Tema Benjamin Hemi – Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahinerangi, Taranaki Whānui, Te Iwi Mōrehu.
Pou Whakahaere: Station Manager
Tema started his broadcasting career at Te Reo Irirangi o Whanganui AWAFM in 2007 as the stations breakfast show host for 10 years. He also took up the role as Programme Director of the station from 2015-2017. In 2018 Tema transitioned into the position of general news reporter for the Whakaata Maori News Service – Te Kaea and Te Ao Marama News. In 2019 Tema was offered the position of political journalist for Whakāta Māori in parliament’s press gallery. A position he held onto until his return home in 2023. Tema has also worked at Te Reo Irirangi o Te Upoko o Te Ika and Te Reo o Rangitaane Kia Ora FM as an announcer. Tema has also been a reporter for the Te Taihauauru regional news service Te Reo o Te Uru. Tema is passionate about working in the broadcasting industry and is grateful to be back at the station as the station manager where his broadcasting career started almost 20 years ago.
Rima Ririnui – Ngāti Tuera, Ngāti Hineraro, Ngai Te Rangi, Morehu
Te Kaikaute: Station Administrator
Rima our administrator also doubles as the Awa FM lunch hour R & B maestro. She has a background in local and national government administration and joined Awa FM in 2010. Based in Ratana Pā her whakapapa to Te Awa Tūpua includes iwi and hapu from the moungā all the way to the sea. On her Ririnui side, she also close ties to her Tauranga family. Although her son is now an adult, Rima remembers well the fundraising voluntary work for their local Kohanga reo and traces her interest in Whanganui reo music to growing up with Native te reo Māori parents.
Moana Ellis – Uenuku, Tamahaki, Tamakana, Tūwharetoa, Kahungunu
Local Democracy Reporter Awa FM
Moana is the first Māori journalist to be appointed a Local Democracy Reporter in Aotearoa and the first full-time journalist at Awa FM. She has worked in New Zealand, England and Wales as a journalist and sub-editor, and in communications. A mum of three, she is from the middle and upper reaches of the awa and has worked for her Waimarino iwi in Treaty settlement. She has held a number of governance roles including for the Whanganui Regional Museum board and Tikanga Māori House, Mākaranui Marae, Raetihi Marae and Uenuku.
Ngāmetua Areaiiti (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
Kai paho Rarotonga: Cook Islands language show Saturdays 5pm – 6pm
Ngā was born and raised on Mangaia, the southernmost island of the Cook Islands, South Pacific. His Saturday show takes in the news and events of the local Whanganui-Manawatū Cook Islands community. A proud Papa and grandfather of Te Awa Tupua mokopuna, he is also a well known ukelele player. His show is one of the longest running Cook Island radio shows in Aōtearoa after he took over from Papa Tom and Mama Nina who broadcast the show for over 22 years on Awa FM.
Tuakana Te Tana – Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Ngāi Tahu
Kaiwhakahaere Pāpāho Pāpori: Social Media Mangager
I joined Awa FM in November 2024, bringing with me a wealth of experience from working with various organizations in the public and private sectors across New Zealand and Australia.
It’s a privilege to return to Awa FM and be part of a Māori environment immersed in tikanga and te reo. This role allows me to contribute to our community while honoring my whakapapa and connection to the station.
My koro, (Posie) Winston Pou Te Tana, was one of the inaugural announcers when Awa FM launched in 1995, alongside Pat Haami, Eruera Rerekura, and Kahurangi Simon among others. Following in his footsteps, I am proud to uphold his legacy while helping to guide Awa FM into its next chapter.
Te Kakenga Kawiti-Bishara – Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Te Iwi Mōrehu.
Hōtaka: Te Manawa Piharau (Breakfast Show)
My journalism career began at the end of 2021 when I joined an internship in Auckland, run collaboratively by Whakaata Māori, Newshub, NZ Herald, and Pacific Media Network. I was privileged to be one of 25 diverse cadets selected to learn the foundational skills of journalism from some of the industry’s best.
Since then, my career in communications and media has grown, elevating me to a position where I can serve my iwi and people. I’m committed to continuing my professional development in this sector, using my skills to uplift and support our communities.
Joining Awa FM marks another significant step in my journey. It’s not only a chance to further my career but also an opportunity to give back to our iwi as Māori broadcasting enters an exciting new era.
Kia māoriori te noho.
Rauru Broughton – Whanganui, Taranaki.
Hōtaka: Te Awa Korihi (Mid-Morning Show)
Rauru began his journey in Māori radio in 1991, joining Awa FM as part of its very first announcing team. He spent over 18 months as the breakfast announcer before transitioning to Te Korimako o Taranaki in 1992, where he continued as the breakfast announcer and also took on the role of translator.
After his time with Te Korimako o Taranaki, Rauru pursued a teaching career, sharing his knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori at kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa Māori.
In 1996, Rauru returned to Māori radio, working as the midday announcer for Te Ūpoko o te Ika in Wellington. Over the years, he has contributed to various media projects, creating audio and visual resources for Learning Media and Whakaata Māori.
From 1999 to 2012, Rauru taught te reo Māori through Ko Te Reo Te Mauri with Aotea Associates in Whanganui. He later served as a senior lecturer in Mātauranga Māori at Te Wānanga o Raukawa from 2013 to 2016.
Currently, Rauru is back at Awa FM, hosting the Awa Kōrihiri show, which is delivered entirely in te reo Māori, with a focus on the unique mita and reo of Whanganui. Additionally, he hosts Pupuke te Wānanga, a Taranaki kawa and tikanga-based program for Te Korimako o Taranaki.
Rauru also holds the role of te reo advisor for Te Reo o te Uru news, further contributing to the preservation and promotion of te reo Māori across multiple platforms.
Shea Rogan – Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Te Iwi Mōrehu
Hōtaka: Te Awa Haumako (Midday Show)
Kia tupu matomato te reo i te whenua haumako.
Chaeli Manuel – Ngāti Porou, Ngā Paerangi, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngā Wairiki–Ngāti Apa, Te Iwi Mōrehu
Hōtaka: Thats a Wrap (Night Show)
Chaeli began her journey in media and broadcasting as a livestream presenter for the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka competition held in Palmerston North.
In 2019, she featured in rangatahi-focused shows on Whakaata Māori, including Hahana and Smooth TV. By 2021, Chaeli had co-founded a small media company, Muck Around Media (now trading as Aka Creative Limited), specializing in videography, photography, on-camera talent, and social media marketing.
Chaeli has continued to excel as an on-camera talent, building an impressive online presence across multiple social media platforms, with a following of over 50,000. This visibility led to collaborations with TVNZ and TikTok during Matariki celebrations, showcasing her versatility and connection with diverse audiences.
Today, Chaeli remains the Co-director of Aka Creative, delivering high-quality photography and videography services to her communities while continuing to inspire and connect through her work in media and broadcasting.