Rather than competing for the airwaves, radio stations Paekakariki 88.2FM and Beach 106.3 FM are joining forces for the love of a music medium undergoing a revival: the record. 

Beach FM are selling the majority of their record collection, amassed over decades, at the first ever Village Vinyl Fair, organised by Paekākāriki Informed Community, at Paekākāriki Bowling Club 12-4pm, Saturday 15 February. 

The fair will have record dealers from around the Wellington region alongside locals with impressive collections to sell, with the public also able to enjoy live Paekākāriki FM DJ sets  with the Bowler bar open for refreshments. 

Paekākāriki Informed Community runs Paekākāriki FM and village website Paekākāriki.nz 

“It’s predicted that 2020 worldwide will see the sale of vinyl outstrip CDs for the first time since 1986,” says Mark Amery, who is organising the event with Vinyl and Proud DJs Val Little and  Pat McIntosh. “Records have been having quite the resurgence. At the same time local radio stations are becoming even more community empowered by being able to access music digitally and broadcast online.”

Beach FM are moving their collection on because that music is now at their fingertips.

“We really love the idea that these records can find a home back in the Kapiti community that have listened to them,” says Beach FM Station Manager Tee Cameron.

This inaugural Vinyl Fair is being followed from 7.30pm by a dance with Paekākāriki FM’s DJs. Tickets are $10 and available from the Paekākāriki Fruit and Vege Shop and Bowling Club.

Launched in 1998, Beach FM celebrated its 21st birthday last year, informing and entertaining communities on the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua on a single radio frequency 106.3FM – live seven days a week. 

Paekakariki 88.2FM is celebrating its seventh birthday this month. This community radio station has 35 radio shows hosted by community members and an active schools programme, with many budding young DJs. Co-organisers Val Little and Pat McIntish run Vinyl and Proud, a radio show dedicated to introducing people to a love of vinyl.

For more information contact Mark Amery 0273566128

Announcing a time honoured tradition our January special radio programme where every day is dedicated to a different Paekākāriki 88.2FM show 9am to 11pm, preceded by – for the tamariki here and visiting – an hour of stories and songs for the young presented by Anna-Marie O’Brien, Across the Universe every day!

Here’s the first five day’s programme!

Wednesday 1st Jan – Garage Sale Funk All Day – Reply of 2018 all day live show

Thursday 2nd Jan – The Wildwood Sessions

Friday 3rd Jan – The Indignz Sessions

Sat 4th Jan – The Vinyl and Proud Show

Sun 5th Jan – Classical Futures. 

Ranging over a more than 40 year incredibly prolific pop career we present an hour of my favourite Elvis Costello where I avoid the greatest hits and dive into the fulsome albums.

Congrats to some new upsteppers to the trust of Paekakariki Informed Community Inc (or PICI for short), the organising body for radio station Paekakariki.fm and community web platform Paekakariki.nz

Renwick Wright is our new Chair, replacing Paul Radich after three years or more of service. Renwick vacates the Programme Manager position for the radio station, a role that has been taken up by programmer and former secretary James Albertson. Which leads to… station DJ Emma McLaughlin joining as Secretary. Siggy Woolloff meanwhile, who has started working as Account Manager for Paekakariki.nz, has stepped into the Treasurer role. Siggy replaces Mark Coote (DJ and website Illustrations Editor) who has outlasted all with his trusty ledger book as treasurer for PICI, for almost seven years.

They join current PICI committee members Mark Amery, Daniel Bar Evan, Mark Coote, Chrissi Johnson, Val Little, Don Polly, and Paul Radich. With much thanks to departing members Amelia Nurse and Stefan Wolf. Thanks also to Paekakariki.FM’s technical director Mike Gibson, studio builder Francis Mills, school parent liason Caroline Wilson, our 50 station DJs, parent helpers and our student DJS.

Aug 25 we had a packed studio with Prue as presenter and Renwick and Francis on the buttons, while Susy also participated. Emmet Sutherland (hope I have the surname right) played live two wonderful songs of his own with guitar while Allie Webber encouraged us to give small amounts to the Give a Little page to erect in the park a memorial seat in honour of John Porter. And Dave Johnston, chair of the Railway Museum Trust celebrated its AGM, imminent reopening, and forthcoming events including the Sept 15 History day at St Peters, focussed on Paekakariki sports teams, clubs and events. Listen for the next 2 weeks until the next great programme.