About Merv Smith
Lived 1933 – 2018 (aged 85). Merv Smith was a New Zealand broadcaster, radio personality and actor, known for 1ZB.
Mervyn Charles Smith (11 March 1933 – 24 September 2018) was a New Zealand radio broadcaster and railway aficionado.
Early life and family Smith was born in Piopio on 11 March 1933, the son of George Adlow Smith and Adelaide Edith "Nuki" Smith (née Bunting).
Broadcasting career Described as one of the pillars of New Zealand broadcasting, Smith was breakfast show host on Auckland Radio New Zealand station 1ZB from 1961 until a format change in 1986, when he moved to Radio i. He held the country's top ratings for almost the entirety of his career. Smith also built the "North Island Main Trunk" layout in Sn3.5 scale at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland.
Smith was admitted to Auckland Hospital on 21 September 2018, and died there three days later.
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Important facts
People in Merv Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Merv Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Merv Smith?
New Zealand radio broadcaster (1933-2018)
When was Merv Smith born?
Merv Smith was born on 11 March 1933 in Piopio.
When did Merv Smith die?
Merv Smith died on 24 September 2018 in Grafton.
What was Merv Smith's occupation?
Merv Smith was a broadcaster, radio personality and actor.
What was Merv Smith known for?
Merv Smith was known for 1ZB.
What nationality was Merv Smith?
Merv Smith was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Merv Smith (broadcaster)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Merv Smith. https://biography.guide/merv-smith/
MLA: "Merv Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/merv-smith/.
Chicago: "Merv Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/merv-smith/.
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