RNZ Concert has a special place in the hearts of many New Zealanders of all ages. Please don’t take it away.

The proposed listening options for RNZ Concert won’t work. It’s dreadful to listen to classical music on AM. And many RNZ Concert listeners don’t have their computer setup to listen to music, or their TV, or in their car.

This affects 170,000 regular listeners, but it also affects their whānau and friends, who care about them. We all deserve better.

 

We understand that young people deserve non-commercial radio too. Why should they have to listen to noisy adverts and endless interruptions? It’s long overdue.

But surely RNZ can provide FM services to more than just one music type?

Of course it will cost more, but we think it's important.

 

Governments of other developed countries with similar populations do much more for their people:

In Ireland the government provides classical, youth music, and indigenous language FM channels (plus electronic, alternative, children’s  and many more on digital radio)

Denmark and Finland are similar.

In Norway there’s all that plus channels for Jazz, Folk and sport.

And of course, developed countries with greater populations, like the UK and Australia, provide their citizens with even more.

 

So please, Mr Faafoi.

Here’s a chance to improve public media for all music-lovers, keeping the long-standing and proud legacy of RNZ Concert alive while building an exciting, long-overdue youth network.

Please fund RNZ to provide both RNZ Concert AND the new youth network on FM.