Listeners can now tune in to a new radio station fronted by students at Moanataiari School in Thames.
Dubbed ‘Moana Waves’, the new radio station is broadcast on 107.4 and features a playlist of music created by the pupils and their teachers. The initiative has been a 10-year vision for principal David Brock, and was made possible with $5000 worth of funding from the Milestone Foundation.
“Originally, when I first came here, we looked at setting up a radio station, and we visited other schools in the wider Waikato who had stations to see how they were running them,” he said.
“But we had to wait about 10 years before [office and project administrator] Julie White could organise the finance, which was really helpful for us.”
Opportunities abound with the radio station, Mr Brock said, with the potential to partner with local community groups, set up speakers and interviews, and broadcast events across the school and online. It could also be available for waiata and te reo.
“We’re still in the early stages, and we have a small playlist, but the plan would be to get classes in to read poems and stories,” Mrs White said.
“It’s something quite different, but you can link it to everyday learning.”
Technology leaders Jacob White and Simon Darwall were excited about the prospect of going on-air. “I would like to see lots of people listening to it, and have students reading the work they’ve done on the radio, or broadcast certain events going on,” Simon said.
“It’s good advertising for the school and its events,” Jacob added.
By KELLEY TANTAU
PHOTO: Students Simon Darwall, 12, and Jacob White, 11, man Moanataiari School’s new radio station. Photo: KELLEY TANTAU
