Mai FM is New Zealand’s largest urban contemporary radio network that promotes Māori language and culture and broadcasts hip-hop and rhythm and blues. It is based in Auckland and is available in ten markets across the country. The network targets people between the ages of 15 and 34 and reaches approximately 382,300 different listeners each week.
History
Mai FM began broadcasting in Auckland in July 1992. The first breakfast host was Robert Rakete, now a presenter on The Breeze. It was run by one of the largest Maori tribes in New Zealand, Ngati Whātua and Mai Media. Between 1996 and 2005, Mai FM also operated a second station, Ruia Mai, at 1179am in Auckland with all programming in Māori.
From 1996 to 2001, Mai FM could be heard in Christchurch on 90.5 FM through an agreement between Ngāti Whātua and Kāi Tahu iwi. The Christchurch station was originally called 90.5 Tahu FM, with local radio programming and formatted to Mai FM Auckland music. In late 2001, the joint agreement ended and the Mai FM branding of the Christchurch station ceased, reverting to its original name of Tahu FM. In 1996, Ngāti Watwoa also entered into an agreement with Te Arawa iwi to broadcast Mai FM in Rotorua on 96.7 FM, which over the years changed to 99.1 and is now broadcast on 105.5.
On February 29, 2008, it was announced that MediaWorks New Zealand had bought the station and would take over on March 31, 2008. Following the MediaWorks takeover, there were significant changes in programming and branding, and the Mai FM network was created.
The Mai Hot 1000 The Mai Hot 1000 is one of the station’s annual countdown functions. The order of the chart, including artists and songs, is voted on by listeners on the station’s official website. The countdown continues daily for three weeks, which began in 2013 as The Mai Hot 500 according to their official Instagram page. In 2014, it was renamed The Mai Hot 900 and expanded to 300 songs in 2020. Then in 2022, 200 songs were removed from it due to the launch of The Mai Hip Hop 100 and The Mai RnB 100 Countdowns.