CAMA newsletter: Winter 2024

CAMA welcomes new leadership

The Community Access Media Alliance (CAMA) elected a new leadership team last month, following the retirement of two key executive members.

Free FM general manager Phil Grey will be leading CAMA’s executive as chair, with Radio Hawke’s Bay station manager Kelly Reid as vice chair. Plains FM station manager Nicki Reece has taken up the role of secretary, with all accounting duties covered thanks to the new treasurer, Lesley Paris, station manager at OAR FM.

The new executive replaces chair Jo Holsted and treasurer Christine McKechnie – both of Planet FM fame – who have led the charge since 2020.

Throughout their tenure, the dynamic duo oversaw significant changes, including increases in public funding and advocacy, sector-wide advertising and marketing campaigns, and the introduction of professional development services and a new resources repository via cama.nz.

In addition to celebrating 40 years of Community Access media at parliament in 2021, last year CAMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Radio New Zealand and released its inaugural annual report and sector-wide snapshot.

Read here for more.

CAMA committed to improving cultural competency

CAMA is committed to championing partnership, participation, and protections afforded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi by providing resources for station staff and content makers.

In 2023, CAMA secured NZ On Air funding to facilitate Te Tiriti o Waitangi training for the sector. Station managers were invited to nominate staff to complete the training, which kicked off in late April. CAMA worked with Reo Rua Ltd’s Te Ataahia Hurihanganui to complete the six-week training module, which finished in June.

Thanks to Te Ataahia Hurihanganui’s expertise and support from Meta Digital, the funding was also used to translate cama.nz’s evergreen content. It means our website is now available in te reo Māori and English.

The move forms part of CAMA’s wider strategy, which aims to:

  • encourage and support member stations to apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all decision-making;
  • build and maintain relationships with agencies that promote and preserve te reo Māori;
  • encourage member stations to build and maintain relationships with tangata whenua;
  • encourage members to take the initiative to upskill in te reo Māori and tikanga; and
  • approach appropriate agencies for guidance on creating material regarding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Check out the website here.

Aotearoa’s biggest podcasting platform continues to deliver niche content despite challenges

CAMA’s podcasting platform, accessmedia.nz, continues to ensure the Community Access media sector’s massively diverse range of content finds audiences seeking their languages, cultures, music, or even just an insight into life in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The platform is supported by NZ on Air and ensures the twelve CAMA member stations have a robust tool for remaining relevant in a fast-changing media environment.

The platform hosts more than 1,000 podcast titles. In the year ending 30 June, it shared nearly 25,000 new episodes and 20,000-odd hours of unique locally-made content.

The platform’s project lead, Phil Grey, says the podcasting industry has been hit hard with Apple’s release of iOS 17, which altered how iPhones automatically download podcast episodes.

“Established platforms have seen downloads of older episodes drop by more than half. We’ve certainly felt the impact too, but are delighted to have our download number grow 20% from quarter one to quarter two this year.”

Last year’s highest-consumed podcasts included shows in languages such as Telugu, Zulu, Tamil and Samoan. Topics included Buddhism, alcoholism and recovery, local theatre, and a broad selection of musical genres, including bluegrass, 1960s garage punk, jazz, and afrobeat.

‘Cult Chat’ takes home NZ Radio & Podcast award

Plains FM’s ‘Cult Chat’ takes home NZ Radio & Podcast award.

The Community Access Media Alliance is thrilled to announce Plains FM’s ‘Cult Chat’ has taken home the ‘Best Access Radio Programme’ at this year’s NZ Radio & Podcast Awards.

Hosted by Dr Caroline Ansley, Lindy Jacomb, and Liz Gregory, ‘Cult Chat’ aims to raise awareness of New Zealand’s ‘cultverse’ by speaking to survivors, experts, and others.

Read more.

Left to right: Cult Chat’s Lindy, Liz and Caroline at Plains FM

OAR FM show makes history

This year marks 90 years since Radio Church – originally known as Radio Church of the Helping Hand – was first broadcast across New Zealand’s airwaves.

Started in 1934 by Reverend Leslie Bourneman Neale and broadcast via now-defunct Station 4ZM, Otago Access Radio (OAR FM) is now the home to the weekly show hosted by a cross-denominational group from Dunedin ministries.

Reverend Donald Phillipps (pictured) first started contributing to the show in the 1980s.

Read more here.

WAR prioritises youth broadcasting and launches new website

Wellington Access Radio (WAR) has kicked off a new youth broadcasting project to elevate local youth voices.

The current youth shows feature a new Youth Broadcasting logo, website page, and promotional poster run as part of the station’s 2024 focus to increase its youth programming. Read more here.

WAR has also launched its new website. Thanks to funding from ANZ Staff Foundation and Meta Digital, the website is more user-friendly, logical, and accessible. Check it out here.

Sad news for the sector

Coast Access Radio (CAR) sadly farewelled one of its long-term broadcasters, Graham Priest.

For 10 years Priest hosted ‘A Political Point of View’, a show dedicated to interviewing local and central government politicians.

CAR’s Graeme Joyes says Priest was a friend and mentor to the station who will be greatly missed.

“He was more than just a broadcaster. […] Graham always had wise counsel, and a cheeky grin, even [if] his politicians failed to appear.”

Connor’s Hit’s makes front page news

OAR FM content-creator, Connor McMillan, made the front page of the Otago Daily Times for his efforts to host and produce an hour-long live-to-air edition of his show, ‘Connor’s Hits’.

First launching his music show in a pre-recorded half-hour format eight years ago, Connor has committed to steadily

growing his skills in planning, production and presentation. His story is a fantastic example of the capability building that is an important part of the Community Access Media experience.

Live-to-air sights and sounds

In a first for OAR FM, the stunning soundscape accompanying a record-breaking Matariki Drone Light Show was broadcast and live-streamed in real-time.

The collaboration with NZ International Science Festival’s NanoFest captured the Matariki-themed aerial display of 201 drones over Dunedin’s Logan Park, choreographed by local Kai Tahu artists.

The soundscape, created by taonga pūoro composer and player Alistair Fraser, was played over loudspeakers for the thousands gathered at the park while OAR FM catered to those watching from further afield.

Mailigi Hetutū receives King’s Service Medal

A huge congratulations to Mailigi Hetutū, host of Wellington Access Radio’s ‘Punaaga Vagahau Niue’, for receiving a King’s Service Medal in this years King’s Birthday Honours!

Hetutū has been a broadcaster for 30 years and received her medal for services to the Niuean community.To learn more about Hetutū, see here.

’Punaaga Vagahau Niue’ is a weekly programme to raise awareness of illnesses that surround Niuean people here in New Zealand and throughout the world.

ART and visual impairments

In 2022, Blind Low Vision NZ Taranaki Community Committee’s Graham Mosen and Geoff Aitken asked whether Access Radio Taranaki (ART) could help share stories of local people with visual impairments.

As a result, ‘Talking About Seeing’ was born, a show that brings together 26 conversations between blind, deaf-blind, and low-vision Taranaki people and their supporters. Both audio and written versions are now held in the Alexander Turnbull Library.

This year, the show has also culminated in the printing of a physical book.

Planet FM farewells community liaison (and former CAMA chair), Jo Holsted

1. Tell us about yourself

I’m a Wellington baby but I moved to Auckland at 18 to pursue a Bachelor of Communications. Why? Don’t know. I majored in Radio without considering that most jobs were in commercial radio, and I had zero interest in that. A bit of travel and ECE teaching later, I wound up back In Tāmaki Makaurau and managed to weasel my way into a role at Planet FM, where I have embedded myself for thirteen years.

2. Can you give us an overview of your role over those thirteen years?

I was hired as a Technical Producer initially, and I don’t mind telling you my first thoughts upon getting the role were “WHAT IS THIS PLACE?” Then I fell in love with the people, big time, and after taking a year of maternity leave in 2015 slunk back in wearing the Community Laision hat. I also had the privilege of serving as CAMA Chair from 2020-24.

4. What’s something different or unusual about yourself that people might not know?

When the latest census results came out it was announced that “the average New Zealander is a 38y/o Pākeha woman”. Sound familiar? Also, I recently had to put a sticky plaster on my face (long story) and no one even noticed because the plaster was the same colour as me. But something “different” you ask? I spent a few months in New York and got a job babysitting for Bob Dylan’s bassist Tony while they were on tour.

New arts & culture podcast fund

Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and Radio New Zealand have come together to support the development of four new arts and culture podcasts.

The initiative developed in response to research called New Mirrors that shows a deficit in media coverage of arts and culture in Aotearoa. Expression of Interest (EOI) proposals close on Friday 9 August. See more here.

StatsNZ dashboards  

Data n Dashboards has released innovative interactive dashboards to provide a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s demographic shifts and trends all in one place:

  • Population data
  • Ethnic diversity analysis
  • Age demographics
  • Māori descent data
  • Housing and dwelling patterns

See more here.

CNA top 10 tips for reviewing your constitution

Ready to give your constitution a makeover? The Community Network Aotearoa has put together tips to updating organisation constitutions and rules.

  • For part 1, see here.
  • For part 2, see here.
  • For part 3, see here.

CBAA conference

Our friends in Australia, the Community Broadcasting of Australia Association, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

It will be celebrating at its annual conference between 17 and 19 October QT Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise. Be sure to register before 15 September to save $100. See more here.

Collective Currents conference

Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA) and Katoa Connect has come together to  create a two-day conference that will dive into the currents of change, innovation, and community impact.

This conference will take place on October 24th and 25th, 2024, at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Te Whanganui a Tara / Wellington. See more here.

Huber Social accreditation

Huber Social has developed an innovative approach social impact measurement and management.

It is offering a programme so organisations can measure projects effectively. To attend a free information session in August, click here.

Inclusive Aotearoa diversity strategy

Inclusive Aotearoa Collective has released it’s community-based national strategy for diversity and inclusion.

Drawing on its research, the strategy offers eight outcomes and action-oriented objectives that can benefit the sector. See more here.

Managing cyber security

The Australian Signals Directorate has put together a range of tips for charities and not-for-profits to help them navigate cyber security threats.

Check out this Governance Toolkit on cyber security from the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission.

Earthwise

Plains FM’s ‘Earthwise’ is hosted by Lois and Martin Griffiths, who cover peace with justice issues.

Over their 15+ years on air, they have talked to many experts and socio/political commentators. Earthwise was also featured in the Evening Report here.

Books Aloud

‘Books Aloud’ is a fortnightly programme via Coast Access Radio that showcases Kiwi books. From author interviews and story excerpts to special guest narrators, each episode hopes to engage, entertain, and educate. Listen here.

Media Moments

Coast Access Radio’s fortnightly show, ‘Media Moments’, tells you everything you need to know about recently released movies from a Generation Z perspective. Listen here.

The Yoga Snug Nidra Nest

Arrow FM’s ‘Yoga Snug Nidra Nest’ is a weekly show of yoga nidra recordings.

Yoga Nidra is an effortless form of meditation, in which you lie down and listen. This show is perfect for anyone who would like to meditate but finds it difficult to concentrate or sit still. Listen here.

NZ Lanka News Talks

MPR’s, NZ Lanka News Talks, offers the latest news from New Zealand and Sri Lanka. During the show the presenters have casual chats about all things Kiwi and Sri Lankan. Listen here.

Ara Toi: Pathways to Art

Each month, Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History’s Becky invites artists, community groups, and leaders to Arrow FM to talk about their art, processes, ideas, and projects. Listen here.

Mike On…

‘Mike On…’ is a half-hour lifestyle chat show on Wellington Access Radio hosted by ‘rejuvenated’ broadcaster Mike Bodnar.

Every second Thursday, Mike talks to different guests about what makes them tick. It’s aimed at listeners ‘of a certain age,’ but it really doesn’t matter whether you’re 16 or 96! Listen here.

Dyslexia Unpuzzled

This show via Radio Hawke’s Bay offers an insight into the mysteries of Dyslexia and other learning barriers offering practical solutions to help parents.

This programme features interviews with people who have struggled with and found a way to overcome their learning barriers and succeed in the workforce. Listen here.

Collaborative Voices

Collaborative Voices profiles community organisations and their people in a way that actively demonstrates how organisations are working. All episodes are brought to you by Wellington Access Radio. Listen here.

Sunday Sads

Wellington Access Radio brings you Sunday Sads, a music and chat show that helps audiences mourn the end of the weekend and prepare for the week ahead.

Host Pinky curates a suitably moody playlist each week to supplement special segments and even more special guests. Listen here.