View source for Mai FM

{{Short description|New Zealand radio station}}
{{distinguish|Mai TV}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name      = Mai FM
| logo      = Mai FM logo.svg
| area      = [[New Zealand]]
| airdate   = {{Start date|1992|7}}
| branding  = "The Hottest Hip-hop and R&B"
| frequency = [[#Frequencies|88.6 FM - 106.8 FM]]
| webcast   = [https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm Live stream]
| format    = [[Urban contemporary]]
| owner     = [[MediaWorks New Zealand]]
| website   = [https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm Official website]
}}
'''Mai FM''' is New Zealand's largest [[urban contemporary]] radio network, promoting [[Māori language]] and [[Māori culture|culture]] and broadcasting [[hip hop]] and [[rhythm and blues]]. It is located in [[Auckland]], and is available in twelve markets around the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=MediaWorks Corporate |url=http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Radio/OurRadioStations.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209163405/http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Radio/OurRadioStations.aspx |archive-date=9 February 2014}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=January 2025}} The network targets 15- to 34-year-olds, and reaches an estimated 460,600 different listeners each week.<ref>GFK SURVEY 1, 2024 TOTAL NZ 10+ AUDIENCE</ref>

==History==

Mai FM began broadcasting to Auckland in July 1992. The first breakfast host was Robert Rakete, now a host on [[The Breeze (New Zealand radio station)|The Breeze]]. It was run by one of the largest Māori iwi in New Zealand, [[Ngāti Whātua]],<ref name="Cattermole">{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1558/prbt.v15i1.17807| issn = 1038-2909| volume = 15| issue = 1| pages = 67–87| last = Cattermole| first = Jennifer| title = Cultural protectionism in a deregulated and diversifying broadcasting environment: Getting more Maori music on air| journal = Perfect Beat| date = 2014}}</ref> and Mai Media. Between 1996 and 2005 Mai FM also operated a second station, [[Ruia Mai]], on 1179 AM in Auckland with all programming in the Māori language.

From 1996 to 2001 Mai FM could be heard in Christchurch on 90.5 FM, due to an agreement between [[Ngāti Whātua]] and the [[Ngāi Tahu|Kāi Tahu]] iwi. The Christchurch station was originally [[Tahu FM|90.5 Tahu FM]], with local on air talent, and formatted with the Mai FM Auckland music. In late 2001 the joint agreement ended and the Mai FM branding of the station in [[Christchurch]] ceased, reverting to its original name of Tahu FM. In 1996 Ngāti Whatua also came to an agreement with the [[Te Arawa]] iwi to broadcast Mai FM in Rotorua on 96.7 FM, over the years the frequency changed to 99.1 and is now broadcasting on 105.5.
[[File:Mai FM Logo.jpg|thumb|right|Previous logo with slogan.]]
On 29 February 2008 it was announced that [[MediaWorks New Zealand]] had bought the station and would take it over on 31 March 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4420875a13.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910125144/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4420875a13.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=MediaWorks buys Mai FM |publisher=stuff.co.nz |access-date=2008-02-29 }}</ref> Since the MediaWorks' takeover there has been significant programming and branding changes as well as the creation of the Mai FM network.

== Current hosts ==
*Tegan Yorwarth, Fame Teu, and Nickson Clark on Mai Morning Crew <ref>https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm/shows/mai-morning-crew</ref>
*Storme Hitaua on Mai Days <ref>https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm/shows/mai-days</ref>
*Desch Toalepai and Randy Sjafrie on Mai Home Run <ref>https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm/shows/mai-home-run</ref>
*Nae Cunningham on Mai Nights <ref>https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm/shows/mai-nights</ref>

== Programming ==
Mai FM is a networked station with all shows and music broadcasting from its Auckland studios.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maifm.co.nz/home/shows.html |title = Mai - The Hottest Hip Hop & RnB}}</ref>

'''The Mai Hot 1000'''<ref>[https://www.rova.nz/win/the-mai-hot-1000]</ref> is one of the station's annual countdown features. The chart order, including which artists and songs feature, is voted by listeners on the station's official website. The countdown runs on weekdays over a three-week period started in 2013 as The Mai Hot 500 according to their official Instagram page. It was renamed The Mai Hot 900 in 2014 and expanded by 300 songs in 2020. Then in 2022 it had 200 songs removed due to the launch of The Mai Hip Hop 100 and The Mai RnB 100 Countdowns.

=== Winners ===
*2025 - [[Kendrick Lamar]] - "[[Not Like Us]]"
*2023 - [[2pac]] - "[[California Love]]"
*2022 - [[J. Cole]] - "[[No Role Modelz]]"
*2021 - [[TLC (group)|TLC]] - "[[No Scrubs]]"
*2020 - [[2pac]] - "[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]]"
*2019 - [[The Notorious B.I.G]] - "[[Juicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)|Juicy]]"
*2018 - [[2pac]] - "[[California Love]]"
*2017 - [[Bone Thugs N Harmony]] - "[[Tha Crossroads]]"
*2016 - [[2pac]] - "[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]]"
*2015 - [[2pac]] - "[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]]"
*2014 - [[2pac]] - "[[California Love]]"
*2013 - [[2pac]] - "[[Changes (Tupac Shakur song)|Changes]]"

==Stations==
[[File:Map of Mai FM frequencies.png|thumb|Mai FM stations operating in 2016.]]

===Frequencies===

These are the frequencies for Mai FM:<ref name="MaiF">{{cite web | title = Mai FM Frequency Listing | url = https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm | access-date = 17 February 2025}}</ref>

{{div col}}
* [[Whangārei]] - 107.3 FM
* [[Auckland]] - 88.6 FM
* [[Waikato]] - 105.8 FM
* [[Tauranga]] - 96.6 FM
* [[Rotorua]] - 105.5 FM
* [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]] - 89.3 FM
* [[Hawke's Bay]] - 105.5 FM
* [[Whanganui]] - 96.0 FM
* [[Manawatū-Whanganui|Manawatu]] - 97.0 FM
* [[Wellington]] - 100.5 FM
{{div col end}}

== Ratings ==
As of May 2025, Mai FM has the seventh-highest share of the New Zealand commercial radio market at 5.8%. It is the highest-rated station that does not serve all thirteen major markets, being absent from Chistchurch, Dunedin, Taranaki, Nelson, and Southland.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Surveys & Research |url=https://www.rba.co.nz/surveys-research |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Radio Broadcasters Association |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mai FM commercial radio ratings (May 2025)<ref name=":0" />
!Market
!Station share
!Change
!Rank
|-
|'''All markets'''
|'''5.8'''
|'''{{fluc|0.1}}'''
|'''7'''
|-
|Auckland
|10.8
|{{fluc|+1.3}}
|2
|-
|Wellington
|6.0
|{{fluc|-0.7}}
|5
|-
|Waikato
|4.2
|{{fluc|-1.4}}
|10
|-
|Tauranga
|4.1
|{{fluc|0.7}}
|11
|-
|Manawatū
|8.1
|{{fluc|0.7}}
|5
|-
|Hawke's Bay
|5.5
|{{fluc|-3.3}}
|9
|-
|Northland
|2.2
|{{fluc|-0.9}}
|12
|-
|Rotorua
|6.4
|{{fluc|0.4}}
|7
|}

==References==

<references />

== External links ==
*[https://www.rova.nz/radio/mai-fm Mai FM official website]

{{MediaWorks (New Zealand)}}
{{Radio in New Zealand}}

[[Category:Māori culture in Auckland]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Auckland]]
[[Category:New Zealand radio networks]]
[[Category:Urban contemporary radio stations]]
[[Category:Māori mass media]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1992]]