“A Unique and Forward-Looking Sector”: Reflecting on 30 Years of Community Access Radio in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT

This article reflects on 30 years of Community Access Radio (CAR) in Aotearoa New Zealand. This sector was championed by the state in 1989 to counteract the radical deregulation of the radio market at that time. CAR has since become an integral part of the national mediascape, navigating substantial changes in technology and audience practices, responding to extraordinary events and surviving despite increasingly constrained financial circumstances. All this has been achieved while going about the daily business of efficiently and effectively enabling minority voices within the community to broadcast their messages.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bronwyn Beatty

Dr. Bronwyn Beatty is a senior lecturer at the New Zealand Broadcasting School, Ara Institute of Canterbury. Current research focuses on community access radio, including coauthoring a book on the history of the sector with Dr. Brian Pauling.

Brian Pauling

Dr. Brian Pauling is a Research Fellow at the New Zealand Broadcasting School, Ara Institute of Canterbury. He has a background in broadcasting, publishing and adult education. He founded the New Zealand Broadcasting School and was its first Head of School. He also established the community access radio station Plains FM.