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NZ First: August 22nd, 2018

NZ First: August 22nd, 2018

NZ First: August 22nd, 2018 NZ First: August 22nd, 2018, 13.85 MB
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Recently there has been news regarding the possible closure of the longest standing Māori radio station, Te Ūpoko o Te Ika. The news comes as time runs out for an ongoing dispute to be settled between the license holders of the station. The local iwi radio who currently hold the licence due to older legislation put through by a former National government, is looking to expand and wants to merge with Ūpoko. This has meant Ūpoko cannot access its monthly operating funds from Te Māngai Pāho. Operating on its reserve funds means the station may only last until the end of the month and 11 people will lose their jobs. As well as this, the tuakana of Māori radio will cease to exist. There has been a number of calls for the government to step in and stop this from happening. NZ First is an advocate for iwi radio so Lillian Hanly spoke with Jenny Marcroft about her perspective on the matter.