ’s content is available to many online media, print, radio and television services both in New Zealand and the wider Pacific. This improves the accessibility of RNZ content for New Zealand and overseas audiences and provides a valuable source of unique local content for other media.

About the Community Access Media Alliance
Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) is the national representative body for the 12 independently owned access media stations in Aotearoa. Its members include Planet FM, Free FM, Access Radio Taranaki, Manawatū People’s Radio, Radio Hawke’s Bay, Arrow FM, Wellington Access Radio, Coast Access Radio, Fresh FM, Plains FM, Otago Access Radio, and Radio Southland.

CAMA represents, promotes, and advocates for access media in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Its mission is that everyone in New Zealand should have a space in the media.

CAMA media contact
Sasha Borissenko | CAMA National Representative
camaaotearoa@gmail.com
027 304 8151

RNZ media contacts
For any queries about RNZ, please contact:
Kim Grade | Principal Communications Advisor
mediaenquiries@rnz.co.nz
021 391 599

*Photo credit: RNZ/Stephen Parker