Six commercial stations – including three in the Eastern Bay – have surpassed the threshold of playing more than 20 percent New Zealand music over the airwaves in the past year.

Auckland-based nationwide network NiuFM continues to lead the way with an impressive 54.13 percent of Kiwi music but Whakatāne based Media Bay of Plenty stations Radio 1XX, Bayrock and Q97 are also making an impact.

Bayrock and Radio 1XX both increased their New Zealand music airplay for the second year running, playing 37.29 and 28.85 percent, local content respectively. Their sister station Q97 saw a slight drop to 21.06 percent down from 25.64 percent the previous year, but remained well above the 20 percent Voluntary Music Code.

Owner of Media Bay of Plenty and Radio 1XX programmer Sarah Galbraith said they did not go into the year trying to increase the amount of Kiwi music played – “it just happens”.

“It’s easy because it’s good music.”

Every year, NZ On Air awards those stations who play more than 20 percent New Zealand music in the previous year.

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 the recent NZ On Air Music Showcase in Auckland.