CAMA newsletter: December 2023

ACCESS MEDIA WELCOMES COLLABORATION WITH RNZ

Radio New Zealand and CAMA came together in November to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the sharing of content and greater collaboration to benefit audiences across Aotearoa.

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.

To read the media release, see here.

ACCESS MEDIA HUI

Coast Access Radio kindly hosted this year’s sector-wide conference in the beautiful Kāpiti Coast. It was the first conference in four years, which provided the basis for this year’s theme: Te Hononga Anoo.

District councillor Sophie Handford gave an inspiring keynote address, followed by presentations by Free FM, Firecrest, CAMA, Noise Productions and Arrow FM, Wellington Access Radio, WREMO, WINTEC, and NZ On Air.

OAR FM DUNEDIN HAS A NEW HOME

The year-long project to relocate after 22 years at the station’s Moray Place location culminated in a successful switch-over to new purpose-built studios at 43 Princes St, with the first live-to-air broadcasts commencing the week of October 16.

It has been a mammoth task for staff, volunteers and technicians. OAR took the opportunity that relocating presented to future-proof its studios, upgrading broadcasting equipment to Wheatstone digital suites. Installation was managed magnificently by Marcus Bekker and his Southern Broadcast team.

The more than 190 local volunteers who create programmes and podcasts with the station are now receiving hands-on training in the new systems.

NZ On Air’s capital fund, Otago Community Trust, New Zealand On Air Capital Fund, Alexander MacMillan Trust, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Dunedin Harbour Rotary, and the Otago Community Broadcasters Society contributed to the $280k project.

The station joins 18 other Dunedin Community House agencies in moving to 43 Princes St.

CAMA DELIGHTED TO WELCOME NEW MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER

New media and communications minister Melissa Lee has had a wonderful longstanding relationship with the sector and is a regular guest on Planet FM’s flagship Korean community programme, KCR.

As National Party broadcasting spokesperson in 2021, Minister Lee also passed an official motion in the House of Representatives to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the sector and its contributions to promoting public-interest broadcasting.

CAMA executive co-chair Jo Holsted says in its decades-long history, access media has grown to become an important and deeply democratic feature of the media landscape in Aotearoa.

“As that landscape changes, we are as committed as ever to ensuring diverse, local voices are truly and fairly represented. It is heartening to be supported by a minister who recognises the importance of the role we play in upholding that representation.”

To read the media release, see here.

ART DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE TOI FOUNDATION BOOST

As a community resource providing unrepresented voices a chance to be heard, Access Radio Taranaki was thrilled to receive a $9000 operational grant from Toi Foundation.

With little advertising, access media stations receive up to 60% of funding from NZ On Air. The rest is made up of grants and sponsorships.

“We provide the equipment, the airwaves, the training and the encouragement for people from the community to get their own voice out there,” station manager Anne Dawson said. Read more here.

CAMA RELEASES FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

As part of CAMA’s strategic plan to develop the sector, the representative body released its first annual report in November.

It represents the start of greater work to increase the reputation, visibility, efficacy, and viability of a sector that performs a vital representative function in Aotearoa.

The report was supplemented by a factsheet that provides a glimpse of what the sector offers the community. Data stemmed from various reports and a procurement survey completed between September 2022 and March 2023.

CELEBRATING PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

Wellington Access Radio’s event in July, Sharing Your Voice – A Social Night For Disabled People, provided the community with a platform to share experiences, discuss accessibility, and brainstorm new ways to be heard.

WAR also commemorated the International Day of Disabled Persons this year by recording sessions from Crip the Lit. To listen, click here.

CONTENT-MAKING FOR RADIO AND PODCASTS

Plains FM has created a comprehensive teacher resource. This provides guidelines for teachers to use with students as they create audio content for multiple uses. This valuable resource reduces teachers’ time to plan, prepare and organise their projects.

You can find more information on the Plains FM website.

NZ ON AIR ANNUAL REPORT

It’s been a big year for public media. NZ On Air gathered at SPADA to set the stage for 2024, including outlining its strategic focus and addressing pressing industry pātai.  In November, the funding body also released its annual report. Read more here.

NFP BETTER BANKING RESEARCH

This year, the Community Networks Aotearoa released the first-of-its-kind research, “Better Banking for All – Creating Ease of Banking for the Not-For-Profit Sector”. Read more here.

INCLUSIVE AOTEAROA COLLECTIVE’S SASS GROUP

Inclusive Aotearoa Collective’s SASS group spoke to Canada’s Tamarack Institute about its work and the Voices from the Frontlines paper, which was released in 2023. Read more here.

MOVEMENT FOR OPEN CULTURE AOTEAROA LAUNCH

The Movement for Open Culture Aotearoa (MOCA) was launched out of the @momentumwaikato Waikato Intercultural Fund, which was established to address issues of community connectedness. Read more here.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS STORYBOOKS

Auckland Council released a children’s series, ‘You Ready?’ that follows a group navigating natural disasters. The characters take you to different communities – Māori, Samoan, Hindi and Chinese – and teach you how to get ready too. Read more here.

BUILDING INCLUSIVE AI

Training AI systems to be fair, unbiased, and respectful of racial diversity is a complex but crucial endeavour. Check out these actionable strategies to mitigate racism from AI technology, brought to you by AIFWD. Read more here.

GOVERNANCE LEGISLATION CHANGES

In October, the Incorporated Society 2022 Act came into effect. It means incorporated societies are required to meet new requirements by April 2026. Community Networks Aotearoa put together this helpful resource.

The new Charities Amendment Act also came into force this year. Seed the Change hosts quick links, definitions, and FAQs alongside this free-to-download booklet.

CLIMATE ACTION TOOLBOX

The Sustainable Business Network has created The Climate Action Toolbox – a free, easy-to-use online tool that shows you how to measure and reduce your emissions.

Based on a simple self-assessment, the toolbox identifies priority action areas, providing tailored advice to businesses. It also includes an emissions calculator. Read more here.

GAGANA SAMOA APP LAUNCH

Samoa Capital Radio released its new Gagana Sāmoa Langauge App this year.

Samoan is the third most common language spoken in Aotearoa, and this app provides help with pronunciation, grammar, spelling, macrons and glottal stops.  Read more here.

FARMING AOTEAROA

From news to looking at the role Māori play in the rural community, join farming journalist and broadcaster Peter Burke on Coast Access Radio as he digs deep into the primary sector. See here.

BLITZ KIDS

Coast Access Radio brings you this seven-part series narrated by Ken Blackburn. Ken describes his journey to find his mother and grandmother during WWII. He was one of 18,000 children separated from their families as Bristol suffered terrible bombings. See more.