The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has released a discussion document on proposals for renewing spectrum for AM and FM radio. Consultation will run for eight weeks until 4 July 2025. 

The MBIE AM/FM radio broadcasting discussion document covers proposals on renewing spectrum for AM and FM radio for licences that expire in 2031. The topics that are considered relevant to Iwi radio are: 

• duration of AM/FM licences beyond 2031   
• assignment of licenses across non-commercial sectors, including community and Iwi radio 
• reserve frequencies for a National Māori Radio Service. 

Matters outside those raised in the discussion document, such as conditions for granting licences for Iwi radio, administration and funding, will be considered separately, before licences expire in 2031. 

We will be holding online workshops to provide information and hear your views. You can register here. The timing of the workshops will be: 

• 10.00am - 11.00am, Thursday, 5 June 
• 10.00am - 11.00am, Wednesday, 11 June 
• 6.00pm - 7.00pm, Thursday, 12 June 

We encourage interested parties to submit to MBIE here. 

Our role 

The Minister for Māori Development is the Minister responsible for Māori broadcasting. Te Puni Kōkiri works on policies that support Iwi and Māori in relation to broadcasting. Our role in the consultation process is to ensure that relevant stakeholders are aware of the opportunity to submit, and to provide support. 

This project relates to the Te Puni Kōkiri strategic priority area of Māori language and culture. Spectrum and licences for Iwi radio broadcasting were reserved to recognise that broadcasting is a way to protect and promote te reo Māori, which is a taonga under article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi and should be protected through the principle of active protection. 

If you have any questions or require further information from an Iwi or Māori perspective, please contact us here: iwiradiospectrum@tpk.govt.nz.