Finalists for Radio and Podcast Awards announced

Four programmes from across the Community Access Media network have been named finalists in the New Zealand Radio and Podcast Awards, recognising the strength and impact of community-led broadcasting across Aotearoa.

The finalist programmes are:

Being Real Parents (Plains Media)
Hosted by Anna Mowat and Kate Jones, this programme blends personal parenting experiences with professional insight, drawing on behavioural science, child psychology, and real-life stories to support and inform parents in their everyday lives.

Conversations with Wāhine (Wellington Access Radio)
Produced in partnership with the Wellington branch of the National Council of Women, this programme creates space for discussion, debate, and community voice on the issues that matter to women, while encouraging civic participation and connection.

Lest We Forget – Voices of Survival and Hope (Wellington Access Radio)
Created by Mike Gourley, this powerful series centres the voices of disabled people who have experienced state and faith-based care. The programme contributes to important national conversations around abuse in care, advocacy, and lived experience, alongside perspectives from academics and community leaders.

WTH Are Māori Wards? (Access Radio Taranaki)
This 10-part podcast explores the history, purpose, and contemporary debate surrounding Māori wards in Aotearoa. Through interviews, personal stories, and expert insight, the series supports deeper public understanding of representation, equity, and local democracy.

You can listen to each of the shows here: https://linktr.ee/camanz

This recognition highlights the unique role Community Access Media plays in Aotearoa’s media landscape. Across 12 stations nationwide, the sector supports communities to create content that is by, for, and about their own experiences, perspectives, and identities.

From parenting and wellbeing, to wāhine-led conversations, disability advocacy, and civic education, these finalist programmes reflect the diversity and depth of storytelling that exists across the network. They also demonstrate the sector’s ability to contribute meaningfully to national conversations, often amplifying voices that are underrepresented in mainstream media.

Community Access Media remains a vital platform for participation, connection, and representation, enabling communities not only to share their stories, but to shape the conversations that matter most to them.

CAMA congratulates all finalists and acknowledges the dedication, creativity, and care that programme makers bring to their work. We wish them the very best for the awards.