Radio station

New Zealand

Radio station gets the squeeze

THE only broadcaster in New Zealand controlled and operated by Pacific islanders, Radio 53 PI, is under pressure to live within its means.

The Auckland station is getting the squeeze from New Zealand on Air, which wants the station to live within its allocation from public broadcasting fee revenue. The station, which is almost a year old, receives NZ$2OO,OOO per year but at present is losing more than that. Radio 531 Pi’s acting manager Sefita Hao’uli said they needed time to get on their feet.

He said if people only wanted them to play “jukebox” music they could live within their means. But he said they had a social function and this was not only to entertain. Hao’uli said their income was growing and was now earning about $20,000 a month but this still left them in the red. He said if income was to grow the station had to be given more time to build and gain more listeners.