Historic iwi radio station destroyed by fire

The fire destroyed the Mangamuka headquarters of pioneering iwi radio station Tautoko FM. PHOTO / Jeremy Batten

Northland's first iwi radio station, Tautoko FM, has been destroyed by a massive fire at its Mangamuka headquarters.

The blaze ripped through the two-storey wooden building about 7pm last night.

Although Mangamuka is on State Highway 1, its distance from the nearest fire stations - at Okaihau to the south and Kaitaia from the north - meant firefighters had little chance of getting there in time to save the building.

They did, however, manage to stop the fire spreading to the adjoining block of shops.

No one was injured but the radio station's studio and broadcast equipment have been destroyed.

Tautoko FM is temporarily off air but hopes to resume broadcasting within 24 hours from a caravan it uses for live broadcasts from major events such as festivals and Waitangi Tribunal hearings.

A message posted on the radio station's Facebook page last night read:
"Although a very sad and alarming time for us all we are pleased to announce that no one was hurt. And we do not know the cause. At this stage we will be off air until we can get our trusty caravan up and going in the next 24hrs. Finally thank you to all the calls and msgs of support!"

Tautoko FM was launched in 1983 as the first iwi station in Tai Tokerau.

Fellow broadcaster and Mana Movement co-leader Hone Harawira shared this message last night: "Radio Tautoko was the first. They showed us the dream. They showed us how to do it. They gave us hope. They gave us shelter. They gave us love. They challenged us. They set the standard. They have always been the benchmark. And when they get past this disastrous fire, they will rise again to be the tuakana they have always been to Maori radio right across the north."

Fire investigators are at the scene today trying to establish the cause.