Robert Khan –
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
-Martin Luther King Jr
Twenty years have been a long journey for the Tarana family.
Along the way, we have encountered different types of experiences, learnt from all of them and created a successful Radio Brand.
Tarana is a brand that has been built with contribution from a lot of people.
While not all are still part of our brand, we would like to acknowledge their role in developing Tarana.
Unique Culture
The culture built around our organisation is unique and one that equates to the concept of brotherhood in great sporting teams. It is about playing for each other, never giving up and always giving more than what is required.
Successful teams like the All Blacks thrive on this concept and I can assure you that Team Tarana is no different in their approach.
Our comradeship is admired by many and difficult for others to emulate.
Our current team is full of energy, experience, loyalty and creativity.
We work with passion and enjoy our environment.
Unique Brand
Unlike other Radio Stations in New Zealand and internationally, it is our Tarana family’s solidarity, goodwill and faith that define the Tarana brand.
As the Executive Board member of our industry body Radio Broadcasters Association, I have the opportunity to represent the independent Radio stations in New Zealand.
When I engage with other independents Radio brands, I realise how strong Tarana is in terms of ratings, delivery, commercial success and engagement with community.
While other brands have tried to emulate our feats, their failure strengthens my view of what great work our team is doing.
Unique Business
Over the years, operators from different industries with no Radio experience have engaged in Radio, thinking that it is easy and that they can make a difference with their ideas and resources.
Unfortunately, the results that they have recorded have been self-explanatory.
These operators fail to realise that Radio is a business that involves community and commercial reality.
It is not about the perks and glamour of media. Respect in our Industry is earned through brand success. Tarana has achieved this through its comuunity and business partnership model.
Unique Award
Tarana has gained this respect through our achievements at various levels over the last 20 years. These achievements are too many to list in this article but one that remains fixed in my memory is the Radio Industry Award for Services to the Indian Radio in New Zealand. This award is the only one presented by the Radio Broadcasters Association to any Broadcaster since inception.
Being recognised by your peers marks the success of the Tarana.
2015 has been a big year for Tarana and the Indian Community.
Being the pulse of the Indian community, we are committed to providing the best in in News, views, information and entertainment.
We worked successfully with our reporters and partner BBC to deliver coverage of the general election held in India last year and had our own extensive on-the-ground coverage of the historic general election in Fiji (September 17, 2014) and New Zealand (September 20, 2014). Leaders from Fiji and New Zealand are among our regular guests sharing their vision and views on issues that concern all of us.
Unique Coverage
Prime Minister John Key, Labour leader Andrew Little, New Zealand First Leader Winstone Peters and Greens Co-Leader James Shaw continue their Tarana slots on Sundays at 5 pm.
The commitment of these leaders is well accepted by our audience, reflecting the quality of programming that our news team provides.
On the sporting front, we had our stamp of professionalism and thorough knowledge of Cricket as we covered the Cricket World Cup matches held in Australia and New Zealand. Our dedicated teams are always at all major soccer and rugby matches, especially those held in New Zealand and Fiji during their respective seasons.
Again, we are the only accredited Indian media to cover all Super 15 Rugby and All Black tests in 2014. We were on the World Sevens Rugby Circuit internationally, and continue to cover extensively local community sports like Soccer, Rugby League and Cricket.
Unique Partnership
As a part of our business engagement focus, we sponsor two major events, organised by our print synergy partner Indian Newslink.
Radio Tarana has been the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in Marketing’ of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards. We believe that our sponsorship adds value to one of the most important areas of any business, namely, Marketing.
These events are milestone events in our calendar and we are proud to be key stakeholders in promoting this with our No 1 print provider, Indian Newslink. We will continue to support these events as it engages our important business community and creates a platform for professional engagement in the Indian Business community. We are proud of our association with this Awards scheme, instituted to recognise and reward achievers in our Indian business community. It is a matter of pride that many of the winners of the individual categories and the Supreme Business of the Year Award are Radio Tarana customers.
Unique Lecture
Accountability, Integrity and Transparency are the factors that spell Good Governance and these were the qualities that distinguish Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, former Governor General of New Zealand. These are also the founding principles of Radio Tarana since our inception 20 years ago.
We therefore found ourselves to besides Indian Newslink when the publication launched the Indian Newslink Sir Anand Satyanand Lecture in July 2011, before Sir Anand retired from the post of Governor General. Apart from bringing guests to the event, we became the Title Sponsor of this unique Lecture with ANZ Bank in 2013 and with Relianz Forex Limited in 2014 and this year.
Unique Engagement
Our community engagement programme has been on high-octane mode for the past two months, with our own brand of festivals and special programmes, all of which are free to public.
‘Festival of India,’ and ‘Tarana Diwali’ were held again this year, with the Tarana’s motto of ‘Our Events are for you.’
Our Diwali engagements were in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. We were also the major sponsor of the Waitakere Diwali.
Besides these major events, we have been involved in other programmes, which would also give us the opportunity to engage with our community.
Unique Interactive Strategy
On the interactive front, Radio Tarana has a strong digital strategy.
We continue to be the only Indian media with over 210,000 fans on our Facebook Page, with high daily interaction from our followers.
Our Twitter Account is building well and our website enjoys high traffic.
Tarana was again the first local Indian Radio Station to launch our own smart phone app.
This platform delivery mode has been a huge success, defining what the future of listening radio holds.
Our Tarana is gesture of solidarity and that is why we are Number 1.
Being the King of Indian Media for 20 years is better than being the King in the TV sensation Games of Throne.
We will always be at your service.
Robert Khan is the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Radio Tarana based in Auckland.
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- Hindi film star Jackie Shroff at Tarana Diwali in Auckland on October 31, 2015
- Tens of thousands of Jackie Shroff fans at Manukau Sports Bowl on October 31, 2015
- Popular film actor Sunil Shetty at Tarana’s Festival of India on September 20, 2015
- Zara Khan welcomes Sunil Shetty at Vodafone Events Centre on September 20, 2015
(Pictures by Hemant Parikh, Radio Tarana)
