Wellington-based station Radio Active will remain on the airwaves thanks to a band of generous supporters.
A charitable trust has been formed to run the radio station, subject to regulatory consents and shareholder approval.
Trust spokesman Ross Steele says they've been "extremely heartened by the huge number of people and organisations expressing goodwill and support towards Radio Active which had been an icon in the Wellington music and cultural scene for the past 40 years".
The station has a listenership of 45,000 people a week and an online audience of 150,000 through its online streaming service.
It began as the student radio station for Victoria University of Wellington Students Association (VUWSA) in 1977, broadcasting on an AM frequency. Broadcaster John Campbell and comedian Dai Henwood are some of the presenters who got their start at the station.
Radio Active is not quite in the clear yet, and a crowd funding campaign is planned to allow listeners to demonstrate their support for the station and "place it on a more secure footing moving forward."
However producer Jennifer Kyle says "I am confident Radio Active will continue and thrive."
Radio Active gave special thanks to San Fran, Havana Coffee Works, Southern Cross Bar, Havana Bar, Good Fortune Coffee, Mayor Justin Lester and Wellington City Council, Fat Freddy's Drop, Rocket Fuel and a number of private donors for their support in keeping the station afloat.
Joe Sloane has spent years with the station both on air and behind the scenes, and is stoked about the news which clears up speculation about the station's future.
"I cannot express how happy I am that Active gets to keep on going!
"There is still a lot of work to do I'm sure by those who are helping Active continue, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!"
Sloane says working at the station has taught him about broadcasting, music, and hosting shows over the years and it even sparked him starting up his own record label Margins.
"Active as a station is something that I care about a lot, they put up with me learning how to broadcast and host shows, the network of DJs and staff have been an invaluable source of musical knowledge and a catalyst to me starting MARGINS which they have helped out with immensely," he says.
Maggie Tweedie learnt the broadcasting ropes at Radio Active and is celebrating the news.
She says the station is "a fantastic training ground for young broadcasters".
"Over the past 40 years the station has supported Wellington's community and local artists. It's incredible to see the outpouring of support the station has received.
"This incredible support for all of our volunteers and the business itself is a representation of the key part Radio Active plays in Wellington's community and culture."
Radio Active was the first New Zealand radio station to broadcast on an FM frequency in 1981, and one of the first in the world to broadcast online.
VUWSA sold Radio Active in 1989 to Radio Active Ltd, in the hope that it could become financially viable. VUWSA's new student radio station became Salient FM.
Steele says a decreasing advertising revenue and the layoff of an advertising sales rep contributed to a "downward spiral" that needs to be addressed.
He also hopes the station can reinvigorate their relationships with the Wellington community, including the city's universities.
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