CAMA urges Government to recognise Community Access Media as lifeline utility in new emergency management laws

The Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) is calling on the Government to formally recognise the 12 publicly-funded stations as essential communication providers under New Zealand’s emergency management legislation.

In its submission to NEMA on proposals to strengthen New Zealand’s emergency management legislation, CAMA highlights the critical role Community Access Media stations play in delivering critical information to communities often overlooked by mainstream media, particularly Māori, Pasifika, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and rural residents.

CAMA chair, Phil Grey, says “the sector’s ability to reach vulnerable populations during times of crisis is essential to the Government’s goals of strengthening community participation and reducing disruption to essential services”.

Community Access Media stations filling a national gap

CAMA’s 12 member stations reach more than 1 million New Zealanders each year, broadcasting in over 50 languages. The sector produces over 4,000 hours of local content monthly – much of it in te reo Māori and other community languages.

CAMA stations are already used by local and national agencies during emergencies, yet they are excluded from formal “lifeline utility” status, unlike other public-service-oriented media outlets.

“We have the infrastructure, the trust, and the reach,” says Grey. “But we’re not recognised in the system – and that puts our communities at risk.”

Gaps in resilience, opportunities for reform

CAMA’s submission points to disparities in transmission and backup infrastructure across the sector. Many stations lack generators or formal access to official emergency information.

During the 2023 floods in Hawke’s Bay, Community Access Media was the only source of information available to some residents. CAMA is calling for:

  • Inclusion in the lifeline utilities framework;
  • Funding for infrastructure upgrades and emergency readiness;
  • Formal roles in emergency planning and communications; and
  • Recognition of Community Access Media in emergency legislation.

Global best practice, local trust

CAMA’s call aligns with international guidance. Organisations like UNESCO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognise community radio as essential to disaster resilience, particularly in underserved and high-risk areas.

“New Zealand can’t afford to overlook trusted, culturally grounded media during a crisis,” says Grey.

“We’re already delivering – what we need is the backing to do it better.”

Strengthening the system together

CAMA is a signatory to the national Memorandum of Understanding on emergency broadcasting, alongside Radio New Zealand (RNZ), Television New Zealand (TVNZ), Whakaata Māori, Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori (Iwi Radio), and the Radio Broadcasters Association (RBA).

The alliance ensures coordinated messaging during emergencies, but CAMA remains one of the few publicly funded broadcast networks that is not a lifeline utility.

“We stand ready to support the Government’s emergency goals,” says Grey. “But to be effective, we must be in the plan, at the table, and on the list.”

For further information or media enquiries, please contact camaaotearoa@gmail.com.

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