| Broadcast area | New Zealand, Online |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Te Ratongo Irirangi o te Motu |
| Frequency | 1179AM |
| First air date | April 1996-April2005 |
| Format | Talk radio |
| Language | Māori |
| Owner | Ngāti Whātua |
| Website | Official Ruia Mai website |
Ruia Mai was a Māori language radio station based in Auckland, New Zealand. Ruia Mai was started by Mai FM owners Ngāti Whātua (one of the largest Maori tribes in New Zealand) in 1996.[1] For a period, the station was broadcast live on the Internet as well.
It won various awards for best Māori broadcast at the New Zealand Radio Awards in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 and was the first radio station in New Zealand to broadcast only in Māori.[1]
In 2004 the station went off air and was replaced by The Voice of Samoa. This was due to Te Māngai Pāho, a government agency, awarding a large news and current affairs contract to a rival bilingual Māori/English radio station, Radio Waatea.[1] At the time of closure, Ruia Mai had been employing 15 staff.[1]
Mai Media Limited are continue to maintain Ruia Mai's trademark and some skeleton staff while the ultimate future of Ruia Mai is under discussion.[1]