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Bala Thomson
A dedicated programme maker Bala Thomson is one of Access Radio’s original community broadcasters. Bala has build up a loyal following who tune in regularly to the Indian Community Programme and Bhakti Prabha, programmes she presents and produces. In 2003 Bala won a Radio Award for her show. Bala is also well known for her community work and Indian, Italian and Eastern cuisine classes in the Hutt Valley. She also contributes as a Justice of the Peace and marriage celebrant.
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Don Carson (deputy chair)
Don Carson has a background in professional radio and television and a commitment to the community. He is a former host of Saturday Morning on National Radio, Editor of Radio New Zealand Rural Programmes and presenter of 'No8 Wired' on TV3. An Access Radio programme maker in the 1990s, he is a long time advocate and commentator on the Palestinian issue. Don is currently Communications Manager of Hutt City Council. (Elected 2007)
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Dorai Gounder
A teacher by profession Dorai Gounder has been associated with Wellington Access Radio for 11 years. A volunteer operator and relieving broadcaster for the Indian Community Programme, Dorai served on the Council from 2003 to 2007, this gives him a good knowledge of the workings and culture of the station. His vision is to advance all facets of the station so that it can better serve the many communities of Wellington.
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Fa'anu'u Aniterea
Fa'anu'u Aniterea brings to the council her experience as a senior teacher at Clyde Quay School and as an active member of Wellington’s Samoan community. Fa'anu'u is a regular presenter on Samoan programme O Le fetu Ao and is committed to providing people with the opportunity to reach their communities through Access Radio. (Elected 2007)
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Hemant Kumar
Hemant Kumar migrated to New Zealand with his family from Fiji where he worked in banking in 1987. He is a former presenter and producer of the Indian Voice of Fiji. He currently works as a taxi driver which he says has the advantage of flexible hours which allow him to pursue community interests. Hemant hopes to return to the airwaves as a programme maker in the future. (Elected 2007)
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James Greally
The youngest member of the Wellington Access Broadcasting Society Inc. Council, James Greally is a volunteer operator for Capital Irish, a programme for the Irish community and lovers of Irish music in Wellington. James is also a presenter and a programme maker with Youth Zone. James has been with Wellington Access Radio for over two years and is looking forward being part of the Station’s governance group. The rest of the Council is looking forward to the perspective he brings.
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Jorge Herrera
Originally from Mexico, Jorge Herrera has been a community broadcaster for nearly 30 years, making programmes for KPOO 89.5 FM Community Radio for Minorities in San Francisco and KPFA 94.1 FM in Pacifica Radio in Berkeley California. Jorge began broadcasting on Wellington Access Radio in 2004, a year after migrating to New Zealand. His programme Oye Latino focuses on issues in Latin America from Politics, Music, Poetry and Community affairs and on promoting Spanish for first and second language speakers.
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Keith Riach (treasurer)
Keith Riach brings a wealth of technical and community experience to the council. He is also good with accounts. A former programme maker, volunteer operator and Council member, Keith is an electrical engineer with Park Road Post Production when he is not playing recorder with a recorder ensemble, Morris dancing or working as an ESOL home tutor. (Elected 2007)
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Nive Ahelemo
Nive Ahelemo made her first programme on Wellington Access Radio in the late 1980's. She soon regularly represented Tokelau women's voice on air on Tugaki o Tokelau. Since 2000 in partnership with the Matariki programme and with sponsorship from Te Paki group, Tokelau Tugaki ki Mataliki broadcasts six hours of live radio from 11pm - 1am Mon, Wed and Thurs. Nive presents and produces the Wednesday show. In 2006, Regional Public Health supported a bilingual radio project to access health information for the Tokelau community, the result was He Tifa Ola which Nive presents every Thursday from 1 - 2pm. Nive is passionate about Wellington Access Radio “a place where diversity and communication support many languages and cultures. This is a unique and valuable contribution to our New Zealand society”.
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Pauline Edwards (chairperson)
From a long and varied career with TVNZ and working for community organisations, Pauline Edwards brings to the station experience in human resource management, broadcast training and strategic planning. An associate and supporter of the original coordinators of Wellington Access Radio, Pauline is delighted she now has the time to contribute directly to the station. (Elected 2007)
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Victoria Quade (secretary)
Victoria Quade made her first programme for Access Radio in 1982 before going to work for television as a presentation director and film editor. She got back into community radio in Australia and in 1992 was employed by Access Radio when it was still part of RNZ. She has been passionate about community broadcasting ever since. Victoria presents Behind the News with Jim Delahunty and is a volunteer operator for Espace Francais and Ridely-Smith Theatre.
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