Canterbury's community access station, Plains FM first went to air on leap day, 29 February 1988, from the Christchurch Polytechnic campus, and has broadcast on 96.9 FM ever since. Governed by the Canterbury Communications Trust and part-funded by NZ On Air, it hands the microphone to the public: more than 100 programmes a week in around 15 languages, from migrant and faith communities to health and disability groups. In April 2025, after 37 years, it rebranded as Plains Media to reflect its digital reach.
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