Community radio station Wanaka Beats wants to engage with local youth so they can experience what radio is all about, committee member Matt McPhee says.
The station hoped to expand its community approach including doing outreach with Kahu Youth and Mount Aspiring College, he said.
‘‘We’re really keen to be a part of helping some of these kids get an idea of what a radio station is like, if they want to DJ, or see how it works,’’ Mr McPhee said.
The station operated as a notfor-profit entity with an organising committee of five people and a roster of 20-25 volunteer DJs.
The station was not trying to compete with mainstream radio, instead focusing on music that was less well-known, Mr McPhee said.
‘‘Our philosophy is good underground music with a bit of an electronic edge.’’
The DJs were given a broad scope for what they could play.
‘‘The shows are really up to the DJs themselves and we don’t put any restrictions [on them].
‘‘Some of the shows they just put on music and don’t talk very much; some of the shows are almost all talking,’’ Mr McPhee said.
The radio station began back in 2005 operating in the back of the Kai Whaka Pai cafe.
For a time it was in the back of Play it Again records until that store closed down, and the radio station went off air for a time.
In 2015 a new group of volunteers contacted Gin and Raspberry bar owner Fran Voza, who provided space for a soundproofed booth to be constructed inside the bar.
Wanaka Beats started broadcasting online from the bar in December 2015, and expanded to a low-power FM frequency several months ago.
The DJs range in ages from early 20s to over 50.
‘‘Voodoo Sue is in her 50s, and she has some great tunes — she’s awesome,’’ Mr McPhee said.
The station had a mobile element, providing music for events such as the Deans Bank 10-hour mountain bike, and a Saturday afternoon monthly event outside Kai Whaka Pai cafe.
‘‘It’s all on a volunteer basis. The DJs play for free, but the station gets paid, which goes towards our overheads,’’ Mr McPhee said.
There were yearly costs of about $1000 including webhosting, music licensing and administrative fees.
‘‘We are really proactive and inclusive, with people promoting the music scene in Wanaka,’’ Mr McPhee said.
- by Simon Henderson
