SPOTLIGHT:

WANTOK -

A MELANESIAN VOICE ON THE AIR

This article first appeared in the August 2026 issue of my World of Shortwave Listening column for The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com

Radio Australia ceased its shortwave transmissions on 31 January 2017. However, one Radio Australia program can still be heard on shortwave via Radio New Zealand Pacific. The Wantok program is a unique service for listeners throughout Melanesia.

Among the specialised language services heard across the South Pacific, Radio Australia’s Wantok Program stands out for its use of three closely related Melanesian creole languages. Produced by ABC Pacific, the program delivers regional and international news, features, and information in Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea), Pijin (the Solomon Islands), and Bislama (Vanuatu). By broadcasting in languages widely spoken and understood across Melanesia, the program helps bridge national boundaries and sustain cultural connections among Melanesian communities.

The name “Wantok” derives from the English phrase “one talk” or “one language.” In Melanesian societies, however, the term carries a much deeper meaning. A wantok is not merely someone who speaks the same language but also a member of a wider social network based on shared culture, family ties, and mutual support. The Wantok System remains an important part of life throughout Melanesia, reflecting obligations to cooperate and assist one another within the same community.

Although Radio Australia has left the shortwave bands, the Wantok Program remains on the airwaves. Today, the program is available online, as a podcast, and via a network of FM relay stations throughout the Pacific Islands. Radio New Zealand Pacific also relays the program as part of its News in Pacific Languages service, ensuring it remains accessible to shortwave listeners across the region. The regular presenters are Sam Seke and Hilda Wayne.

You can hear the program at:

0800-0830 (Mon-Fri) on 11725 to Oceania

1228-1258 (Mon-Fri) on 9700 to Western Oceania

2210-2240 (Mon-Thu) on 17675 to Oceania

This ongoing shortwave presence is particularly valuable in remote areas where internet access may be limited or unreliable.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Wantok Program is its audience, which spans three nations with distinct yet related languages. Tok Pisin, Pijin, and Bislama all evolved from a common nineteenth-century English-based Pacific pidgin used by labourers, traders, missionaries, and seafarers throughout the region. As a result, speakers of one language can often understand much of the others, particularly in news broadcasts and formal speech. While pronunciation and vocabulary vary from country to country, the similarities are substantial enough that many listeners can follow reports presented in neighbouring varieties.

This linguistic interconnectedness makes the Wantok Program particularly effective as a regional service. A listener in Papua New Guinea may understand a report delivered in Pijin from the Solomon Islands, while a resident of Vanuatu can often follow segments presented in Tok Pisin. In this way, the program embodies the true meaning of its name, bringing together people who share a common linguistic heritage and fostering a sense of regional identity throughout Melanesia.

Even in an era dominated by digital media, the Wantok Program remains an important link between the diverse cultures and communities of the South Pacific.

73, and wishing you good listening to the ABC Wantok program,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Radio stations featured in the Spotlight series

Note: This series covers more than ten years, so the frequencies and times mentioned in some of the articles may be out-of-date. Refer to the latest schedule information for current operating times.

SPOTLIGHT: SICHUAN ETHNIC RADIO

SPOTLIGHT: IFRIKYA FM

SPOTLIGHT: THE VOICE OF JINLING

SPOTLIGHT: TAJIKISTAN ON SHORTWAVE

SPOTLIGHT: TRANS WORLD RADIO AFRICA

SPOTLIGHT: BBC ASCENSION ISLAND RELAY STATION

SPOTLIGHT: JAPAN’S PRIVATE SHORTWAVE STATION

SPOTLIGHT: VOICE OF BEIBU BAY RADIO

SPOTLIGHT: WONDERFUL WOOFFERTON

SPOTLIGHT: RADIO MIRAYA - THE SOUND OF SUDAN! (Sadly, this station no longer operates on shortwave)

SPOTLIGHT: RADIO VANUATU

SPOTLIGHT: KYRGYZSTAN ON SHORTWAVE