Radio Control 99.4FMRadio Control 99.4FM

Radio Control has broadcast from the Student Centre at Massey University since 1980, and calls itself the last protection against the evils of commercial radio — which, in the Manawatū, is not much of an exaggeration: it is the only alternative station there is. Volunteer hosts carry the weekdays, and evenings and weekends go to special-interest shows from every genre imaginable. Te Tira Ahu Pae, NZ On Air and the university keep it funded, and it sits in the Student Radio Network alongside the country's other campus stations.

Policy does some of the work: a minimum of forty percent New Zealand music across the whole schedule, and a minimum of twenty percent left to the host's own choice. The Local Show and the Kiwi Big Breakfast go all-NZ, the NZ Top Ten lands every week, and live sessions with emerging acts are cut at The Stomach, a community music space. Guitars do most of the talking: indie rock, punk and lo-fi home recordings.