In 1989 the Aupouri Maori Trust Board decided to set up a radio station because it was concerned about the lack of Maori content in established radio, the withdrawal of rural services by Radio New Zealand, and the need to foster greater community awareness and community pride in the far north.
In 1990 the Board secured one of the frequencies reserved for iwi radio, and invited other iwi to share in the running of the station. In November 1990 the TE REO IRIRANGI O TE HIKU O TE IKA INCORPORATED SOCIETY was established with representation from Ngatikuri, Aupouri, Ngaitakoto, Te Rarawa and Ngatikahu. The 5 iwi jointly provided $15,000 to help get the station started. The wider community was also invited to join, and they have been represented on the Society since its beginning. The Society is a charitable organisation – all profits go back into developing this great community asset. The Society serves the interests of all people in the Far North – Maori and non-Maori alike.
At 5am on the morning of 17 December 1990, TE HIKU FM was officially blessed and opened, and began broadcasting from Aniwaniwa Kokiri in Quarry Road, Awanui, at 6am. In December 1991, TE HIKU FM was moved into Kaitaia to bring the station into more immediate contact with the people of the area, and the transmitter was relocated to Pukeotau above the Bellingham Quarry.
In 1999, the Society launched SUNSHINE FM to better target the needs of the Kaitaia business community, as well as to “promote the Maori language to the non-Maori community in ways and means that make the listener want to hear and to understand Maori.”
In 2001, modelled on the success of SUNSHINE FM, and the desire to maximise it’s reach to the local audience, the Society launched TAI FM, specifically to reach out to the young people in the district. TAI FM’s point of difference is it’s staff – by policy, they are all under 25, and they are fully responsible for all aspects of TAI FM’s operations.
The Society is heavily involved in promoting and supporting community activities and programmes, and has built an impressive business client list through the efforts of SUNSHINE FM.
The aims of the Society are wide ranging – to establish Maori as an accepted medium of communication in the far north; to reflect the interests of local iwi; to support local artists and musicians; to promote social, educational and cultural activities; to develop a partnership with other cultures in the far north; to broaden the involvement of the wider community; to develop and maintain standards of professionalism; and to establish such a commercial practices as required to assist the financial status of the Society.
Through it’s 3 stations, the Society is able to do much to help foster a greater understanding and pride in our community. The Society’s support of community activities adds up to more than $100,000.00 per year through community panui (notices), children’s programmes, sports reports, interviews, international, national and local news, Maori and local iwi news, weather reports, community reports, job vacancies, public service notices, community appeals and dedication lines, and regular Outside Broadcast support for community groups and events.
No reira e te iwi, tautokotia mai tenei taonga a tatou. Whakarongo mai, korero mai, waiata mai, waea mai. Tena ra koutou katoa.
