Inside Arrow FM: Community, Culture, and Connection

As part of CAMA’s ongoing station visits to inform sector collaboration and emergency communications planning, the National Representative, Ceara McAuliffe Bickerton, recently visited Arrow FM in the Wairarapa.

Arrow FM serves a wide range of communities, including the Filipino community, local schools, former refugee communities, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu, and many other cultures that shape the region. The station’s strength lies in how intentionally it supports people to tell their own stories, particularly through youth and language-based programming.

“What makes our station valuable to our community is that people don’t just come to us to be on air – they come to be part of something,” says Station Manager Michael Wilson. “We’re here to support our community to tell their own stories in their own way, and that sense of ownership really matters.”

The visit also highlighted Arrow FM’s leadership in video podcasting, as the station continues to experiment with new formats to keep community media relevant and accessible as audience habits evolve.

You can view the full range of Arrow FM’s programmes here.