Farsi language radio show nominated for NZ award
A radio show produced in Canterbury has become the first Farsi language programme to be nominated for the NZ Radio Awards.
Radio Toranj, which is broadcast for 45 minutes every fortnight on Plains FM in Canterbury, and is also available as a podcast, was nominated for best access radio programme at the 2022 NZ Radio Awards.
The show includes contributions from Farsi speaking presenters from across New Zealand and the world. The Farsi language is predominantly spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Radio Toranj coordinator Hero Modares said the show was created in 2017 as a way to provide information for newcomers to New Zealand. Contributors from Ashburton, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, as well as overseas, report on everything from health, arts and culture, and travel.
‘‘We want people to feel included so they can happily settle in New Zealand, but also still keep their cultural roots alive,’’ she said.
‘‘Some amazing people have made a huge effort to improve the show over time and it wouldn’t have been possible without them all’’.
Modares said she was thrilled the show had been nominated.
‘‘It was a nice surprise,’’ she said.
‘‘I had to read the text 10 times to fully digest it.’’
She said the show was run by volunteers and she spent about six hours editing, hosting, mixing and mastering each one.
Plains FM station manager Nicki Reece said the award nomination was well deserved.
‘‘They have put so much effort into the show over so many years. They are all busy people doing things in their own time for the community.
‘‘It is a huge encouragement to get to a certain level of excellence and that is what they have done.’’
The 2022 NZ Radio Awards event will be livestreamed from Auckland on Thursday from 5pm.