Tributes flow for veteran iwi broadcaster and te reo Māori champion Rauru Broughton

The Māori broadcasting community and iwi across the Taranaki and Whanganui regions are mourning the loss of Rauru Broughton, a revered repository of tikanga and a pioneer of Māori media. As reported by 1News and Waatea News, the first wave of mourners gathered at Pākaraka Marae near Whanganui on Friday, 28 August 2026, to pay tribute to Broughton, who passed away the preceding Wednesday. The gatherings included representatives from neighbouring iwi and local kura kaupapa Māori, all coming together to honour a man described by peers as a taonga tikikura, or treasured expert. Broughton’s career spanned several prominent stations, including Wellington’s Te Ūpoko o Te Ika, Whanganui-based Awa FM, and New Plymouth’s Te Korimako o Taranaki. Beyond his work on the airwaves, he served as a Mātauranga Māori lecturer at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki. In 2025, his expertise reached a national stage as a commentator for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, where he also composed the mass haka pōwhiri. Speaking with Waatea News, Mark Pirikahu of Ngāti Maika reflected on Broughton’s role as a fierce advocate for his iwi and hapū, consistently emphasizing the necessity of nurturing te reo Māori. Mr Pirikahu described his years as a "taringa areare"—an attentive listener—to Broughton, highlighting the depth of guidance the elder provided. Broughton was the youngest son of renowned tohunga Ruka Broughton and kaikaranga Mereiwa Whakaruru. His influence was noted as intergenerational; Maruera Maraki of the Māori Catholic group Araukuku told Awa FM that Broughton shared whaikōrero knowledge with older generations that has since been passed down to today’s youth. Whanganui iwi leader Gerard Albert also shared reflections with Taiuru News, likening Broughton’s passing to the encounter between the ancestor Māui and the goddess of death, Hinenuitepō, acknowledging that while his life has ended, his contributions remain. Earlier this year, Broughton was formally recognised for his service at the Te Matoe o Te Reo symposium in New Plymouth. According to Te Karere, the honour acknowledged his unwavering commitment to ensuring te reo Māori thrives. His efforts are credited with shaping the contemporary state of iwi radio, providing the foundation for the Māori broadcasting platforms that exist today. His legacy remains a vital spark for those pursuing linguistic and cultural excellence across Aotearoa.