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 

Wellington Access Radio is celebrating NZ Music Month and its theme for 2023, ‘Community and Collaboration’, by focusing on the community music that you won’t find in the mainstream.

The station believes that any music that is made in NZ, is NZ music – and with over 200 programme-makers making over 80 programmes, in over 20 different languages, there is a massive range of musical genres being broadcast every day.

During May, all programme-makers will be looking to play music from Aotearoa as part of their normal programming, while the station will be profiling a number of lesser-known musicians and bands from around the country.

There will also be a double feature every Friday night where the station will be playing not their usual one, but TWO albums from local artists.
Broadcast Technician Jonny Marks has the job of selecting the music for the Friday Feature Albums. ‘Radio airplay is of huge importance for musicians, a joy that can be shared with friends and family, and a unique way to reach new audiences,’ says Jonny.

‘By highlighting a whole album, we give space to experience more of the complex sonic ecosystems that musicians hear and translate for us; the more time we give to listening, the better we understand. The better we understand, the better we can find ways to be understood. We hope that our efforts to highlight our brilliant and diverse local scenes are nourishing to both audience and makers.’

Friday Feature Album, Fridays 6.30pm-7.30pm.

Listen at Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM or stream view www.accessradio.org.nz

Would you like your album to be shared on the Friday Feature Album? Email jonny@accessradio.org.nz

Issy & Cae are on a mission. Their new show on Wellington Access Radio, Awkward Talks, aims to carve out a space in the NZ music industry that they feel is desperately lacking. After meeting backstage at a gig last November, they quickly realised they had the same frustrations with the music scene. 

‘I had the very privileged opportunity to participate in extracurricular music courses throughout my high school years and even went on to study music at a tertiary level,’ says Issy. ‘But at the end of my studies, I was still left not knowing how to actually get a gig, how to write up an invoice, how to manage myself, and still felt very disconnected from the music community. Awkward Talks was founded with the purpose to explore and answer these questions in a way that is accessible.’

They both bring their own experiences as musicians and artists to the show. Issy has a background in theatre, dance and music, while Cae is both a designer and musician with bands Tahini Bikini and Sig Wilder.  
Issy & Cae are also motivated to create a place where discussions and conversations can be held about some of the more difficult and discriminatory sides of the music industry. This is where the ‘Awkward’ part of Awkward Talks may come in.

‘It’s about all of us holding ourselves and others accountable,’ says Issy. ‘We want to raise awareness and call people to action.’
 
Cae agrees. ‘For me personally, there has been a disconnect from audience and artists. Once I finally became one, I realised there were so many areas of the industry that are underestimated, mistreated, hard to find or even kept secret.’

The idea is that, ultimately, music practitioners will feel less alone and more empowered.

Awkward Talks will feature guests from all parts of the music industry to tell their stories, share what they’ve learned and provide practical tips to those who are starting out.

‘I want to discuss and learn more with other artists and people in the field, to have true conversation and one of a kind interviews that aren’t the same basic questions said differently,’ says Cae.

And it doesn’t stop there. Issy & Cae have dreams of creating digital guides, holding live events and masterclasses, and providing education.

‘We want to be a positive media body in the industry,’ says Issy. ‘It’s about us all sharing our collective knowledge and making the music industry safer and more open.’

You can hear Awkward Talks on Wellington Access Radio every second Saturday at 12pm.

Follow Awkward Talks on Instagram @awkwardtalksnz
Or check out their website: awkwardtalks.co.nz 
 

The name Terry Shore is well known throughout the musical community in Wellington. In fact, you are likely to hear the words ‘local legend’ following his name.

Terry is a singer-songwriter who has been presenting Terry’s Songwriters Show on Wellington Access Radio for 18 years this April. The show gives a chance for local unsigned artists to share their original music and be interviewed on air by Terry.

‘I have had hundreds and hundreds of musicians on my show over the years,’ says Terry. ‘I usually see people at open mic nights and then approach them to see if they want to come on my show. It’s all about giving unknown songwriters a chance to show what they do.’

Some of those songwriters have gone on to make a name for themselves in the New Zealand music scene. Terry remembers showcasing Mel Parsons and Louis Baker in the beginning of their music careers and is proud of the fact that he has been able to help promote local artists.

Wellington Access Radio is celebrating Terry’s anniversary by putting together a special programme featuring snippets of his many shows from the last 18 years.

Station Manager Pip Adam says, ‘I’ve been listening back to episodes of Terry’s show while putting together the anniversary special and it’s amazing the wealth of talent Terry has amplified through the 18 years he’s been broadcasting Terry’s Songwriters Show. The success of the show is Terry’s ability to give songwriters space to play and talk about their work on their own terms. Here’s to 18 more years!’

Terry is a singer-songwriter himself, with five albums and an EP to his name. He has been playing music in Wellington for the last 28 years and was recently featured on the Flying Nun video showcase ‘What Was That Thing?’.
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Terry’s Songwriter Show won the Best Access Show at the 2007 New Zealand Radio Awards.
 
You can listen to Terry’s Songwriters Show on Saturdays 2.30-3pm, on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM or livestream via www.accessradio.org.nz

When you spend time with Mukesh Patel and Neelima Bhula from Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan it is immediately apparent they are deeply passionate about their work and know each other extremely well. And this is hardly surprising, seeing as, along with Beena Patel, the three of them have hosted their radio show together for over 20 years.

‘I came in as a filler to read the news,’ says Mukesh, ‘and then never left.’

‘And I filled in for Mukesh,’ says Neelima, ‘and then I never left!’

The programme began in 1992 and came out of the Wellington Indian Association’s AGM.

‘There was a need for something to promote, foster and further our voice, our culture, and our community,’ says Neelima. ‘We care about our community and we are proud to be entertaining them. We also want to ensure we pass on our rich heritage to our younger generation and contribute to making Aotearoa a truly multi-cultured society.’

Over thirty years later the programme is still going strong, filling their loyal listeners in on local and overseas news, community events and sports, mixed with a wide range of Gujarati, Hindi, and devotional music.

The programme also features interviews with people such as the Indian High Commissioner, the president of the Indian Association, cricketers, musicians, and people in the community.

One of the highlights for Neelima is the live shows they used to do at the Diwali celebrations in Civic Square. ‘We just had an old mobile phone which we used to send the sound back to someone in the studio,’ she remembers. She also enjoys the reunion shows where they bring back the ‘original cast’ - those that started Aakashwani all those years ago. ‘It is their legacy we are continuing.’

Mukesh has enjoyed being the newsreader of the team and has found that there has been a lot of interest in his reports of the prices of gold and silver, and the exchange rate with the rupee and NZ dollar. ‘Diwali is a time where people often buy gold,’ Mukesh explains, ‘so there is always interest around that time.’

The programme has a strong base of listeners who often send messages or come up and speak to the presenters when they see them at events. One piece of feedback that they have taken to heart is something they heard early on in their presenting career.

‘Someone said to me “we can’t see you, but we can hear you smile,”’ says Neelima. ‘I have always remembered that and make sure I have a smile on my face when we start the show. There is always a lot of laughing and giggling!’

You can listen to Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan on Mondays from 6-7pm at Wellington Access Radio 106.1fm, or steam via www.accessradio.org.nz.

For previous episodes of the programme go to https://www.accessradio.org.nz/aakashwani-bharat-bhavan.html

Follow Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/ABBWellington

Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan is proudly supported by the Wellington Indian Association. 

Wellington Access Radio are extremely proud to announce that No Labels is a finalist in the Best Access Radio Programme category at the NZ Radio Awards 2023.  

No Labels explores the diversity of disability issues with a focus on accessibility for all and gives a voice to those rarely heard in mainstream media. Hosted by Thomas Bryan and Mike Gourley, the programme looks at services which might assist and highlights topics that might pose barriers for those living with or experiencing disability.  

The awards entry included Thomas Bryan speaking to Peter Boshier, the Chief Ombudsman for New Zealand, and Mike Gourley speaking to members of aspirational service Maranga, Esther Woodbury, the Lead Adviser on the Disability Rights Team at the Human Rights Commission, and staff and service users at Evaro, a day service for disabled people. 

Station Manager Pip Adam says, ‘We’re over the moon for this recognition of the amazing work Thomas and Mike do. No Labels is compelling, thoughtful, and skilfully produced radio. I’m proud of the work Wellington Access Radio’s team do to provide space for media like No Labels. We’re committed to supporting media made by, for and about groups not always heard in the mainstream.’  

No Labels is grateful for the support of Wellington City Council.
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The New Zealand Radio Awards will be held in Auckland on Thursday 1 June, 2023. 

We're super excited to have some great new shows starting this month. 

Public Talks 
Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00pm
Public talks from around Whanganui-a-Tara. These include artist talks, lectures and poetry readings. For the next little while this will be selectoins from Adam Art Gallery's artist talks.

Features
Fridays, 6:00-7:00pm
Podcast series made about issues that concern Wellington Access Radio communities. For the next few weeks it will be the Arts Access Aotearoa podcast. 

Friday Feature Album
Fridays, 7:00-7:30pm
We're showcasing the amazing musical talent in Wellington (and the rest of the country) every Friday night. Each week will feature a different Aotearoa band or musician's album. Perfect to get you ready for the weekend! This week (March 17) features local punk band Displeasure. 

Consume This (starts March 21)
Fortnightly on Tuesdays, 1:30-2:00pm. 
Award-winning podcast, brought to you by Consumer NZ, hosted by Jon Duffy and Sophie Richardson.

Kia ora to all those that make or have made programmes on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM - or anyone that has thoughts to share about the station!

We are undertaking a short survey to help us understand what we're doing well and what we need to improve on. When we say a short survey - it really is very short, promise! We'd love it if you could take a few minutes to give us some feedback.

All answers are anonymous unless you choose otherwise.
Just click on the link to complete:

https://forms.gle/ckYHN53z6HqAvwUHA
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Thank you!