Manawatu People's Radio

24/12/2025

Tonight at 8pm on The Showcase, we'll be broadcasting the very first episode of Versions, our new show based on the Version audiobook project from Palmerston North City Library ! This first episode features work by Belinda Diepenheim, Sam Wyss, Julia Pratt, and Micaela Hallam.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/versions-ep-01, and follow the show online at mpr.nz/show/versions or wherever you get your podcasts!

A collection of excerpts from "Versions Tuaono". This week: "The Scapegoat" by Belinda Diepenheim, "Small Town/Vibes" by Sam Wyss, "Craving That Homely Feeling" by Julia Pratt, and "Dog Biscuit" by Micaela Hallam. Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand on Air.

23/12/2025

🎄✨ Happy Holidays from the CAMA whānau ✨🎄

If you’re heading off on a summer roadtrip around Aotearoa, take Community Access Media with you.

From Tāmaki Makaurau to Murihiku, our 12 access stations are sharing local stories, languages, music, and voices - by, for, and about their communities.

Tune in locally or listen online wherever the road takes you.

Ngā mihi nui and safe travels 💛

From North to South:
Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland - Planet FM 104.6.
Waikato, Hamilton - Free FM on 89FM.
Taranaki, New Plymouth - Access Radio Taranaki 104.4 FM.
Hawke’s Bay - Radio Hawke's Bay on 104.7FM
Manawatū, Palmerston North - Manawatu People's Radio on 999AM (please note AM only)
Wairarapa - Arrow FM 92.7FM
Te Whanganui a tara, Wellington - Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM
Kāpati Coast - Coast Access Radio
Te Tauihu, Top of the South - Fresh FM Te Tau Ihu on 104.8FM.
Ōtautahi, Christchurch - Plains Media on 96.9FM
Ōtepoti, Otago - OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media on 105.4FM
Murihiku, Southland - Radio Southland on 96.4FM.

21/12/2025

There's a brand new episode tonight on Manawatu People's Radio at 8pm (NZDT), and this week it's our annual Christmas special! Featuring Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Queen, Wham!, and more! Listen live at www.mpr.nz, or as a podcast at mpr.nz/show/The80sat8

19/12/2025

The first episode of the podcast/radio version goes out Wednesday night at 8pm, and will be available at www.mpr.nz/show/versions, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts!

The library's annual writing anthology Versions is an audiobook this year!
Soon you'll be able to hear it on air thanks to Manawatu People's Radio, and early in the new year it will be available as an e-audiobook via Libby.
Read more at the link below, and start planning what you're going to write for Versions in 2026!
www.citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/news/versions-audiobook

18/12/2025

On the final Featured Tracks for 2025, Hugh has a brand new local Christmas tune from Maeve, as well as new Kiwi music from Dick Move , Dropper Band, Fables , and CAITLIN Music !

Listen here: https://bit.ly/featured_tracks-19-12-25 or look for Hugh's Featured Tracks wherever pods are cast!

A quasi-weekly podcast comprised of all Hugh's featured tracks for the past week. This week: Dick Move - Shut Your Mouth, Maeve - Christmas Morning, Dropper - Anchor, Fables - Enough, Caitlin - Outline

18/12/2025

It's been a while.
Over the last couple of months, I have been managing my chronic illnesses alongside a variety of dramas - a small surgery, an ambulance trip to hospital, selling my house, the house I had lined up falling through, scrambling to find another accessible property, buying a new home with just 2 weeks left on our deadline, moving house.
It's been a time, but things are improving (after nearly a week, I finally have internet in my new space - yay!).
And now, we are firmly in the holiday season.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the Sick and Tired Aotearoa radio show / podcast. I really enjoyed putting together Season 1: 10 episodes. Feel free to listen to them here - www.mpr.nz/show/sickandtiredaotearoa

A massive thank you to the team at Manawatu People's Radio for making it easy to share our stories on the radio, and online.

I hope you all manage to have a relaxing holiday break, and look forward to bringing you Season 2 in February 2026.

15/12/2025

This morning on the Morning Show, Hugh caught up with the Tim Tams, who won the Bandquest prize for the best original song with their tune "Black Can"!

Listen here: https://bit.ly/morning_show-the_tim_tams and find the song at https://soundcloud.com/user-410604323

14/12/2025

Brand new episode tonight on Manawatu People's Radio at 8pm (NZDT). This week: Jason Donovan, Jimmy Barnes, Gloria Estefan, Julian Lennon, and more! Listen live at www.mpr.nz, or as a podcast at mpr.nz/show/The80sat8

14/12/2025

Admittedly, I love me a novelty instrumental cover (ask me about my surf rock habit) but I've never really understood the cringe that greets the mention of ska music. Part of this is probably being a Kiwi - we have a slightly different relationship with the pop-punk side of ska music than Americans do - but I've always felt like people who didn't appreciate the genre just hadn't found the good stuff yet.

Elana and John (last heard on the Hair Metal episode) return to the show to give me an American perspective, and we chat about the high points of ska and how to find your way in as a newcomer.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/res_rec-85 on Manawatu People's Radio or wherever you get your podcasts!

12/12/2025

11/12/2025

This week, on the second last Featured Tracks for the year, Hugh plays new Kiwi music from Earth Tongue , The Black Seeds , Bic Runga , Pool House, and Capricore !

Listen here: https://bit.ly/featured_tracks-12-12-25 or find "Hugh's Featured Tracks" wherever you get your podcasts!

A quasi-weekly podcast comprised of all Hugh's featured tracks for the past week. This week: Earth Tongue, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, Pool House, Capricore