Local Radio Station Rebrands After 37 Years

Canterbury’s Plains Media, formerly known as Plains FM, has changed its name to better align itself with its current role in the media landscape. 

Station manager, Nicki Reece, says they’ve outgrown their name as they are much more than just an FM station.

“Because we’re across different platforms, that’s why we’ve decided to embrace the name media, but keep our geographical name.

“The name that we now have is what we actually do.”

The station gathered at the Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre on Friday night to unveil the revamped name, logo, and website. Many of the station's multicultural broadcasters and supporters were in attendance. 

Among the attendees was the host of ‘Hola Latino’, Nicolás Reyes Cortés. He has been involved at the station since he was 15. 

"It's just been very cool to see how it's evolving and changing and adapting, just like every media has to do.

"It's cool that it was our time now."

After getting his New Zealand residency, Reyes Cortés became the production assistant at Plains. He now supports other broadcasters setting up their own shows.  

“I'm always so happy to help them get started.

"Just being here, for me, gave like a new path to my life."

Established in 1988, its 96.9 frequency spreads from the Lyttelton Harbour to the mid-Canterbury plains, broadcasting over 100 shows in 15 languages. Its podcasts have an international reach.

“Because we’re so diverse, we really need to reflect the content that we make on different platforms,” says Reece.   

She hopes the rebrand ensures that the station has a part in the future of media. 

“Media reform is underway, so we want to ensure our position within the media landscape in New Zealand is protected.

“We think we are vital, and we know we have an impact."