Maoridom is mourning the death of a former president of the Maori Womens' Welfare league.
Jacqui Te Kani of Ngati Porou and Ngati Maniapoto descent died on Tuesday night in Wellington.
She was in her late 60s.
Mrs Te Kani was honoured in 2001 while she was the president of the league as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her leadership.
A year later in 2002 she became a board member of the Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, and was its chairperson from 2005 to 2010.
Te Mangai Paho's chief executive John Bishara says Jacqui Te Kani campaigned to ensure iwi radio received adequate funding from the Crown.
He says she was an astute business woman and a great leader and was concerned that the Government wasn't providing enough resources for Maori broadcasting.
Mr Bishara says Mrs Te Kani was a strong advocate for more funding rather than trying to work with the small amount of money the Government was prepared to give.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says Jacqui Te Kani's influence and her contribution across many sectors has been profound.
She says she had a particular focus on social and economic development for wahine Maori and was a trustee of the Maori Women's Development Incorporation and a member of Te Korowai Wahine for the Ministry of Women's Affairs.
Mrs Turia says Mrs Te Kani has served Aotearoa well - she has made every moment count; and leaves behind a legacy of service that will be recognised in every sphere of the community.
At 6am on Thursday Jacqui Te Kani's body will be taken to Mangatu Marae near Gisborne.
