RNZ Concert fans show their support

RNZ Concert supporters who parked themselves outside Parliament to celebrate the station and protest for its future, received an apology from a politician.

Yesterday, thousands of supporters celebrated the station’s 87th birthday, listened to live classical performances and heard from politicians and entertainers about its importance.

Radio NZ met a backlash when it recently announced it intended to give Concert FM’s frequency to a new youth-oriented music channel. The plan included turning RNZ Concert into an automated service and axing its presenters.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson withdrew the plan.

Speaking to the crowd, associate minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant Robertson said the only proposals the Government was interested in were ones that built on the strengths of Concert FM. He apologised to the station’s supporters and said he was upset generations were being pitted against each other.

‘‘All generations of New Zealanders

deserve to have commercially free, ad-free options. There has never been a more important time for public broadcasting.’’

The Government wanted to work with RNZ Concert supporters and the country would ‘‘continue to have Concert FM we can be incredibly proud of’’, he said.

The Topp Twins, MCs for the event alongside Wellington Paranormal’s Karen O’Leary, said: ‘‘If we lose things like this, then we lose the arts.’’ The assurances supporters had received so far had been sketchy and people wanted certainty.

Supporters included Xavier Krause and Esiteri Narawa, both 18, and Ben Prendergast, 17.

Krause said the proposal change the station was cruel.

‘‘There are not many channels that play orchestral music.’’

The trio are part of the NZ Secondary Students Choir which Prendergast said he heard about through the station.

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