RNZ, Sāmoa Capital Radio support Sāmoan language

Aotearoa New Zealand public-service radio broadcaster RNZ and Sāmoa Capital Radio are strengthening collaboration to better serve the country’s Sāmoan speakers. A new partnership agreement was signed on July 25 at Sāmoa Capital Radio’s studios in Porirua. This partnership will include joint efforts during Sāmoan Language Week, an annual event celebrating Gagana Sāmoa as the third most-spoken language in New Zealand. The agreement also formalizes sharing news stories and digital and social media expertise between the two organizations.

Under the agreement, RNZ will provide RNZ National and RNZ Pacific news bulletin scripts to Sāmoa Capital Radio for translation and broadcast in Sāmoan on 106.1 FM and its online live streams. In return, Sāmoa Capital Radio will share its content with RNZ and assist with video, photos and other news gathering from Sāmoa, particularly from its newly established studio in Apia.

The partnership will also explore opportunities for sharing digital and social media expertise, including staff exchanges. RNZ Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Paul Thompson said, “RNZ is committed to making 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 perspective.”

Sāmoa Capital Radio Chief Executive Afamasaga Tealu Moresi highlighted the value of the collaboration, noting, “Working collaboratively with RNZ during Sāmoan Language Week to celebrate Gagana Sāmoa is a great step forward. Sharing news stories and digital and social media expertise will benefit both organizations. 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 benefitting from RNZ news stories.”