“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
-Martin Luther King Jr
Nineteen 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 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 their comuunity and business partnership model.
Unique Award
Tarana has gained this respect through our achievements at various levels over the last 19 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.
2014 is 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 recently.
Unique Coverage
Going forward, we endeavour to provide you the best professional coverage of the two elections of interest in September – New Zealand and Fiji.
Prime Minister John Key, Labour leader David Cunliffe, New Zealand First Leader Winstone Peters and Greens Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman 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. Tarana’s build up to both Elections has already started .We have dedicated teams working on these projects and I am confident that you will get the best Coverage any Indian Radio has to offer in New Zealand.
On the sporting front, we were the only Indian media accredited to cover the Indian Cricket tour of New Zealand and we created various interesting promotions for our audience around this tour.
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 19 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 last year and with Relianz Forex Limited this year.
Unique Community Engagement
Our community engagement programme will be on high-octane mode from August 2014, with our first major festival for the second half of the year
‘Festival of India’ at ABS Show Grounds will be another first for Tarana as we bring Bollywood Superstar Govinda to Auckland (See separate story in this Special Report).
In line with Tarana’s motto, ‘Our Events are for you,’ this will be another free entry event, engaging Bollywood with our community.
On October 189, 2014, we will again organise our annual South Auckland Diwali, called, ‘Manukau Diwali.’
Our other Diwali engagements in October would be in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. We will also be the major sponsor of the Waitakere Diwali.
We would be hosting the Fiji Festival in November, followed by a new Event in December 2014. Besides these major dates, we would be involved in other events, 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 48,000 ‘Likes’ 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.
We will be making a strategic platform delivery announcement in the next few weeks. This will add to the option of listening for our listeners in Australia and New Zealand.
We are also planning to make another significant announcement later this year, which involves the extension of the Tarana brand.
Unique Programming
In terms of programming, quality has been our key.
We have the most experienced announcers with creative attributes to match any Radio brand internationally. Our programmes are researched to meet the needs of our audience and this is matched by quality content and delivery.
The addition of new members to our team over the last year has given the audience different listening perspective and interaction.
We are currently in the Holy Month of Ramadan and it gives me great pleasure in stating that our ‘Sheri’ programme is again free of advertisements.
While this is not the norm at other stations, Tarana is committed in respecting this important time in the Islamic calendar.
As with our other religious programmes such as Diwali Pooja and Christmas Day messages, it is imperative that we respect our Islamic audience by keeping the Ramadan Sheri Programme free of commercials.
Unique Nucleus
As for my team, there is a nucleus that push 24/7- Pawan, Ajeshni, Linda, Neha, Krishna, Hemant, Satend, Jilesh, Surya, Sanjesh, Salmeen, Magan – those that I interact daily to tick our clock. It is the members of the core team that are the arteries of our heart – Shalen, Nirmal, Mona, Sagar, Sonal, Mehak, Shailen Sandill, Azim, Gopal, Manish, Preeta, Jeff, Nitya, Ravi, Shirley and Kulwant.
In conclusion, as I mentioned earlier, it has been a long journey.
My personal highlights this year include the expansion of my Tarana family, the success in ratings, the comradeship of my team, the success of our brand and the epitome of goodwill and faith amongst my Tarana family.
Our Tarana is gesture of solidarity and that is why we are Number 1.
Unique Event
We stand for our Indian community and I look forward to seeing you at the Festival of India on the August 16, 2014 with Govinda.
The popular Hindi film star will be at the Festival as the Guest of Tarana and our Sponsors, again something that no other Indian radio station can do.
Being the King of Indian Media for 19 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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