MCNZ celebrates two years partnering with the Pacific Media Network

This week marks the two-year anniversary of Media Chaplaincy’s first official partnership with a newsroom. 

In July 2021, the Pacific Media Network and MCNZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a chaplain in their newsroom. 

As a result, Rev Atu Lagi, became our first official media chaplain for a newsroom. Atu’s media credentials as a radio announcer gave him a great point of connection when we introduced him to the team at Pacific Media Network, the premier broadcaster of multimedia Pacific content in Aotearoa.

Rev Atu Lagi, Media Chaplain

Since then it has been an incredible relationship as Atu,  a Wesleyan Minister, became “part of the furniture” and a regular face in the newsroom. He visits PMN on a weekly basis offering support and encouragement to anyone who needs it. 

Atu was quick to forge strong relationships. He’s been embraced as a confidant to many individuals and has been invited to do numerous on-air interviews.

Atu’s support has been particularly welcomed throughout the Covid pandemic: “Journeying alongside them during these difficult times was vital,” says Atu.

 Media Chaplaincy’s General Manager Elesha Gordon says: “We appreciate how the team at PMN made Atu part of the whānau - and included him in the happenings within their place of work. The welcoming spirit of PMN is a testament to how well this has worked.”

“We are also very thankful to have Rev Atu Lagi on our team. He is one of a kind - incredibly wise, empathetic, trustworthy, and passionate about the media”. 

Media Chaplaincy has experienced increasing demand over the past two years. Reporters and journalists are under enormous pressure and many are regularly confronted by traumatising situations: the very worst of humanity. 

MCNZ is working hard to meet this demand and ensure our media personnel are supported and encouraged in their work. Our vision is to add more chaplains around the country, and ultimately to provide at least one chaplain to every media organisation in the country. 

A big thank you to the team at Pacific Media Network who saw a need in their newsroom and were willing to allow us to support them.

Rev Atu Lagi and MCNZ’s Josh Couch bring donuts to the newsroom.