October 19, 2018
Te Hiku radio voice Dion Hobson dies
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A distinctive voice in the development of iwi radio in the far north has died suddenly.
Dion Hobson was a former announcer at Kaitaia’s Radio Te Hiku o te Ika.
He was also an active member of Ngāi Takoto and a keen country singer and songwriter, as well as composing many songs and iwi anthems in te reo Māori.
Te Hiku general manager Peter Lucas Jones says he had a passion for helping the Maori language thrive in broadcasting.
Former manager Hone Harawira says Mr Hobson was a key part of the station’s appeal in its early years.
"He was a storyteller. He was a comedian. He was a wonderful announcer. He was a singer. He used to tell everyone he was a lover. He could bring joy into the hearts of all of our old people, just because he was a genuinely nice guy," he says.
The tangi for Dion Hobson is being held at Roma Marae in Ahipara and then Te Pa ā Pārore Marae in Awanui.
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