Waipa¯’s stories to be told on air
A Te Awamutu man is going to air with a new radio show spotlighting Waipa¯ District locals and their stories.
Dan Armstrong, a former Te Awamutu College student, is behind the mic of the new radio show, The Locals, which he hopes will go to air by the end of June.
Dan says there are many interesting people living in Waipa¯ and their stories shape the community.
On his show he will be in conversation with local principals, journalists and teenagers to hear their stories and views on social issues like mental health.
The Locals will consist of 12 episodes which will be broadcasted once a week from Hamilton community radio station Free FM.
In the first couple of episodes, Dan speaks with a local about their experience with the mental health system in a small town.
With another person he discusses what it’s like to be a teenager in a rural community.
The show is expected to be 12 episodes, but Dan hopes that if it goes well he can extend the show.
Dan hopes his new radio venture will encourage other small communities around the country to follow suit and highlight their local residents through storytelling.
“I hope that it promotes to other towns that there are great people who have great stories in their community,” Dan says.
“I think they should use the radio platform to share these stories.‘
Dan is no newcomer to radio, and in 2017 he partnered with Hamilton man Tony Stevens to host a radio show, also broadcasted from Free FM.
The pair launched The Multiverse, a radio segment that talked about all things nerdy.