March 28, 2026

#TeKaupapa: Māori Radio at Risk – A System Under Pressure

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 28, 2026

A defining moment is unfolding for Māori broadcasting, as the Te Reo Māori radio news service prepares to go off air on March 31 – with no confirmed replacement in place.

After nearly two decades of continuous service, the decision signals more than the end of a programme. It raises serious questions about the future of Māori radio, the direction of public investment, and whether the system is shifting – or being dismantled.

At the centre of the issue is Te Māngai Pāho’s decision not to extend funding for the service, despite ongoing uncertainty around what comes next. While there is an expectation that new platforms, including Te Iho, will eventually come online, there is currently no guarantee of a radio-based replacement – and no clear timeline.

That gap is critical.

The move reflects a broader shift toward digital-first delivery, where content is increasingly designed for online and television platforms. On paper, that may appear to align with changing audience habits. In reality, it risks leaving behind the very communities Māori broadcasting was established to serve.

For many rural, remote, and vulnerable whānau, radio remains the most accessible and reliable source of news and information. Internet connectivity is not universal. Data costs remain a barrier. And in times of disruption, digital infrastructure is often the first to fail.

Radio is different.

When natural disasters strike, when power is unstable, when cell towers are down and internet services are cut, iwi radio stations have consistently remained on air. They have provided real-time updates, coordinated responses, and kept communities connected when other platforms could not.

That role is not theoretical – it is proven.

The risk now is that a system built on accessibility and resilience is being replaced with one that assumes connectivity, rather than guarantees it.

At the same time, iwi radio stations are facing increasing pressure. Funding constraints, including the prospect of cuts of up to 25 percent, are colliding with growing expectations – not only to deliver content, but to respond to emergencies, climate events, and community needs in real time.

The contradiction is clear: expectations are rising, while support is shrinking.

For Māori, this is not just a media issue.

It is about access to information in te reo Māori, the protection and normalisation of the language, and the ability for communities to stay informed and safe. It is about ensuring that broadcasting systems reflect the realities of those they serve – not just the assumptions of policy design.

The end of the current radio news service, without a confirmed replacement, creates a vacuum. It interrupts a pipeline of daily Māori language news, weakens a key platform for storytelling, and places additional strain on stations already operating under pressure.

For Te Kaupapa, the question is unavoidable.

Is this a transition toward a new model of Māori media – or is it the dismantling of a critical national service?

The answer will not be found in policy statements alone, but in what happens next – whether continuity is restored, whether radio is recognised as essential infrastructure, and whether Māori communities are kept at the centre of decision-making.

Because when it comes to broadcasting, the stakes are not just about platforms.

They are about people, language, and the right to be informed – no matter where you live, or what technology you have access to.