[HCDX] Tahiti's Radio Maohi

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Tahiti's Radio Maohi Partially Shut Down

French Polynesia's Radio Maohi has been shut down in the west of
Tahiti because of debts to the state owned TDF company that provides
radio transmission services.

The station is linked to the Tahoeraa Huiraatira party which was the
dominant political force in Pirae, west of Papeete, until municipal
elections in March.

Pirae now has a mayor from the ruling To Tatou Aia coalition, leading
to accusations that the new mayor is muzzling opposition radio media. 

Radio Maohi continues to broadcast in other parts of Tahiti where it
owns the transmission equipment.

In a backgrounder, Jason Brown of Avaiki News, says that Radio Maohi
isn't the only station suffering funding problems.

Longtime anti-nuclear radio Te Reo Tefana limps along on just one
phone line for all calls and faxes for their onair studio, newsroom,
administration and advertising offices.

A skeleton crew of staff use their own mobile phones, bikes and cars
to cover stories for Te Reo Tefana, one of the oldest but most badly
resourced radio stations in the Pacific.

Given French enthusiasm for good quality coffee, it's a measure of
tough times when even the instant coffee jar at the newsroom at
Tefana is empty.

It's been this way for about two years according to Tefana workers.
By comparison, state broadcasters like RFO get roughly US$50m a year,
in French Polynesia alone.

[According to the WRTH 2008, Radio Maohi operates on 5 FM frequencies
throughout French Polynesia, with just 2 on the main island of
Tahiti. Te Reo Tefana uses 7 FM frequencies, of which 3 are on the
main island. There are over 30 private FM stations in French
Polynesia, as well as two state owned radio networks.]

David Ricquish
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.net







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