THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ITS TIME TO VOTE SAVE BLOWHOLE FM...

Goodmorning Fellow New Zealanders and overseas friends.

Welcome to a fantastic Tuesday Morning..

Well maybe for you - though not for us here at Blowhole FM..

Since I spoke to you all last - many things have happened including the indication from the Ministry of economic Development That a replacement frequency has been found and all is to be well at this stage - for this I thank The Hon David Cuncliffe and his wonderful office as well as the Hon Steve Mahary's Office - together with some excellent people from within our govt's walls we are now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel...

The sad part is at 2 pm 27th September (yesterday) Four members of the MED's Radio spectrum management arrived here in Tauranga armed with a search warrant and seizure document dismantled and took Blowhole FM's Broadcast Rig with them now taking us off the air!!!

Not for long though - being central Kiwis we don't give up at 3 pm yesterday a replacement rig was set up and now back on the air - as mentioned previous WE WILL NOT GIVE UP!!!

The action taken by the MED has created quite a substantial uproar here in The Bay of Plenty - with protests being planned (not by Blowhole Officials rather our listeners) signwritten cars "Save Blowhole FM" are today being written (at the owners own costs).

This move has changed the history of this City and is continuing to do so.. Certainly not in a good way...

With Two fines incurred (both Paid) and now threats of court action against us for broadcasting on 106.4, although as intelligent people we understand there are rules to be adhered to - though at the end of the day - all we are doing is providing a non political New Zealand and international local music service - we do not make a profit and none of us receive a wage - hence to be further prosecuted for just trying to survive is really quite upsetting to both 10% of the population of The Bay of Plenty as well us!!

This is not some "plaything radio station" that a bunch of kids want to keep for their own fun - rather a very intricate part of the BOP community that at present Red Tape is disturbing - I not only ask though beg on behalf of the ten plus thousand people who have now responded to our plight PLEASE PLEASE HELP US SAVE BLOWHOLE FM!!!!!!

Again we thankyou for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this email to you - media coverage of this situation will restart today.

Have the most wonderful day all of you - thankyou for the wonderful jobs you all do in your positions and for the time and efforts you have all put into this situation to date.

I look forward to being able to send you better news in my next update..


Brent D Gilbert

Email your support to BLOWHOLE FM 97.4 TAURANGA blowholefm@xtra.co.nz