The late Mereiwa Broughton is being remembered as someone respected for her knowledge, wisdom, and commitment to Maori kaupapa.
Wellington kaumatua Henare Kingi says Mrs Broughton, who died yesterday, was a major contributor to Wellington's Te Upoko o Te Ika, helping set the direction of the country's first Maori radio station and refusing to speak anything but te reo Maori on air.
She was expert in many aspects of Maoritanga, especially the karanga.
"She understood everything about karanga and I don't think anyone could tell Mere about her Maori world, because she was brought up by her old people and she took everything on board. Every kaupapa Mere talked about, she knew what she was talking about, and no one could have her on," Mr Kingi
The tangihanga for Mereiwa Broughton is at Pakaraka Marae northwest of Whanganui.
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