Beloved former ABC Australia presenter Seini Fale'aka Taumoepeau has died aged just 48.
The Tongan-Australian was best known for her stint hosting Pacific Mornings on ABC Radio Australia.
She died last week, ABC Pacific announced on Instagram.
"Our ABC Radio Australia and ABC Pacific family extends our deepest condolences to family, friends, colleagues and community of Tongan-Australian Seini Fale'aka Taumoepeau, who died aged 48 this week," the station said.
It added she will be remembered and celebrated as a dedicated artist, orator, song woman and storyteller who spent over 30 years advocating for Pasifika communities and their representation in the Australian media landscape.
She first appeared on ABC Radio Australia when she was just 13 years old on programs produced by her mother. She went on to become the inaugural host of Pacific Mornings in 2018.
"Colleagues recall her last sign off, 'I hope that ABC Radio Australia will consider replacing me with 2-5-10 more people of Pacific heritage and understanding and in doing so evolve the Australian lens of the Pacific with the great and valuable resource that is our region, inclusive of its people'," ABC Pacific said in the post.
"Seini was a dedicated mentor to many young Pasifika media professionals who now work across Australia, and will leave a lasting mark on the way stories from the Pacific are told. She paved the way for this team of Pacific people to be represented in ABC media programs.
"The entire ABC Pacific team holds Seini in our hearts and spirit. Toka ā Seini 'i he Melino 'a e 'Eiki. 'Ofa Atu."
Friends and followers expressed their sadness with one person saying, "We will miss you".
"Going to miss you, sis. Still can't believe it. Sending so much love to your family," another wrote.
"Going to miss you...Days pass and I still hope that it isn't true. Keep looking out for all of us Seini. Love you," someone else said.
