Former Māori broadcaster Wiparata Ngātoko has passed away after a short battle with cancer.
The 37-year-old was one of the pioneers of the youth show MAI Time, and a presenter at Te Reo Irirangi o Tauranga Moana.
From Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngātoko was a tutor of Ngāti Ranginui kapa haka and was also a teacher at Tauranga Boys' College.
He is currently lying in state at Huria Marae.
Ngātoko is survived by his wife Natalie, and their four children.
