The new year has seen some new and familiar faces on New Zealand radio plus the return of Simon Barnett to More FM after leaving the station in 2018 to become primary caregiver for his wife.
For New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) K’Lee has joined Azura Lane and Charlie Pome’e on Flava (K’Lee, Azura and Charlie left to right main picture) and Manaia Stewart has joined Jeremy Wells on Radio Hauraki after Jeremy’s long time co-host Matt Heath moved to Newstalk ZB last year to replace Simon Barnett.
K’Lee is already well known to Flava’s listeners, having started her radio career with the station.
She said:
“After taking a break from radio, I’m coming back to where it all started for me at Flava. I’m eager, refreshed and ready to have some great laughs with Charlie and Azura. These are all my jams and music I’m so familiar with. They’re songs that I grew up singing to, so the vibes will be high. I’m excited to get to know our awesome listeners and be out in the community – I feel really honoured to be a part of the Flava whānau.”
Manaia too has been a regular contributor on Radio Hauraki over the past few years, saying:
“I’m fizzed to work with a master of the radio game in Jeremy Wells on an iconic station like Radio Hauraki. After a far-reaching search, I’m excited they’ve hired the guy from across the hallway!”
You can listen to K’Lee and Manaia on Flava and Radio Hauraki on iHeartRadio.
Meanwhile Simon Barnett is back on air with MediaWorks‘ station More FM after a six-year break joining The More FM Breakfast Club alongside Lana Cochrane-Searle, Adam Percival and Paul Ego.
Simon left More FM after two decades with the station to look after his wife Jodi after she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Jodi died in October 2023.
Simon returned to radio taking up the on-air Drive role on Newstalk ZB with James Daniels before returning ‘home’ to More FM this week, telling The Press he was seeking to find joy in his life again, while also sharing the lighter side of the journey in station promotions, like the below.