Journalist new manager for Awa FM

Wena Tait is the new manager of Whanganui's Awa FM. PHOTO/ NATALIE SIXTUS

Former television and radio journalist Wena Tait has stepped into Panapana Pene's shoes as manager of Whanganui's Awa FM.

She's rubbed shoulders with Sir Archie Taiaroa, Sir Doug Graham and Dame Sian Elias and just finished a masters degree on Maori radio's role in the survival of Maori language.

She spent years managing Te Upoko o Te Ika, New Zealand's first Maori radio station in Wellington.

Of Te Arawa and Tuhoe descent, Ms Tait said she came to Whanganui because there was a job going and it was a job she could do. She hopes to contribute some quality content.

"I'm pretty passionate about radio and langauage. That's why I'm in this game."

She started at Awa FM on December 12, after a powhiri. In her first week she joined breakfast show host Tema Hemi.

"It's always fun for me in radio. We are here to create and paint pictures in our language, and that's what it's all about."

She's waiting to find out more about the community before she plans any changes at the station. But she's aware it has some big occasions to broadcast in the next few weeks.
They are the Ratana 25th Celebrations, Waitangi Day and Pakaitore Day on February 28.

Ms Tait was brought up by her grandparents in Ruatoki, the Urewera town raided by police in 2007. The household spoke only te reo Maori.

She went to Victoria University and then did journalism training for television and worked for TV1's Te Karere for a year. But she didn't like television and switched to radio, working for Derek Fox's Mana Maori Media.

After that came her stint at Te Upoko o Te Ika.

At Awa FM she has seven staff, and governance by a board of seven chaired by Keria Ponga. But Ms Tait said she was more inclined to do what the region's old people wanted, and keep their aspirations alive.

The station has archived material that can help with that.

"If we wanted Archie Taiaroa to speak to his people and tell them to get real then we have that on tap."