29 Apr 2010

Veteran Pacific broadcaster Elma Maua dies aged 61

9:08 am on 29 April 2010

Cook Islands born broadcaster Elma Maua has died in Wellington at the age of 61.

She died after a long illness, which earlier this year forced her to retire as sports editor of Radio New Zealand International.

Walter Zweifel reports

"Elma Maua was among the pioneer Pacific Islands journalists in New Zealand, working first for Radio New Zealand from the mid-1980's."

In 1990, she was part of the team that launched the Pacific service, Radio New Zealand International, and until recently was its sports editor.

Elma Maua also briefly worked as Niu FM News Editor after a stint in her native island of Rarotonga where she was the Cook Islands Prime Minister's press secretary.

She was well known in the Pacific community and a familiar voice across the Pacific.