accessmedia.nz records 90,000+ listens in April as local podcasts cut through global noise

Community-driven podcasting platform, accessmedia.nz, clocked more than 90,000 listens in April—proof that hyperlocal content still resonates in a global market saturated with millions of shows.

Despite the overwhelming volume of podcasts worldwide—estimated at over 4.4 million—only a fraction remain truly active. At the recent Podcast Movement Evolutions event in Chicago, industry expert James Cridland noted that fewer than 330,000 podcasts meet the criteria for “active,” with some measures suggesting closer to 450,000.

Yet, New Zealand’s Community Access Media sector is proving there’s still strong demand for content that speaks directly to local and underrepresented communities.

“It’s a complex area with many definitions of ‘active’, ‘download’ and ‘listen’, but we’re focussing on our platform being compliant with global standards and continuing to put niche local content in front of both local and global audiences,” says accessmedia.nz project lead and CAMA chair Phil Grey.

“It’s not about chasing mass-market popularity. If a Bhutanese listener can easily find a podcast made in their own language, for their community, we’ve done our job.”

April’s top-performing shows included Namasthe Telugu and Well & Being – How Are You Really? from OAR FM Dunedin, B Orig and Siwa Umak from Free FM, and Kalaabam and the Alcoholics Anonymous Radio Show from Plains Media—all reflecting the sector’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

accessmedia.nz began in 2006 as a collaboration between three CAMA stations experimenting with early streaming and podcasting technology. Today, it hosts more than 1,000 podcast titles from all 12 CAMA stations, covering a wide range of topics and languages.

“Our sector doesn’t aim to be the next Joe Rogan or even Dom Harvey—and nor should it,” says Grey. “We’re here to serve communities, amplify unheard voices, and ensure our content is discoverable, relevant, and meaningful.”