ABC Radio Australia

Radio, Print, and Online ABC & SBS Radio
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ABC Radio Australia launches new programs, Culture Compass and Pacific Scientific

The two specialist programs – Culture Compass and Pacific Scientific – have launched on ABC Radio Australia and as podcasts on ABC listen, offering Pacific audiences bespoke stories of cultural history and scientific breakthroughs from across the Pacific.

Listen to the latest episodes of Culture Compass and Pacific Scientific here.

Culture Compass host Seiuli Salamasina von Reiche holds a high chief title from her home country of Samoa and brings nuance to the show’s exploration into traditional and contemporary cultures of the Pacific. She describes her program as an exploration of survival, revival, and connection within Pacific cultures and so far, she has covered cultural practices such as kava, traditional medicine, the popularity of corned beef and navigating the oceans.

According to von Reiche: “Our Pacific cultures have evolved with the changing times. The ceremonies and crafts that give importance were fading in and out of existence. I am honoured to be able to share journeys of people who are passionate about keeping traditions alive, passing them down to the next generations while adapting old ways to the present.”

Salamasina von Reiche continues: “I am also part of a very dedicated team who are passionate about sharing these stories so that we may understand better.”

Pacific Scientific is another exciting new program offering and each episode dives deep into the work of Pacific scientists exploring and researching the regions of Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and the Republic of Marshall Islands. So far, the program has delved into Tonga’s abandoned car problem, a killer fungus threatening PNG frog species and the fight for fresh water in the Marshall Islands.

ABC Science Editor Dr Jonathan Webb said: “These stories and voices aren’t just important: they are compelling, fascinating, and fantastic company! Our reporters were lucky enough to witness groundbreaking science happening right across the Pacific, and they also connected and collaborated with local journalists and organisations. The results have an amazing sense of place and personality. Get ready for an inspiring ride!”

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ABC Yours for the Pacific Games

The ABC will be providing live broadcasts and special programming on ABC Radio Australia and ABC Australia. ABC Pacific online and social media accounts will offer around-the-clock competition results, interviews, and stories featuring the sporting stars of the games

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ABC Radio Australia launches in Gizo, Solomon Islands

ABC Radio Australia is now available on 107FM on the island of Ghizo, Solomon Islands.

The ABC has established a new FM transmission service for ABC Radio Australia in the second largest urban population hub in the Solomon Islands, the town of Gizo in Western Province. Residents of Gizo and surrounds on its island of Ghizo will now be able to enjoy the full suite of ABC Radio Australia’s content and program offering.

The addition of Gizo to ABC Radio Australia’s transmission footprint is a key deliverable for ABC International Services under the Federal Government’s enhanced funding for ABC services across the Indo-Pacific. Prior to the Gizo service, ABC Radio Australia has been available only to residents of Honiara on 107FM.

In the coming months, further transmission locations will be added across the region including in PNG, Nauru, Kiribati and other locations in Micronesia.

ABC International Services Head Claire M Gorman said, “We welcome Gizo and Ghizo Island to the ABC Radio Australia family and are delighted that its residents will have access to a rich new offering of news, information, entertainment, sport and music content. The commencement of broadcasting in Gizo marks an important milestone in the ongoing expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s footprint across the Pacific.”

Ghizo Island residents will now have access to ABC Radio Australia’s flagship regional current affairs program Pacific Beat, in addition to its weekday morning program Nesia Daily and newly launched culture, science, music and sports shows including Climate Mana, Culture Compass, Pacific Scientific, In The Fale, Off The Record and Fresh Off The Field.

ABC Radio Australia programs can now be heard on 107FM on Ghizo Island and in Honiara.

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Population 7 100 in 2019:

Be great if the ABC could fill their FM blackspots in Australia.

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ABC Radio Australia’s Nesia Daily launches afternoon edition

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Australian-Fijian journalist Melissa Maykin joins popular weekday program Nesia Daily from 20 February, launching a new-look afternoon edition focused on health and religion at 4:00pm PNG time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Listen to the latest episodes of Nesia Daily, available on ABC Pacific online here.

Nesia Daily, hosted weekday mornings by Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow, connects Pacific audiences with entertaining conversations, the latest music and inspiring stories from across the region. The new afternoon edition offers listeners a daily wrap-up of highlights from across the Pacific, with two specialist segments – Pacific Pulse and Pacific Soul – discussing health, lifestyle and religion.

Melissa Maykin is a journalist and presenter from the ABC’s Asia Pacific newsroom who has reported on the Pacific and the Australian diaspora, with proven expertise in radio and podcasting and in breaking regional and national news.

Broadcast as part of the Tuesday afternoon program, Pacific Pulse will cover the biggest health issues across the region, distilling fact from fiction and challenging body taboos. Maykin will speak to health experts, industry figures and everyday people, unpacking the relationships we have with our own bodies and others, and the health implications of culture, community and island life.

Wednesday afternoons will see Maykin dive into all things divine with Pacific Soul. She’ll investigate the melting pot of diverse faiths, religions and philosophies in the Pacific today and ask theologians and worshippers about their beliefs within the broader context of Indigenous rights, gender equality and decolonisation.

Maykin is excited to be joining the Nesia Daily team, commenting: “I have big shoes to fill with Jacob and Michael expertly steering our flagship daily program but I’m honoured to be in the chair, and I hope the talanoa on Pacific Pulse and Pacific Soul helps affirm our experiences as Pacific peoples, and the wonderful nuances of our lives.”

ABC Radio Australia manager Justine Kelly said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have someone of Melissa’s calibre hosting the new afternoon edition of Nesia Daily. With her extensive background in journalism and passion for reporting on key issues in the Pacific, listeners can look forward to Melissa’s daily wrap-up and deep dives into health and religion.”

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Nesia Daily airs weekdays on ABC Radio Australia from 6:00am to 8:00am PNG time and in the afternoon every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm PNG time.

Pacific Pulse will air on Tuesdays between 4:00pm and 5:00pm and be repeated on Wednesdays at 6:00pm PNG time.

Pacific Soul will air on Wednesday between 4:00pm and 5:00pm PNG time and be repeated on Sundays at 8:00am PNG time.

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Sista Sounds amplifies Pacific women’s voices on ABC Radio Australia

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In time for this year’s International Women’s Day, ABC Radio Australia has launched a new weekly program celebrating female musicians from across the Pacific.

Listen to the new episode of Sista Sounds, available on ABC Pacific online here.

Liven up your Tuesday afternoons with an hour of curated sounds from 3:00pm PNG time. Hosted by award-winning Samoan-Australian music journalist Sosefina Fuamoli, Sista Sounds highlights emerging and established Pacific female musical talent, representing the region’s diverse sounds and musical influences.

Fuamoli is an established music journalist who has twice won Best Live Music Journalist at the Australian National Live Music Awards. Already known to ABC Radio Australia listeners as the host of On the Record and Pacific Sundays, she now joins forces with Island Music host Rick Howe, who produces the new show.

Fuamoli and Howe hope listeners will learn about new music not only from their home island nations but also from neighbouring island countries.

Fuamoli explains: “It’s a really cool opportunity for me as a music fan to be able to discover more music from our beautiful island regions. But more importantly, as someone with the platform to do so, this show is going to be a haven for incredible women to have their moment. And have that moment in a way that is organic and real; not just a token spotlight week on female music that is gassed up once a year.”

“We’re really looking to create a space within our community to feature and preference talented female artists. Somewhere that audiences, fellow artists and anyone who is interested can discover new music and powerful female voices, all year round.”

ABC Radio Australia manager Justine Kelly said, “I’m thrilled that in the same week as International Women’s Day, we’re able to launch Sista Sounds as a platform for Pacific women’s music to be amplified. Sose’s expertise in music journalism and passion for Pacific artists, combined with Rick’s extensive knowledge of Pacific music, will provide listeners with an exciting weekly discovery of emerging female talent from across the region.”

PROGRAM DETAILS:

New episodes of Sista Sounds are broadcast on ABC Radio Australia every Tuesday at 3:00pm PNG time and repeated on Fridays at 5:00pm PNG time.

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ABC Radio Australia launches in Palau

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In a first for the northern Pacific region, residents of Palau can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full service on 91.5FM.

The service launch comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in 2023 between the ABC and the Republic of Palau’s national radio broadcaster, Eco Paradise FM (EPFM). It is the first time since 2014 that ABC Radio Australia has been available as a full channel service to northern Pacific audiences.

Attended by Palau’s Vice President, the Hon. Uduch Sengebau Senior, the launch event at EPFM’s Koror headquarters on Friday 3 May coincided with International Press Freedom Day.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The Palau launch marks another important milestone in the ongoing expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in the Pacific and cements our collaboration with EPFM and the people of Palau.”

ABC Radio Australia head Justine Kelly, who co-hosted the launch event, said: “I’m excited that audiences in Palau will now have access to the very best of Pacific news, music, sports, culture and health programming, all day, every day via the new service.”

Australian Ambassador to Palau, Richelle Turner, also attended the launch event and Gorman acknowledged the Australian Embassy in Palau’s support in brokering the 2023 MOU with EPFM.

Acting Director of the Palau Bureau Archives and Media, Linda Ngirameketii, who co-hosted the launch event, added: “I express my wholehearted support for today’s ABC Radio Australia launch in Palau in partnership with EPFM 87.9, Ngerel Belau AM 1584 and the Palau Division of Media & Information Services (DMIS). I am so happy to see ABC Radio Australia return to the Palau airwaves, bridging the distances for many listeners near and far. Through radio waves and the power of media, communities are united and vital information disseminated, reaching many in the Pacific region. We welcome this endeavour, knowing it will resonate far beyond the shores of Palau.”

Palau’s Acting Chief of the Media Division Rondy Ronny, who MC’d the launch event, said: “Radio Australia stands as a beacon of connectivity, illuminating the vast potential of the airwaves in the Pacific Ocean. Its opening here in Palau marks not just a milestone in broadcasting, but a testament to the power of media to unite, inform and inspire. I envision this new platform as a catalyst for innovation, education, and cultural exchange, enriching the Palau communities and advancing our collective understanding of our surrounding waters.”

In coming weeks and months, more countries and locations will also receive ABC Radio Australia’s service, including Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kokopo in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands.

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ABC launches ABC Radio Australia in Micronesia

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ABC Radio Australia has expanded FM transmission services to the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), where residents can now access the station’s full suite of programs via the frequency 89.1FM.

The launch of the FM service is part of an historic expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in the Pacific and follows the recent launch of the service in Palau, a first for the northern Pacific region.

In coming weeks and months, more countries and locations will also receive the service including Kokopo in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.

ABC International Services Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The launch of ABC Radio Australia in Pohnpei marks another important step in the expansion of our transmission footprint in the northern Pacific and we welcome our new audiences in the Federated States of Micronesia to explore the extensive range of Pacific-focused programs.”

Australian Ambassador to FSM Jenny Grant-Curnow co-hosted a launch event to mark the occasion which was attended by Pohnpei State Governor the Hon. Stevenson A. Joseph and ABC Radio Australia Content Director Faleagafulu Inga Stünzner.

According to Faleagafulu: “Our increasing engagement with Pohnpei and Micronesia via the launch of the ABC Radio Australia service will lead to expanded coverage of this beautiful region in our programming, as well as bringing stories from right across the Pacific to the people of Pohnpei.”

ABC Radio Australia can now be heard on 89.1FM in Pohnpei, including recently launched programs Sista Sounds, Pacific Pulse, Pacific Soul and the afternoon edition of Nesia Daily.

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Pacific Break returns in 2024 with Fiji launch concert

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The Pacific’s biggest music competition is back in 2024 to uncover the best original talent from across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Entries open on Saturday 29 June and the winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia’s largest international music festival.

To kick off this year’s campaign, ABC Radio Australia will host a concert on Fiji’s Wailoaloa Beach. Bringing together past Pacific Break winners from across the region, Pacific Break Live From Fiji: Launch 2024 will feature headline performances from 2023 winner Ju Ben (Fiji), 2022 winner Danielle (Papua New Guinea) and 2019 winner Sprigga Mek (Papua New Guinea) alongside performances from Fijian 2023 Pacific Break finalists Ratu and Oni and ABC Radio Australia’s resident reggae DJ Rick Howe.

The concert will be hosted by The Pacific presenter Johnson Raela and ABC Radio Australia’s Sose Fuamoli and recorded in partnership with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). A television special will be broadcast internationally on ABC Australia and in Fiji on FBC’s television stations in July. The concert will also be available on ABC Radio Australia and ABC Pacific’s digital and social media accounts throughout July.

This year’s judges have also been announced, with PNG-born Australian musician Ngaiire rejoining the team and ABC Radio Australia music presenters Hau Latukefu (In The Fale), Sose Fuamoli (Sista Sounds and On The Record) and Rick Howe (Island Music) also returning to help decide who will wear the 2024 crown. Find out more about the 2024 Pacific Break judging panel here.

Fuamoli said: “It’s amazing to see Pacific Break back in 2024 and we are especially excited to be launching the competition with this live concert bringing together our three most recent winners in Fiji, the home country of last year’s winner, Ju Ben. It’s going to be massive!”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “Pacific Break is such an important platform for emerging artists across the Pacific, so we are delighted to be confirming the dates for 2024. For the first time, we will record the launch concert for television as well as radio and digital, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation on this exciting initiative and sharing the show with Fijian and international audiences.”

Tickets to the show are FJD15 and available via this link. Ticket proceeds will be donated to Fijian charitable organisation the Frank Hilton Organization, which provides services for children with disabilities and their families across Fiji.

PACIFIC BREAK 2024 – THE LAUNCH CONCERT

This year’s launch event will be held at The Beach Club, Wailoaloa Beach, Fiji, on Saturday 29 June. Doors open at 4.30pm.

To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.ticketmax.com.fj/MERPR

PACIFIC BREAK – THE COMPETITION

Competition entries open on 29 June 2024 and will be open until midnight (12:00am) on Sunday 25 August 2024.

For more information, visit www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacific-break

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ABC launches ABC Radio Australia service and signs MOU in Nauru

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The Central Pacific state of Nauru is the latest location in the expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s FM transmission service, now available for residents on 90.0FM.

In partnership with the Nauru Media Bureau (NMB), ABC Radio Australia has launched its full FM radio service, featuring a growing schedule of programs including the latest in Pacific news, music and sports, as well as conversations about culture, health, faith and science.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NMB, building on a long history of engagement between the organisations, including the sharing of ABC NEWS on Nauru Radio and the transmission of ABC Australia television content on Nauru TV.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “After many years of partnership with Nauru and the NMB, we’re proud to announce an MOU with NMB and the launch of a 24-hour dedicated ABC Radio Australia FM service, showcasing the comprehensive range of Pacific news and content that ABC Radio Australia has to offer.”

ABC International Services Manager Nesryn Bouziane, who co-hosted a launch and MOU signing ceremony in Nauru with the NMB, said: “We’re excited for new audiences across Nauru to hear and engage with ABC Radio Australia. The launch of the new FM service and the ABC’s MOU with NMB will lead to greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information, deepening connections and friendships between the people of Australia and Nauru.”

Nauru Minister for Media the Hon. Shadlog Bernicke, who co-hosted the launch and signing of the MOU, said: “I am extremely proud to announce the new MOU between Nauru Media Bureau & ABC Radio, further strengthening the longstanding relationship we share with the ABC family. We are committed to always bringing the best services and content to the people of Nauru and the launch of this new FM service is a testimony to our commitment. We are excited to share the fantastic array of content that the ABC has to offer with our beloved audience.”

The new Nauru service follows recent ABC Radio Australia launches in Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia in the northern Pacific. Further Pacific locations will be added to ABC Radio Australia’s FM footprint in coming months including Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.

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Former Radio Australia presenter Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau died last week, aged 48.

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Hate these headlines from 7… :roll_eyes: “beloved” for clicks and “dies suddenly at 48” for crazies…

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ABC signs MOU and launches ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu

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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched ABC Radio Australia on FM in Tuvalu for the first time, marking another milestone in the network’s expansion in the Pacific. Tuvalu audiences can now enjoy ABC Radio Australia’s full suite of Pacific-focused news, music, sport and cultural programming on 102FM.

The ABC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC), demonstrating the ongoing partnership between the two public broadcasters. The MOU supports future opportunities for the ABC and TVBC to share technical knowledge and content, and recognises each organisation’s respective role providing public interest broadcasting services to their national audiences.

The ABC and TVBC signed the MOU and celebrated the historic launch of the new service at a ceremony in Funafuti, Tuvalu.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman, who co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We are incredibly excited to be commemorating the collaboration between the ABC and TVBC in launching ABC Radio Australia in Tuvalu and welcome everyone to enjoy the new FM radio service. The MOU between the ABC and TVBC also marks an important milestone in our partnership, and I look forward to future opportunities for us both to work together in supporting our audiences across Tuvalu and Australia.”

TVBC Managing Director Yvette D’Unienville Isaac, who also co-hosted the ceremony, said: “We welcome the new ABC Radio Australia FM service with open arms and are thrilled to be formalising the excellent relationship that TVBC enjoys with the ABC. We hope the new MOU leads to a greater cross-cultural exchange of ideas and information and deepens the connections and friendships between our countries.”

ABC Radio Australia has recently expanded its FM transmission footprint to include Nauru, Palau, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and plans to launch in more new locations in coming months including Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Lorengau in Papua New Guinea, and Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

Tuvalu residents can now listen on 102FM to high quality ABC Radio Australia programming

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Entries now open for Pacific Break 2024!

The Pacific’s biggest music competition, ABC Radio Australia’s Pacific Break, is now open for artists from across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

The search has begun for the Pacific and Timor-Leste’s best original, unsigned talent with entries now open until midnight Sunday 25 August.

The top prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to perform in 2025 at WOMADelaide – Australia’s largest international music festival. The winning artist or group will be revealed on ABC Radio Australia’s flagship daily morning program Nesia Daily on Wednesday 2 October.

The 2024 competition launched with a live concert on Wailoaloa Beach in Fiji featuring performances from Pacific Break stars including 2023 winner Ju Ben (Fiji), 2022 winner Danielle (Papua New Guinea) and 2019 winner Sprigga Mek (Papua New Guinea) as well as 2023 finalists Bibao and Lonna (Solomon Islands), Ratu (Fiji) and Oni (Fiji).

ABC Radio Australia’s resident reggae DJ and Island Music presenter Rick Howe also performed a DJ set at the launch, which was hosted by ABC Radio Australia music host and Pacific Break judge, Sose Fuamoli, and ABC Australia’s The Pacific presenter Johnson Raela.

The judging panel for this year’s competition sees the return of Papua New Guinean-born Australian new soul diva Ngaiire as well as ABC Radio Australia music presenters Sose Fuamoli (Sista Sounds and On The Record) and Rick Howe (Island Music) and hip-hop artist and ABC Radio Australia host Hau Latukefu (In The Fale) with WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi.

For more information about Pacific Break’s 2024 judges, click here.

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Solomon Islands artist Chris Kamu’ana Rohoimae wins Pacific Break competition for 2024

Solomon Islands-based solo artist Chris Kamu’ana Rohoimae has emerged as the winner of Pacific Break 2024, with his moving song Naratana manu taking out first place.

Listen to Naratana manu here.

The 28-year-old from the Malaita Province in Solomon Islands won the competition, beating more than 300 entries from 18 Pacific nations, and will now join the lineup for Australia’s largest international festival of music, arts and dance, WOMADelaide, in March 2025.

Chris started producing music two years ago after withdrawing from college, but his passion for music started in childhood when listening to his father, who was a traditional panpipes musician. Chris’ musical style features a blend of contemporary and traditional music, combining traditional flute, guitar and modern production techniques.

In his winning song Naratana manu (meaning “the birds crying”), the au po’o panpipe takes centre stage alongside Chris’ stunning vocals as he tells a powerful story of resilience. Sung in Are-Are language, Chris explained Naratana manu is about navigating the challenges that can come from “having [the] wrong people as your friend or walking with someone that sees you in a different opposite way. But still at the end, you got something that exists and you [are] not gonna just give up on it."

When speaking about his late father and his decision to enter Pacific Break, Chris shared: “I was with my father at the hospital when I did [the] submission; I wasn’t expecting much from the track, but I did [feel] something about my music, and that’s what I believe in. [I] wish he’s here with me, he’s my mentor and a fan as well (sic).”

The judging panel for Pacific Break 2024 included WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi; Papua New Guinean-born, Australian artist Ngaiire; Australian award-winning hip hop musician and radio host of In The Fale, Hau Lātūkefu; ABC Radio Australia Music Director and host of Island Music, Rick Howe; and Samoan-Australian music journalist and host of ABC Radio Australia’s Sista Sounds and On The Record, Sosefina Fuamoli.

Annette Tripodi said: “It’s a genuine honour to be part of the Pacific Break judging panel and for WOMADelaide to be able to provide further exposure to talented Pacific artists. Choosing the winner from such a strong, diverse field of artists was more difficult than ever this year!"

Hau Latukefu said: “From the very first note of hearing Naratana manu, I knew we were in for something special. As the song moves along, Chris’ vocals really draw you in with its strong but rough texture only to then spin you into the sounds of the au po’o panpipe. There are obvious elements of traditional music in here, but it also feels like this song has a very contemporary sound and could be placed in the next James Bond film as well. Epic.”

Sosefina Fuamoli added: “The Pacific Break finalist pool was very competitive this year, with so many talented artists from across the region producing exciting, diverse and engaging music. It never gets easier to judge this competition, but I am very excited to see what Chris Kamu’ana Rohimae will bring to the WOMADelaide stage in March 2025."

ABC Head International Claire M. Gorman said: “It has been an incredible year for Pacific Break featuring tremendous musical talent from across the Pacific region, and we sincerely thank all the Pacific artists who shared their music with ABC Radio Australia and our audiences. A massive congratulations to Chris; we are incredibly excited to watch his performance at WOMADelaide.”

This year’s finalists for Pacific Break 2024 were (in alphabetical order):

  • Bibao (Solomon Islands), All Work Out
  • Carnie Reimers (Marshall Islands), Stars Collide
  • Francisco Bhagwan (Fiji), Take Your Time
  • Kali Tui (Fiji), Nanumi Au
  • Liz Vamarasi (Fiji), Malele
  • Microchild (Guam), Canopy
  • Tarvin Toune (Papua New Guinea), Rosie
  • Tyron Scott (Papua New Guinea), Adore You
  • Vanessa Quai (Vanuatu), Hemi Oraet
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SIBC’S FM 96.3 and ABC Radio Australia’s FM 107 now in Auki and surrounding communities

People in the provincial capital of Malaita Province, Auki in Solomon Islands and surrounding communities will now be able to hear the national service of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation on its FM 96.3 frequency on their transistor radios, inside their vehicles and on their mobile phones.

This follows the installation of an FM96.3 transmitter on a Solomon Telekom transmission tower in Auki during the past several days.

At the same time, listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will also hear the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Australia service on FM 107.

“This great milestone has been achieved as SIBC celebrated its 72nd anniversary of broadcasting in this country early this week. Our listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will now listen to programmes from the national service in Honiara through livestream with much clearer digital audio,” says an excited SIBC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Johnson Honimae.

“This is another step forward in the implementation of the Unity FM service that has been part of the strategy of the Corporation in the past several years. This adds on to the FM96.3 in Honiara and in Gizo in the Western Province.”

Mr Honimae adds, “SIBC would not have achieved the FM service in Auki without the great support of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation through the supply of equipment and engineers supported by SIBC’s own engineers who set up the two FM transmitters in the past several days.”

The project is a great achievement for the two public service broadcasters under a current three-year Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the relationship SIBC and ABC share among other things, technical expertise, including SIBC infrastructure to enable ABC to broadcast in Solomon Islands. ABC and SIBC broadcast technicians work closely together.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: "We are delighted that our two teams were able to come together to execute this exciting new development in FM transmission, connecting communities across Auki and the Malaita Province. The collaboration between our technical teams encapsulates the true spirit of our longstanding friendship and partnership with SIBC. We congratulate them on the tremendous milestone of their 72nd anniversary and look forward to future opportunities to support one another’s work as public broadcasters.”

Both public service broadcasters also participate in content exchanges in areas such as news and current affairs, sport, music, lifestyle and general interest content. Staff exchanges are also possible under the SIBC-ABC MoU.

SIBC is now in discussions with the Malaita Provincial Government for a piece of land for the establishment of an FM studio in Auki to produce programs focused on Malaita Province. Auki FM96.3 will currently broadcast programs from the SIBC National Service in Honiara.

Listeners to SIBC in Malaita Province can also receive the National Service on AM 1035khz and SW 5020 khz and online: sibconline.com.sb.

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Is his show simulcast on ABC RA?

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I’m not sure, i just couldn’t find the right thread.

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Nope - Radio Australia doesn’t air local radio shows apart from Nightlife, Overnights, and news and current affairs shows.

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