Vale Kevin Black

New Zealand has lost another broadcasting legend with the sudden death of former Radio Hauraki breakfast host Kevin Black.

"Blackie" was once the highest paid DJ in NZ and was famous for his on-air pranks.

He started his radio career in NZ as a floater in Dunedin. He was then transferred to Auckland, did drive on ZM and floated on ZB.

Then Hauraki pioneer David Gapes got him to the station in 1976.

In the 1980s, Black left Hauraki to set up 89FM with some ex-Hauraki staff. Josh Easby, Black's boss at Hauraki, said:

"He was a very talented broadcaster, who took breakfast radio to a new level. He was a naturally talented guy who instinctively knew how to entertain. He said things that had people talking about what he'd done."

NewsTalk ZB's Kerre Woodham took to Twitter and said:

Mike Puru from The Edge said:

Radio Hauraki said:

Read more in The New Zealand Herald here.
Photo by Steven McNicholl