One of the pioneers of Maori radio, Jim Perry of Ngati Porou, has died after a long battle with cancer.
The soldier turned schoolteacher was a prominent member of the Auckland Maori community when he started broadcasting on Radio Aotearoa in 1989.
Kingi Taurua who worked with Mr Perry at Radio Waatea says his friend was a powerful voice in both Te Reo Maori and English, who could converse knowledgeably with callers about politics, sport, education, and cultural issues.
Jim Perry is lying at Te Pou Herenga Waka Marae in Mangere.
