Appointments to the National Pacific Radio Trust Board
Appointments to the Board of the National Pacific Radio Trust were announced today by Broadcasting Minister Steve
Maharey.
The Board is responsible for running NiuFM, the nationwide Pacific radio network which began broadcasting in August 2002
Steve Maharey said he was appointing Maureen Passmore and Michelle Saisoa’a to the Board and appointing existing member
Tino Pereira as Vice-Chair of the Trust Board.
“NiuFM has quickly developed a distinctive style of broadcasting which is striking a chord with listeners. Market
research indicates that 66 per cent of its listenership are Pacific peoples and that close to half (44 per cent) of
Pacific people under 25 years are regular listeners. NiuFM has also recently introduced specialist language and other
programming to broaden its audience.
“The station came in to its own during Cyclone Heta which devastated Samoa, Niue and Tonga. NiuFM provided extensive
news coverage of the cyclone to Pacific peoples in New Zealand and raised over $50,000 for those islands.
“New trustees are being appointed to the National Pacific Radio Trust board to ensure it has the right mix of skills and
fully reflects the Pacific communities the station serves: Michelle Saisoa’a lectures at the School of Mâori, Pacific
and Indigenous Studies of the University of Otago and has done considerable research into issues pertaining to New
Zealand-born Pacific peoples; and Maureen Passmore has a twenty year background in television and film production and
events management.
“Tino Pereira has been a valuable member of the Trust Board since its establishment and is being appointed as its
Vice-Chair. He has a background in Pacific journalism and his location in Wellington will facilitate the Trust’s work,”
Steve Maharey said.