Image: Youth reporters at the School Strike for Climate
As the late, great Whitney Houston sang, ‘I believe the children are our future…’ and while we don’t usually plan our work at Wellington Access Radio around song lyrics, we are bringing this notion into the launch of our brand-new Youth Broadcasting project. The current youth shows will get a glow-up, with a new Youth Broadcasting logo, website page and promotional poster run, and the station focus for 2024 will be on the recruitment of new youth voices to host their own programmes. Station Manager Tony Kemp says, ‘we believe that it is vitally important that youth are given a platform to share their thoughts, views and experiences in their own voices. They’ve got things to say that need to be heard – and they don’t always get the chance in mainstream media’. High school student and host of Rainbow Talk Radio, Rebecca, agrees that it’s essential that young people get their voices heard, saying that her show has made a significant difference to rainbow rangitahi around Wellington. ‘I have received an array of really awesome responses over the course of the series. One response said, "I loved hearing an honest open discussion about unique queer experiences and being able to relate to the stories made me feel so much better in myself". Being able to give these feelings to the rainbow youth of Wellington, my peers, is something I would not be able to do without the youth programme at Wellington Access Radio.’ The new-look Youth Broadcasting will be launched during the week of 6 May, with increased youth content throughout the weekly schedule, plus some extra youth-led specials, including a chat between some established youth hosts, and a 13-year-olds breakdown of the Taylor Swift fandom conspiracies. The new Youth Broadcasting logo and poster campaign were created by a young designer we were able to engage thanks to the Wellington City Council Social & Recreation Fund. This funding has also allowed us to develop and support a number of new youth programmes – thanks Wellington City Council! The Youth Broadcasting Week schedule is as follows: Monday 6 May: 4pm – Rainbow Talk Radio Tuesday 7 May: 1.30pm – The Helpful Lawyer youth episode 4pm – SpeakOUT 7pm – Que Onda youth episode Wednesday 7 May: 1pm – The Rundown with Massey University 4.30pm – Interview with Rainbow Talk Radio host Rebecca Thursday 9 May: 5am – Aua Ni Masu youth episode 6am – Yalo I Viti youth episode 4pm – Fem Radio Friday 10 May: 5pm – In The Neighbourhood youth episode 7pm – Friday Feature Album youth episode Saturday 11 May: 11am – Suzy & Friends 12.30pm – Generation Unfiltered – Mental Health episode 4pm – Luvei Viti Children of Fiji 5pm – Noda Bula youth episode Sunday 12 May: 11.30am – Clownelia St - a Taylor Swift podcast 7pm – The Good Energy Project youth episode 9pm – Welly Deep
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‘Breaking news! Tonight’s stories include’…. the studios of Wellington Access Radio being temporarily transformed into a live newsroom!
Once a week, journalism students from Massey University will be broadcasting The Rundown, a live news show from the Ghuznee St studios. Students will spend the morning at the studio researching and creating their bulletin and then will go live on air at 1pm, showcasing local information and breaking news. Associate Professor James Hollings says that Massey’s journalism students are excited to be offering this refreshing new take on the news. ‘Massey is the oldest continuously operating journalism school in the country, and the biggest. At a time when journalism has never been more important, in providing a reliable source of information that isn’t made up by AI, we know our students have got a lot to contribute. It’s a great opportunity for our students to show they can produce good quality journalism and participate in keeping our communities better informed.’ Station Manager Tony Kemp says that working with the Massey students perfectly fits the ethos of ‘By, For & About’ that underlies all programmes created at the station, and that the live format is particularly exciting. ‘It’s a privilege to be working with the students running a true live news broadcast from our studios. It’s a great example of community voices being heard and we hope it inspires them to pursue their dreams in media and beyond!’ James Hollings agrees that the project fits well with Wellington Access Radio. ‘Access Radio has a strong reputation as a community platform, and we’re very grateful to them in welcoming us in. We’re starting small, with a half hour show a week, but we hope we may grow over time and establish ourselves as a trusted news source that offers something different to what’s already out there’. You can listen to The Rundown live on Wednesdays at 1pm from 13th March. Listen in live on 106.1fm or stream via www.accessradio.org.nz Photo: bad apple and Spoiled Fruit editor Damien Levi at the launch of the Spoiled Fruit: Queer Poetry from Aotearoa anthology at Meow, as part of Verb Festival 2023. Damien stands on a stage lit with purple light, reading into a microphone from the Spoiled Fruit anthology. Damien has dark hair, wears jeans and a white t-shirt and is smiling. Photo credit: Rebecca McMillan Online queer literary journal bad apple has teamed up with Wellington Access Radio to create a spectacular and subversive showcase of some of Pōneke’s most amazing poets.
Broadcasting on Tuesday 19 December at 6pm, the programme features poets who have been published on bad apple as well as many who appear in the new anthology Spoiled Fruit: Queer Poetry from Aotearoa (edited by Damien Levi and Amber Esau). The individual poems will also be added to the Wellington Access Radio playlist rotation and played in-between shows on an ongoing basis – a change from the usual use of a song to separate scheduled programmes. Station Manager Pip Adam says, ‘It has been great having the talented folk from bad apple in the studio over the last few months. We’ve been blown away by the amazing poetry and the incredible readings the writers have recorded. We’re so excited to share this celebration of queer joy and art!’ Tune in to hear poems from Amelia Kirkness, Kate Aschoff, Rebecca Lester, Cadence Chung, Casey Lucas, Chris Girven, Jackson McCarthy, Kyra Lawler and Harold Coutts. Tuesday 19 November 6pm Listen via 106.1FM or stream via www.accessradio.org.nz Check out https://badapple.gay/ for more like this! What have disabled writers always wanted to say to disabled characters from history and fiction? And how would they create a universe where all people don't merely survive, but flourish? Wellington Access Radio will be broadcasting the answers to these and so much more when we play two recorded sessions from Crip the Lit, part of the 2023 Verb Festival, on December 3rd, International Day of Disabled Persons, at 11am & 11pm. Crip the Lit was formed in 2016 as a way for Deaf and disabled writers to have their unique voices, perspectives and stories included and valued in mainstream writing in Aotearoa. The two programmes were recorded live on November 11, 2023. In the first, Letters to Disabled Friends, Crip the Lit writers share light-hearted - or maybe not so light-hearted - and generally irreverent reflections and advice addressed to their favourite characters on their disability representation. (Robyn Hunt, Etta Bollinger, Rem Wigmore, Andi Buchanan, Erin Donohue and Al Gray, with host Elizabeth Heritage.) The second programme, Universe-Hopping with Radical Crip Imagination, has writers sharing pieces of writing utilising radical crip imagination that challenges an ableist world, then engage the audience in their own world building adventure. (Andi Buchanan, Bee Trudgeon, Charlotte Simmonds, Erin Donohue, and Helen Vivienne Fletcher, with host Alice Mander.) ‘We were super proud of the lineup this year’ says Trish Harris, one of the Crip the Lit founders. ‘Such strong voices – thoughtful, witty, and just plain entertaining. They stretched our imaginations and pushed at self-limiting stereotypes. Listening will light up your brain in new ways!’ Station Manager, Pip Adam, says Crip the Lit’s Verb events are a high point in the Wellington Access Radio calendar. ‘We love the energy and art Crip the Lit bring to the Wellington literary landscape. We’re so excited to broadcast these events so people can either re-visit them or those who weren’t able to make the events can enjoy them. Thanks so much to Crip the Lit!’ There was fun in the studio when Wellington Access Radio hosted a group of young people from the Tokelau community as part of Tokelau Language Week (22-28 October).
Their contributions will make up part of the extra programming by radio show Tugaki O Tokelau to celebrate Tokelau language and culture. Tugaki O Tokelau will also host all-night shows throughout the week, taking over the airwaves from 12am until 5am. All this is on top of their regular shows, which broadcasts news, community notices, music, and discussions in the Tokelau language every week Thursdays 2 – 4pm and Fridays from 8 - 10pm. Nive, a Tugaki O Tokelau programme-maker, says the overnight programmes during language week will be an opportunity for the various Tokelau communities in Wellington to showcase who, what, where and how they promote Tokelau Language and culture. 'We expect to reach listeners near and far and regularly hear from families in Australia, America, and our home Island. And we get callers from various regions of New Zealand and regular local callers.' The theme for this years Tokelau Language Week is ‘Ke Olatia ko ia Tokelau I tana Fakavae – Tokelau to Prosper Within its Foundation’. Wellington Access Radio is grateful to Tugaki O Tokelau team for all the work they put into Tokelau Language Week every year. Wellington Access Radio broadcasts programmes in over 20 languages and subsidises airtime so Whanganui-a-Tara can hear more from programme-makers during Pacific Language Weeks. Special programmes from Radio Viti Aotearoa, a Fijian language show, were also broadcast in October during Fiji Language Week. Wellington Access Radio is on-air on 106.1FM, streaming live throughout Aotearoa, and on podcasts at accessmedia.nz, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. WELLINGTON ACCESS RADIO SHOWS HIGHLIGHT ELECTION ISSUES FOR YOUTH, DISABILTY & THE ARTS Wellington Access Radio is making sure that community voices are heard leading up to the 2023 election. The station has three new shows all focusing on issues that are vital for community wellbeing, with experienced and passionate presenters asking the hard-hitting questions and bringing their own communities to the fore. One of these shows is the fantastic Generation Unfiltered. Hosted by young people involved in the Make It 16 campaign, this 10-episode show interviews youth advocates and activists in areas such as youth mental health, climate change, the rainbow community & education. Host Anika says ‘this show will be highlighting issues important to youth in the lead up to this years General Election, and to be honest, in the future, because we’ll be the ones most effected by decisions made today’. The show No Labels has a series of elections specials which host Mike Gourley describes as having ‘a disability point of view’. Mike speaks to political candidates, policy makers, and community advocates, including Labour Party candidate Nick Ruane, Green Party candidate Neelu Jennings, and The Opportunities Party Deputy Leader Natalia Albert. Mike also interviewed Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, who informed him that they were the first media to approach the party about their disability policy. Another brand-new show is Election Murmurs, a show dedicated to Arts and Culture policy ahead of the election. Host Austin Harrison says ‘We’ve got some incredible guests lined up and will play host to what I hope will be fruitful and insightful discussions about the state of our arts sector and the ideas that are (or aren’t) being proposed to improve and support us’. Wellington Access Radio is always proud to broadcast media that is by, for and about our Wellington communities. In an election year, this is more important than ever. Station Manger Pip Adam says ‘The Access Media kaupapa means Wellington Access Radio is able to broadcast election coverage that is created by, for and about specific communities that are often missed in reporting by more mainstream media. We’re very grateful to our programme-makers for creating important, responsive and specialised election content which is such a vital part of accessibility to the democratic process. When programmes are made by, for and about communities they reflect the concerns and interests of those communities.’ In the lead up to the election there will be many commentaries and opinions from politicians flooding the media. Tune in to Wellington Access Radio to hear from the other side - the communities who will actually be affected by the election results. Generation Unfiltered Wednesdays, 4pm. Starts: September 12, 2023 No Labels Tuesdays, 1pm. Election Murmurs Tuesdays, 2pm Starts: September 12, 2023 Every Saturday morning you can start your weekend with the crew from Rise Up, Maranga, or RUM as they are better known around the station. There is a bit of something for every listener, from music, to sports, to current events and just general good fun.
Maranga is an aspirational service from Spectrum Care for people with intellectual disabilities, supporting them to achieve awesome things and connect with the fabulous Wellington community. The RUM show has been going for over five years and the presenters are now seasoned experts at making radio. Nick is one of the RUM sports experts and always has some facts to share with the listeners, especially if it’s about football or basketball. He also has great music choices for the show – on the day we caught up he was playing ‘Karma Chameleon’ by Culture Club. Nick says that he doesn’t get nervous about being on the radio, saying ‘it’s fun to chat away’. His advice to people that might want to do radio is to ‘have fun, and talk about anything you want to talk about!’ Liz usually shares updates about her life and what she’s been up to in the weekend with the weekly listeners. Liz says that when she first started making radio she was nervous, but that it has got easier over time and she actually finds it useful for her anxiety. ‘Radio is good to do’ says Liz. ‘I like the atmosphere in the station when I come here. All the staff are nice and treat me with respect’. Another weekly slot belongs to Kat, who shares facts about different countries each show. Kat says she spends time on a Wednesday night preparing her facts, and she likes it because ‘doing different countries means you learn different skills’. There are many more amazing RUM hosts, including Dom with news and weather, and Axel with issues that are currently in the news. Michael is the show’s animal expert, while Matthew shares five facts and his love of pop music. When you put all that together you get an informative and fun hour of radio, perfect to listen to on a Saturday morning as you have your first cup of coffee. Rise Up, Maranga Saturdays, 9-10am Wellington Access Radio 106.1fm Join us at Wellington Access Radio for a night of kai, drinks and kōrero.
This event is a social night for disabled people to share our experiences, talk accessibility and explore new ways to spread our voices. We will have two speakers, Áine Kelly-Costello and Jonathan Mosen. Áine is a climate justice and disability rights campaigner and journalist. They've hosted several podcast series centering disabled voices on leadership, migration, independent living and climate justice. Áine hosts the Enabling Commons podcast that provides space for dialogue among persons with disabilities to explore strategies that will transform our environment, our commons, to be meaningfully enabling for all. Jonathan Mosen is an experienced podcaster and advocate. He started podcasting in 2004 and runs the Living Blindfully podcast which is devoted to helping blind or low-vision people live their best lives. Please RSVP so we can send you an accessibility information sheet. This will include parking, getting in the building and overall building accessibility. There is elevator access, and we will also have an usher at the front door to show people to our floor. Please note that we will have a limit on the number of people who can attend due to COVID safety and to protect immune-compromised folk. We encourage people who can to wear a mask. We will have masks at the event. There will also be two separate chill-out rooms if people need a time-out. One of the rooms is quiet and will have dim lighting if anyone experiences sensory overload. We have the ability to provide New Zealand Sign Language interpreters for the interviews with Áine and Jonathan. This will also be live streamed! Please let us know if you require NZSL interpretation. Mā mātou anō mātou e kōrero e hoa mā! Friends, nothing about us without us! RSVP via - Google Form RSVP or email sam@accessradio.org.nz For the last five years Tuesday nights on Wellington Access Radio have been a hub of Latin American culture, music, news and language with the radio programme Que Onda! Que Onda! is a Spanish speaking show that acts as an open page for the community and celebrates all things Latin American.
Judith Baez has been hosting and running the show since the beginning in 2018, along with an enthusiastic team from Latin America, Spain and New Zealand. Ask her what her favourite episodes have been over the years and she finds it hard to answer. "I have enjoyed every single one of them! It is fascinating to hear people’s stories and experiences. But having live music in the studio is always a highlight – it creates a very special atmosphere". Que Onda! features a special guest in every show. They have hosted diplomats, musicians, refugees, artists, scientists, chefs, designers, educators, activists and more! Recent guests have included Alejandro Ramos, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Mexican Embassy, entrepreneur Mariela Porrini, and musician Carlos Navae. Judith says that the show plays an important role in the Spanish speaking community in Wellington. “We keep the community informed, and it is an open space where the community can express their thoughts in their own language and their voices are heard.” "It is also a way to connect people. Many of the stories and experiences can encourage other people. It is important to keep the community informed and connected." Que Onda! also has an audience beyond Wellington, thanks to streaming and social media. Judith says that they have listeners from around the world, as far away as Mexico and Colombia. The show it is also a great tool for those that are learning Spanish! Spanish teachers have been recommending their students to tune in to Que Onda! for some extra practice. Que Onda! plans to be around for a long time into the future. ‘It is important that Que Onda! keeps going to have the Latin American community in New Zealand present and represented’ says Judith. Tune in to Que Onda! every Tuesday night from 7pm-9pm. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueOnda.nz/ Instagram: queonda.nz Website link: https://queonda.nz https://www.accessradio.org.nz/queonda.html Radio host Mailigi Hetutu has been a broadcaster for an amazing 29 years and can currently be heard on Wellington Access Radio’s Punaaga Vagahau Niue.
The programme was initiated by the Pacific branch of Wellington Hospital and is funded by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. The aim is to raise awareness of illnesses that surround Niuean people here in New Zealand and throughout the world, and covers what and where to look for help, places to access for support and what to do to maintain a good and healthy life for you and your family. The programme is also a platform for promoting Niuean language to the NZ born Niuean people living here in Wellington. Mailigi says the best thing about broadcasting is getting to talk to other people. ‘That is my favourite time on air. I have interviewed doctors, young people, survivors from illnesses, people who have struggled with mental or physical difficulties, and people on all sorts of topics such as gambling, violence, smoking and safety.’ Because of the health focus of Punaaga Vagahau Niue, Mailigi has found the last few years of Covid a particularly busy time. ‘We had to be on air every day through lockdown,’ she says. ‘We needed to talk to our people and make sure they had all the information and knew what to do’. Mailigi may have been broadcasting for 29 years but you won’t see her retiring anytime soon. ‘My future plans are to bring on and train our young people in the language,’ she says, ‘and I also want to livestream so young people can be with me.’ Tune in to Punaaga Vagahau Niue every Wednesday 7-8.30pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM or stream via www.accessradio.org.nz |
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