A british radio and TV star and now Matakana resident has started up an online radio network with over 100 community stations to help restart things in the wake of Covid-19.

Noel Edmonds hosted Deal or no Deal in the UK, and had his own show, Noel's house party, before upping sticks and relocating to Matakana last year. 

The new project, called ‘Positivity Radio’ has 100 stations, each for a different geographic point in New Zealand. What content is played and promoted on the stations is dependent on local interests, which makes it a great way for local businesses to get their names back out there after the setbacks of lockdown.

"Here in Matakana, it will be the community association, in Warkworth we are talking to the college, which I think is an incredibly exciting dimension to this," Edmonds told Stuff.

The non-commercial nature of the stations means that businesses don't have to pay to advertise. The stations play a mix of music, positive messages, and advertisements.

There are also stations targeted to the overseas audience, promoting New Zealand as a travel destination in order to give the tourism industry a much needed boost when the borders reopen. 

The stations are free for whichever communities want them, and their three ambitions are clear: uniting our communities, assisting our businesses, and supporting our people. To find out more about Positivity Radio and to listen, see here.