Radio Waatea is Aucklands’ only Maori News Headlines radio station that provides an extensive bi-lingual broadcast to its listeners. Based at Nga Whare Waatea marae in Mangere, it is located in the middle of the biggest Maori population in Aotearoa. UMA Broadcasting Ltd was established in 1999 by the Urban Māori Authorities, namely the Manukau Urban Māori Authority and Te Whanau a Waipareira Charitable Trust, as an entity to seek, foster and develop opportunities for urban Mâori in broadcasting.
Since its inception UMA Broadcasting has set up the News In Maori radio station in Tamaki Makaurau Te Reo Irirangi o Waatea (Waatea 603am) and is a key stakeholder with the 96.6 FM frequency which George FM broadcast off in Tamaki. Essentially both stations were set up as vehicles to deliver the UMA Broadcasting vision. “The promotion, retention and enhancement of te reo Māori me oona tikanga for an urban Māori and non Māori audience.”