Wellington Access Radio celebrates Youth Broadcasting Week

Wellington Access Radio’s next generation of broadcasters will take over the airwaves from 19 to 25 May 2025 as part of the station’s second annual Youth Broadcasting Week.

The week features a jam-packed lineup of content created by young people, for everyone — from high school-led talk shows and wellness specials to one-off performances, music reviews, and more. It’s a vibrant showcase of the diverse stories and perspectives that rangatahi bring to Community Access Media.

Youth Broadcasting Week is a brilliant example of how the sector empowers younger generations to speak up, create, and lead. Across the week, regular programmes are being handed over to young producers and presenters. Highlights include:

  • A Wellness & Wellbeing special on peer pressure from high school student Jabez Vuki.

  • Spanish-language show ¡Que Onda!, hosted live by four teen broadcasters.

  • A youth-led episode of Punaaga Vagahau Niue focused on health and wellbeing.

  • That’s Good To Know with Emerson Dyer, sharing what it’s like growing up with a disabled sibling.

The station’s Gateway Programme is also in full swing, featuring new shows Ear Candy and Tell Me More, alongside youth regulars like Thing of the Week, Cigarettes Will Kill You, Wellington Girls’ Feminist Radio, and Luvei Viti. One-off segments from Year 9 and 10 students will explore music, theatre, and even Shakespeare.

And it doesn’t stop there — Wellington Access Radio is launching a brand-new youth broadcasting initiative in Porirua, supported by the Porirua City Council’s Young People’s Fund. Over the next year, three short-run shows/podcasts will be co-created with rangatahi from Porirua, giving voice to young people from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences.

To top it all off, the station will host its first-ever live Youth Broadcasting Week performance, with local high school band The Side Characters playing outside the studio on Ghuznee Street this Friday afternoon.

Throughout the week, there will be youth broadcaster meetups, social media takeovers, and poster campaigns—all created by and featuring young people.

“Youth Broadcasting Week is a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the energy, insight, and creativity of young broadcasters,” says Tony Kemp, Station Manager at Wellington Access Radio. “It’s a reminder of how important it is to have spaces where youth voices are not just welcomed — but amplified.”

14-year-old Lucy, a regular youth contributor, says: “I was nervous at first, but once I started it was really fun. It’s really cool to talk about my thoughts and interests on air and think other young people might be listening and feeling the same things.”

CAMA is proud to support initiatives like this across the country. Community Access Media stations are uniquely placed to connect, uplift, and reflect the voices of their communities, and rangatahi are an essential part of that.

📻 Youth Broadcasting Week runs from 19–25 May 2025.
🔊 Full schedule available at: https://accessradio.org.nz/youth-broadcasting-2
🧑‍🎤 Young people (up to 25 years old) can create shows on Wellington Access Radio for free — email info@accessradio.org.nz to find out how to get involved.