UMA Broadcasting Ltd was established in 1999 by the Urban Māori Authorities, namely the Manukau Urban Maori News Headlines Authority and Te Whanau a Waipareira Charitable Trust, as an entity to seek, foster and develop opportunities for urban Mâori in broadcasting. Since its inception UMA Broadcasting has set up the Māori radio station in Tamaki Makaurau Te Reo Irirangi o Waatea (Waatea 603am) and is a key stakeholder with the 96.6 FM frequency which George FM broadcast off in Tamaki.
Within the context of this statement, UMA Broadcasting recognizes its main imperative to foster amongst Maori Podcast and non-Māori positive attitudes towards, and accurate beliefs about the Māori language and living culture, so that Māori-English bilingualism becomes a valued part of New Zealand society. The organisation also recognises and acknowledges that English is the first language for the vast majority of Māori and therefore we have made a conscious decision to programme a radio station that meets the needs of everyone in English and Te Reo Māori.
The company holds the frequency and management rights to Auckland’s only Māori radio station Radio Waatea 603am. In addition under its Waatea News and Current Affairs service the company delivers the National Māori Language News and Current Affairs service to the iwi radio network, a collective of 21 independent stations across the country. It also provides bilingual news and current affairs products to the iwi network and 4 Community Access stations.