Tributes flow for Samoa broadcasting pioneer

16 May 2018, 12:00AM

Tributes are being shared widely on social media this week for one of Samoa’s first FM radio broadcasters.

Maposua Rudolf Keil, who was also a renowned businessman, died in Samoa on Sunday, aged 83.

The New Zealand Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio said his friendship with Maposua began back in Samoa, during a time of political protest.

He said it was a huge loss for not only family, but the Samoan community as well.

“The Keil family is a large family with many genealogical connections both in Samoa, New Zealand the US as well as other parts of the Pacific. He’s somebody that is known and he’s recognised as somebody who served our wider community,” Aupito said.

Radio Polynesia, which is owned by Maposua and his family, had recently bought the commercial TV3 station in a joint venture with a local business partner. This is what Aupito wrote:

“I will always cherish Maposua’s generosity when he allowed myself, Matatumua Maimoana and members of the Samoa All Peoples’ Party to use your office space and your radio station to promote our campaign messages leading up to Samoa’s 1996 general elections. 

“I recall despite the threats from some quarters, and though Maposua was not aligned to S.A.P.P. politically, he supported our right to be heard through a free media. 

“He supported the need to have open and transparent debates on political issues that mattered to people. At that time it was to do with constitutional changes related to the term of the Controller & Chief Auditor’s role, the need to raise the Minimum Wage, and our challenge to independent candidates to come clean and reveal to voters which side they had already committed to, and stop pretending to be independents. I shall never forget his kindness and generosity and his love for Samoa. My sympathies and condolences to your extended family.”

16 May 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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