RNZ and Sāmoa Capital Radio have announced they will be working more closely together to serve Sāmoan speakers and language learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A new partnership agreement, signed at Sāmoa Capital Radio’s studios in Porirua to the north of Wellington, will see RNZ and Sāmoa Capital Radio collaborate during Sāmoan Language Week, which is held each year to celebrate Gagana Sāmoa as the third most-spoken language in New Zealand. The agreement also formalises the sharing of news stories, and digital and social media expertise, between the organisations.
RNZ will make RNZ National and RNZ Pacific news bulletin scripts available to Sāmoa Capital Radio for translation and broadcast in Sāmoan (106.1FM and online livestreams).
Sāmoa Capital Radio will share its material with RNZ and will help out where possible with video, photos and other news gathering from Sāmoa, especially Apia, where it has recently opened a brand-new studio.
RNZ Pacific and Sāmoa Capital Radio will explore opportunities to share digital and social media expertise, including through staff exchanges.
Sāmoa Capital Radio was the first Pacific Island station established and registered in New Zealand, in 1992, and 98% of its broadcast is in the Sāmoan language. It operates under the Si’ufofoga o le Laumua Trust and is partly funded by NZ On Air. It broadcasts on Wellington 106.1FM, Facebook and YouTube, and also has a website. In 2023, Sāmoa Capital Radio launched Gagana Sāmoa, a free Android and iOS app to support Sāmoan language learners, with the support of the Ministry of Education.
RNZ Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Paul Thompson said he was pleased to partner with a media organisation that serves the Sāmoan community and champions the Sāmoan language.
“RNZ is committed in our position as a non-commercial public media organisation to make our content accessible to all communities in New Zealand. This partnership with Sāmoa Capital Radio is particularly important as it supports our efforts to provide comprehensive Pacific coverage and serves audiences who prefer to consume news in Sāmoan or from a Pacific lens.”
Sāmoa Capital Radio Chief Executive Afamasaga Tealu Moresi said RNZ was a trusted multimedia organisation in New Zealand and the station was deeply grateful for the partnership agreement.
“Working collaboratively with RNZ during the Sāmoan Language Week to celebrate Gagana Sāmoa is a great step forward.
“The sharing of news stories, and digital and social media expertise, will benefit both organisations.
“RNZ’s widely sourced news stories are very informative and educational. Translating news items from English to Sāmoan will help inform the Sāmoan community in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad with up-to-date current events broadcast by RNZ when they happen. Sāmoa Capital Radio listeners will also increase the audience that benefit from RNZ news stories.”
Visit https://www.rnz.co.nz and https://samoacapitalradio.co.nz