Kōkako 96.1 takes flight 

_{The team behind Kōkako's winning pitch (l-r) Ollie Miles, Callaghan Jones, Jacob Matsas, Keira Blair, Olivia Woods, Ethan Fairley}

If you’re in Ōtautahi and you’re into ‘indie beat with local heat’ it’s time to tune into New Zealand Broadcasting School’s (NZBS) latest creation.

Get ready for a David and Goliath battle for the hearts, minds and ears of young media consumers. Kōkako 96.1 isn’t taking on radio competitors in its short season – it’s going for the streamers.

“Our hypothetical target demographic is a male young professional just out of study. Our job is to bring him back to radio,” said Ollie Miles from the On-air and Production team.

Sales Manager Jacob Matsas said the Kōkako bird’s unique song was symbolic of the distinct sound and spirit the station brings to the airwaves.

“Just as the Kōkako was once considered critically endangered and threatened with extinction, our radio industry now faces similar challenges from the rise of large streaming platforms," Matsas said.

He said the name was also chosen to honour the rich cultural heritage of Aotearoa and recognise the importance of te reo Māori for all New Zealanders. “In doing so, we also acknowledge our own journey to learn and grow our understanding of the language and its significance,” he added.

Every year, students studying the Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications through NZBS at Ara Institute of Canterbury create and run a radio station as part of their studies. Once again, NZBS industry partners from Mediaworks and NZME made up the judging panel for the annual contest to decide the format.

Team Kōkako beat out stiff competition to win hosting rights, presenting an ambitious sales target of $60,000 for its short run on air.

Matsas said they’re determined to make Kōkako 96.1 a commercial success.

“As a team, we're working hard and hopeful of reaching our sixty thousand sales target.”

Ara Institute of Canterbury campuses can expect to see the promotion team in action. Promotions and Digital spokesperson Olivia Woods said the team hit the ground from day one to establish a strong social media following.

“You can expect to continue to see us out in the community making Kōkako a name that people know and recognise as a true student radio station. The whole digital team is determined to get our following up with slick photography and engaging content,” Woods said.

Content Director Keira Blair said having a local focus was a point of difference for Kōkako.

"We’re serving our local Christchurch community. Bigger stations have an Auckland focus or are centered elsewhere,  we want to focus on being based here with local content by young people for young people.”

_{NZBS Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications students proudly wearing Kōkako 96.1 merch}

Senior Lecturer in Radio Brendan Reilly said despite positioning the brand in between some strong competing national stations, such as The Rock and Hauraki, Kōkako made a strong argument to the judges as to why alternative indie rock could still find an audience.

"One judge said the presentation for Kōkako was one of the best he’d ever seen, with a confident delivery and its hefty sales target. The concept stood out as something the whole team can now get behind and deliver exceptional results.”

The station, taking over from Bassline 96.1 last year, is live now and delivering an ‘energised, engaging indie/alternative rock station for today’s modern Ōtautahi’.