Maori broadcasting pioneer Tanara Whairiri Ngata, also known as Whai Ngata, has passed away at Auckland Hospital after an illness. He was 74.
The great-grandson of long-serving Cabinet minister Sir Apirana Ngata, he was described as one of the key figures in the revitalisation of Maori language and culture, and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007.
Mr Ngata worked for Radio New Zealand from 1975 to 1983, covering major events such as the Maori Land.
He then moved to TVNZ, where he worked for 25 years, on Te Karere and the network news. He became head of Maori programmes, introducing shows such as Marae and Mai Time.
Tributes have been made to Mr Ngata online following his death.
Mr Ngata's wife told Maori Television the couple were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September.
"Labour's Maori caucus and the wider party send our sincere condolences to his wife Geraldine and the whanau," says the Labour Party's Maori Development spokesperson Kelvin Davis.
"The son of Ngati Porou worked for more than 40 years in print, radio and television specialising in telling Maori stories in Te Reo Maori. He also wrote an award-winning English-Maori dictionary and made an award-winning documentary on the Maori battalion.
"No reira moe mai, okioki," he says.
Mr Ngata's body will be taken home to his marae, Hiruharama, in Ruatoria before his tangi.
Newshub.
