Surfing The Airwaves With Raglan Community Radio 98.1

Raglan Community Radio’s sound waves and good vibes began back in 1994 during the non-techie grunge era.
With a basic knowledge of broadcasting, Raglan Area School Principal Beau Rewiti and community members created Raglan’s first community radio station. Originally located in the school gym, the raucous students blasted gangster rap, to their teacher’s chagrin.

The station later moved to the downtown Municipal Building on the main drag of Bow Street. This broadcasting gem celebrated 26 years on air in November 2020.

Located at the end of State highway 23, 48 kilometers west of Hamilton on the southern shore of Whāingaroa Harbour, Raglan has been known as one of New Zealand’s most popular surfing destinations, since the 1960s.

The breaking surf and the 2.4 million year old extinct volcano, Mount Karioi create the backdrop for 98.1, where this eclectic community enjoys its daily news, weather reports, community events, and of course the tides and surf report.

The love of surfing this community shares is evident by the vintage surfboard and surfing memorabilia collection at the Raglan Museum on Wainui road, along with very significant Māori cultural history.

Aaron Mooar stated “it’s my job to contain the chaos as loosely as possible while still trying to ensure we don’t contravene the Broadcasting Act.”

The diversity of the music and radio shows are clearly a reflection of the community. The lineup is presently thirty-three shows, such as “The Mother Folker Show” a duo that plays mainstream popular music and folk, while playing their own guitars. Also, DJ GFACTA, with his mixer pumps out Electro drum and bass, pop, RNB, to name a few genres. I visited GFACTA while on air. His professional experience combined with his music selections are vibrantly infectious.

To quote Caleb Osborne show host of Cosmic Salutations,  “Music is able to transcend culture and geographic location and in a time where ideas around difference are becoming more rigid and polarizing.” Caleb’s music genres are jazz, groove, soul, hip-hop and funk, and he’ll throw down any groove that moves you.

The DJ’s selections are an array of communal creativity. The range spans from Nan’s Country and Gospel Show, to Indigenous hip hop Worldwide with Native American DJ Kiitukuut D, Latin and African influences with Tech House vibes, of the Ay, Papi Show, and more.

There’s local commentary and political insight, as well as American shows Democracy Now, and Bioneers. The show schedule includes programing for children too.

According to  Aaron Mooar, “Raglan Community Radio is an important voice that reflects Raglan’s unique culture.” At Raglan Community Radio there’s something creative and interesting for everyone, so check it out for yourself at raglanradio.com.