For the first time in a decade, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s international radio service – ABC Radio Australia – has returned to Rarotonga on 91.5FM.

The establishment of the new FM transmission service marks the latest milestone in the continued expansion of ABC Radio Australia’s broadcast footprint, which has nearly doubled in the past two years. 

ABC Radio Australia commemorated the historic new service with assistance from the Australian High Commission in the Cook Islands, hosting a series of events including an official launch for Rarotonga’s cultural, political and business leaders and a public meet and greet with ABC Radio Australia’s Nesian Footy presenter Tinirau Arona, who has Cook Islands heritage and travelled to Rarotonga for the launch.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are thrilled to have ABC Radio Australia back on-air in Rarotonga, as part of our ongoing commitment to expand our FM transmission footprint. This year has been a tremendous period of growth for ABC Radio Australia, with the addition of nine new transmission locations across the Indo-Pacific region and we’re looking forward to welcoming additional locations in the coming months.”

Manager of Audio Output and Strategy Justine Kelly, who manages the ABC Radio Australia network, said: “After almost a decade off-air, we warmly welcome communities across Rarotonga to return to the ABC Radio Australia family. We invite new listeners to meet our incredible lineup of programs and presenters who bring high-quality content to our audiences every day and we look forward to connecting Rarotonga and the Cook Islands with stories from right across the Pacific.” 

ABC Radio Australia will continue to expand to more locations across the Pacific region in coming months, with plans to launch its FM service in Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Buka, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. 

Ways to listen: If you’re in Rarotonga, listen to ABC Radio Australia on 91.5FM.

In the Pa Enua, and elsewhere in the Pacific, there are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations, or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online. Release