Aotearoa’s Community Access Media sector gathers to navigate changing landscape

Last week, representatives from Aotearoa’s 12 Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) organisations gathered at Theatre Hawkes Bay for their annual conference, united by a singular question: how can true public access media secure its future in a rapidly evolving world?

At the annual general meeting, re-elected CAMA chair Phil Grey highlighted the pressures facing the sector: “Who would have guessed that heading into the end of 2025 we would still be reporting to a standalone entity called NZ On Air, still operating as independent entities funded at the same level as the previous three years, and still working hard to deliver content that fulfils our core mandate — S36c of the 36-year-old legislation we love so much?”

Grey warned that static funding, now entering its fourth year, combined with rising costs, risks the survival of long-running access and student radio stations. Meanwhile, a government review of the 1989 Broadcasting Act remains stalled, leaving the future regulatory framework uncertain.

Despite this sense of a “status quo,” the sector is grappling with significant challenges. A government review of the 1989 Broadcasting Act remains in limbo, and the fourth consecutive year of static funding is taking its toll. With increasing costs across the board, Grey warned of the very real risk of losing long-running access and student radio stations.

Beyond the pressing issues of funding, the conference also looked to the future, with a focus on innovation and resilience.

Experts from Internal Affairs and Napier City Council explored alternative funding opportunities, while VoxPop founder Peter Fowler stressed the vital role of emergency communications. He profiled Radio Hawkes Bay’s resilience during Cyclone Gabrielle and showcased new emergency technologies, including integration with emerging AI tools.

The 2025 CAMA conference provided a crucial platform for the sector to strategise, collaborate, and reaffirm its mission: ensuring community voices remain at the heart of New Zealand’s media landscape.