Kua hinga te tōtara nui o te ao irirangi Māori, a Papa Rūrū.
George “Hori” Bennett passed away late last night at the age of 82.
Papa Rūrū became a beloved figure on Radio Aotearoa, hosting the midnight-to-6am request line show for 16 years until the station’s closure in 1997.
His show attracted a devoted audience, including prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Jim Bolger and the late Dame Tariana Turia, who described Bennett as a “national taonga” (treasure).
For now, his whānau are preparing him for his tangihanga, with further updates to come.
E Pāpā Rūrū… haere atu rā koe ki te pō. I tū ai koe hei hoa haere mō te tini me te mano i whakarongo ki tō karanga.
