Six commercial stations have surpassed the threshold of playing more than 20 percent New Zealand music over the airwaves in the past year, with NiuFM continuing to lead the way with an impressive 54.13 percent.
Tamaki-Makaurau based nationwide network NiuFM increased from 50.24 percent in 2024. NiuFM is part of the Pacific Media Network and is its youth brand predominantly targeting a young NZ-born Pacific Island audience.
NiuFM’s Head of Content Susana Guttenbeil says they are proud to be playing such a large quota of music from Aotearoa artists.
"Playing local music is more than meeting a target for us - it's about backing the voices, stories and sounds of our people. Niu FM exists to reflect and uplift our communities and that means centring artists from Aotearoa, particularly Pacific musicians, at the forefront of our airwaves. We're proud to continue supporting the next generation of Aotearoa talent."
Whakatane-based 1XX also increased its local content quota for the second year running, exceeding the 20 percent Voluntary Music Code over the previous year.
1XX and fellow Media Bay of Plenty station mate Bayrock both increased their New Zealand music airplay, while sister station Whakatane-based Q97FM saw a slight drop to 21.06 percent down from 25.64 percent the previous year.
Every year, NZ On Air awards those stations who play more than 20 percent New Zealand music in the previous year[1].
NiuFM and the three Media Bay of Plenty stations were joined by Coromandel-based CFM and nationwide network Radio Hauraki in receiving their awards at last night’s NZ On Air Music Showcase in Auckland.
At the Music Showcase, four of Aotearoa’s emerging artists – Imani-J, Rosie Teese, Te Wehi and WHO SHOT SCOTT – also performed.
The awards are given to stations that achieve, and exceed, the 20 percent target, in this case between 1 January and 31 Dec 2025[2]. The figures for the six radio stations are:
- NiuFM – 54.13% (up from 50.24% in 2024)
- BayrockFM (Whakatane) – 37.29% (up from 37.2% in 2024)
- 1XX (Whakatane) – 28.85% (up from 20.43% in 2024)
- CFM (Coromandel) – 21.28% (down from 21.77% in 2024)
- Q97 (Whakatane) – 21.06% (down from 25.64% in 2024)
- Radio Hauraki – 20.48% (down from 22.44% in 2024)
But while these six stations reached 20 percent or more, for the third year running Radioscope – Recorded Music NZ’s data and distribution monitoring arm – reported that overall Aotearoa commercial radio stations did not meet the voluntary code in 2025.
“While a handful of stations have exceeded the 20 percent code, the overall share of local music on our commercial radio platforms has not met this threshold. And radio still plays a crucial role in helping our artists cut through and reach listeners nationwide,” says Teresa Patterson, NZ On Air Head of Music.
----------------------------------------
[1] New Zealand has a Voluntary Music Code that was introduced by the commercial radio industry in 2002 when commercial radio stations played less than 10% New Zealand music. It sets a target for New Zealand commercial radio stations to play 20% New Zealand Music.
[2] The data gathered for the awards relates to airplay on commercial radio only and doesn’t include music played on public, student and iwi radio – which all have legislated benchmarks that commercial stations do not. Their data is tracked separately.