Community radio in New Zealand serves local communities, Māori and Pacific audiences, and diverse groups who aren't served by commercial broadcasting. New Zealand has a strong community radio sector, with dedicated funding through NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho for local and Māori content. This guide covers the key funding sources.
NZ On Air is the primary public broadcasting funder:
- Radio funding: Community and public radio content
- Local content: Regional broadcasting and local news
- Platinum Fund: Premium content development
- Sound and Vision: Audio content including podcasts
- Music: New Zealand music funding
Te Māngai Pāho funds Māori broadcasting:
- Reo Māori broadcasting: Te reo Māori content
- Iwi radio: Iwi radio station development and operations
- Māori content: Kaupapa Māori media
- Pacific content: Pacific broadcasting with Māori dimension
Iwi radio stations across NZ receive ongoing operational funding through Te Māngai Pāho.
Pacific radio funding:
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific community media
- NZ On Air: Pacific content funding
- Pacific broadcasting: Community radio for Pacific communities
Gaming trusts fund community radio:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community media and broadcasting
- Grassroots Trust: Community organisations including radio
- Pub Charity: Community media grants
- Lion Foundation: Community communications
Gaming trust community radio applications:
- Broadcasting equipment (transmitters, mixing desks, microphones)
- Studios — fit-out and upgrade
- Streaming technology
- Volunteer training
- Event coverage
Lottery Community Wellbeing: Community broadcasting and media organisations.
Some councils support community radio:
- Council community grants: Community media investment
- Community space: Council buildings used as studio space
BSA ensures broadcasting standards:
- BSA Settlement Fund: Occasional settlements used for community broadcasting
- Standards guidance rather than direct funding
Equipment needs:
- FM transmitter: $3,000–$15,000 for community FM
- Digital audio workstation: $2,000–$10,000
- Mixing desk: $1,000–$5,000
- Microphones: $200–$1,000 each
- Streaming setup: $500–$2,000
- Studio furniture and soundproofing: $2,000–$10,000
Iwi radio is well-funded in NZ:
- 21 iwi radio stations: Covering different regions
- Te Māngai Pāho: Operational funding for iwi radio
- Local content: News, music, and community in te reo Māori
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Community reach: Listeners by demographics and geography
- Local content: Percentage of locally produced content
- Māori and Pacific content: Te reo Māori and Pacific language content
- Community access: Radio accessible to diverse community voices
- Volunteer base: Community volunteers in broadcasting
- Equipment: Specific broadcasting equipment needs
- Governance: Board structure, financial management
- Sustainability: Revenue model alongside grants
Tahua's grants management platform helps community radio and media organisations manage grant applications across NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, gaming trusts, and community foundations, tracking audience reach, local content, and community media outcomes.