Māori broadcasting veteran Henare Kingi dies aged 91
15 July 2026 The Māori broadcasting community is mourning the passing of Henare Kingi (Ngāpuhi), one of the pioneering voices of Māori radio, who has died in Wellington aged 91.
In a social media post, his whānau confirmed he died early Tuesday morning at his home in Lower Hutt, surrounded by his tamariki and mokopuna.
For 25 years, Matua Henare was a familiar and reassuring presence on Wellington’s Te Upoko o Te Ika, Aotearoa’s first Māori radio station.
Joining the station during its formative years in the early 1980s, he fast became a personality synonymous with Māori broadcasting. He was a respected kaumātua, mentor, and tireless advocate for te reo Māori whose influence helped shape generations of Māori broadcasters.
15 July 2026
