The marquee in the carpark was a fitting place for the celebrations to take place, as it was in the house next door that the very first broadcast for Awa FM took place in 1991. Back then it was a very different landscape to today.
The Māori language movement was underway and gaining momentum and Whanganui leaders were searching for tools to reclaim our language, which had been beaten out of previous generations.
Around the same time across Whanganui, Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa were being established by our staunch elders who wanted us to thrive in our Whanganuitanga.
Tributes flowed throughout the day for those kaumatua, and those who were integral to the formation of the station including the late Joe Reo, Archie Taiaroa and Morvin Simon. How lucky we were to have leaders like them to pave the way for future generations.
Despite moving locations over the years, the radio station has come full circle to be based back at 357 Victoria Avenue, where it all began.
Now it shares a building with Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui and Te Puni Kokiri, and it was great to feel the energy there on Thursday with so many young ones around to celebrate, and the sound of singing echoing up the halls.
Those of us in my generation I think have a very soft spot for Awa FM, having grown up with it since we were babies. So many memories.
There used to be a segment called 'Kiaora-cations', where people would phone in and dedicate a song to someone special. I was too chicken to ring up, but my older sister Jennie was that giggling schoolgirl that would always phone in and dedicate songs to her crush. I remember the vibrant presence of aunty Pirihira Cribb when she was an announcer.
Speaking of full circle, nowadays aunty Piri's son Manahi Cribb is an announcer on the radio station, following in his mum's footsteps.
That in itself nicely captures what the station does well – fostering intergenerational connections and a passion for our people, our culture and our reo.
Over the years, Awa FM has captured some precious content. The archives hold interviews with so many of our elderly people who are no longer with us. They hold recordings of major iwi events in our history and of traditional waiata.
These recordings are priceless and something we owe thanks to the station for collecting and preserving.
These days, Awa FM is going from strength to strength. At the start of the year, they secured long-time journalist and broadcaster Eruera Rerekura from TVNZ to join the station as programme director and breakfast host.
They have also been joined by Local Democracy reporter Moana Ellis, who is covering the local beat and providing fresh stories from a Māori perspective for radio and NZME, including the Whanganui Chronicle. They are broadcasting from key Māori events regularly. The station also features on Whare Korero, a new mobile app that gives users access to all 21 iwi radio stations across the country.
This progress is impressive, especially given the gross lack of government funding that iwi radio receives. Iwi radio is only funded for delivering reo Māori content, yet they do so much more for the communities they serve including capturing traditional knowledge, delivering local news, and fostering cultural identity which is proven to improve outcomes for Māori.
The reality is, in 30 years, Awa FM has only had one slight funding increase which happened recently and that is not good enough.
I have always been passionate about broadcasting and the power that that platform brings, which is why I joined the executive committee for Awa FM late last year to do my best to give something back.
There is much work to be done as we move into a fast-changing multi-media era, but we are dedicated to continuing to build on the good work that has been achieved by those who came before us.
All the stories shared throughout the day had me reflecting about just how much of a taonga Awa FM is. The motivation to start Awa FM was about mana motuhake, self-determination, and to give our people and stories a platform and to share our unique Whanganui dialect.
To this day, that driving force has not changed. Seeing everyone come together on Thursday to celebrate Awa FM was a heart-warming experience. Hearing our tamariki and rangatahi speak in our dialect and sing proudly live on air gives me a glimpse of what the future holds for us.
Truth is that the birthday was not just a celebration of Awa FM, it was celebration of us as an iwi. It acknowledged our connection to each other, our love for our reo and our ways, and our collective endurance as we continue to move forward unapologetically ourselves.
Disclaimer: Leigh-Marama McLachlan works for Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui
