Arrow FM is, literally, the voice of the Wairarapa. The broadcasters of this Masterton radio station are volunteers, taking their chunk of airtime and making it their own.
People become radio broadcasters on Arrow FM 92.7, Wairarapa’s community access radio station, for all sorts of different reasons.
Some people find they have lots to tell the world about, others might have been cajoled, bribed or even had their arm slightly twisted by their community group committee into making a regular programme. Some just want to have a lot of fun once a week.
Access Radio is “by, for and about the people” explains Michael Wilson, Arrow’s Manager.
“Anyone who has something to say can become a programme maker. It might be a cultural group broadcasting in its own language, a community group or an individual with something to share. We provide the ways and means for people to make radio programmes, helping them to do it, but not doing it for them.”
One of a network of eleven Access Stations in New Zealand, Arrow FM was established 23 years ago, broadcasting for a humble 3 hours a week. In 2000 the station began broadcasting 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
There is a smorgasbord selection of programmes going to air each week, covering areas such as health information, disability issues, religion, arts/culture, education, youth, The Waingawa Freezing Works Reunion, specific styles of music…the list goes on, and is constantly evolving.
Take a random selection of Arrow Broadcasters and you will find a common thread. They have found a channel for their creative energy.
‘Eee By Gummee Smiles’ hit the airwaves after Steve Oats, a writer in his spare time looking for an outlet for his creative and humorous work, attended a radio workshop run by Arrow.
It has been a bit of a learning curve, pressing the right buttons at the right time and co-ordinating some of those other controls, but, he says, “it does get easier.” When Steve realised that he needed a female voice for one of the parts in a story he’d written, he emailed his co-workers looking for volunteers. Jo, who had never done this sort of thing before, is thoroughly enjoying herself. “I might become a regular feature, but Steve is the ideas man, the one in charge.” A bit of music gets thrown into the mix. It might be anything such as New Wave, late 70’s, British pop. “I get a lot of it from The Warehouse; great source of inspiration,” he says.
Steve, who admits that he is not a big conversationalist but wants to make people laugh, says he rather likes the idea of radio. “The people listening to your programme can switch off, but they can’t shut you up.”
Another broadcaster new to the scene is Lisa Francis, who found herself a bit “landlocked and isolated” on arrival in the Wairarapa from England. Thinking that there might be others feeling the same way, she went looking for something that would help her find a niche in the community. Although Lisa had always quietly harboured a desire to work in radio or TV, she had never been into a radio station before. When a friend told her about Arrow FM, she says “it was like a dream come true.” Lisa created her programme, ‘Migrant Mumblings’; initially hosting the programme alone and interviewing other migrants, but soon discovered it wasn’t that easy. “Why do people find it so scary when I ask them to come along and talk on air about themselves and their experiences in life?” she asks. Long-time friend Jules was “dragged in, kicking and screaming” to help out. “I absolutely love it now,” proclaims Jules.
Together Lisa and Jules energetically breeze through their show, talking about all sorts of things, having a good laugh, playing some music like Rod Stewart or Led Zeppelin. Jules reckons that the radio programme has changed her. She confesses to loitering at the British products stand at a local supermarket looking for other migrants that she can persuade to be a guest on the show. “Also I now want to be known as the Chief Entertainment Officer. Life’s too short to be miserable.”
Richard Clark, whose creative film editor career has stretched around the world from Australia to New York and Hollywood, is rediscovering his creativity, re-inventing himself and having fun doing it with his Friday evening programme, Kiwi Café On Air. “I want to encourage people to think, to discuss issues, to have a different way of looking at things, to cut through the fog.”
Anthony, from Wairarapa International Communities, is not only passionate about the group of people who form WIC but is also passionate about radio. Sitting in the “driver’s seat,” the controls are second nature to Anthony, an ex-community radio broadcaster from Radio New Zealand, who seamlessly glides from music to interviewing his guests. He is often joined by Aruna who has a long-standing connection with Arrow FM.
As Anthony explains to his listeners, Wairarapa International Communities is about bringing people together, regardless of where they have come from. “We are all from the same planet. All people smile in the same language.” He likens the group to a “mini-united nations, a global community”, and considers the weekly radio programme to be a wonderful opportunity. “ We talk to all sorts of people about what brought them to the Wairarapa and how different their lives are now. We enjoy chatting about the good things in life. It’s also a great opportunity to play a variety of music. Where else might you hear a Tuvan Throat Singer from Outer Mongolia? Or Egyptian music. Or bagpipes?”
When asked about the future of radio in a world full of all sorts of other technology, Michael Wilson points out its obvious advantage. “You can enjoy radio without bumping into stuff. Try watching TV while walking around the house. That’s what radio is good for. It’s a conversational medium, like having a long chat with a good friend.”
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