Murray James Boyd Deaker is a New Zealand

sports radio Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...

and television talk show host and sports author. Deaker was educated at Dunedin's King's High School, the same school in which fellow broadcaster Peter Montgomery attended. He graduated from the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

with an MA in history. He worked as a teacher prior to his media career, including at

Auckland Grammar Auckland Grammar School (often simplified to Auckland Grammar, or Grammar), established in 1869, is a state, day and boarding secondary school for boys in Auckland, New Zealand. The school has produced more national rugby team members than a ...

(where he successfully coached the First Cricket XI), Orewa College and

Takapuna Grammar School Takapuna Grammar School is a state coeducational secondary school located in the suburb of Belmont on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1927, the school mainly serves the eponymous suburb of Takapuna and the entire Dev ...

. As a former rugby player he had represented Otago and played for the New Zealand Teachers Team. Deaker was diagnosed with

bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder (BD), previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of Depression (mood), depression and periods of abnormally elevated Mood (psychology), mood that each last from days to weeks, and in ...

in 2003. Deaker has acted as a mentor for sports personalities such as

Jesse Ryder Jesse Daniel Ryder (born 6 August 1984) is a former international New Zealand cricketer, who played all forms of the game. He was a middle-order batsman for Tests and an opening batsman in ODIs. Ryder also bowled useful medium-pace. Ryder previ ...

, a New Zealand cricketer. His radio programmes consistently rated number one. Deaker was known for getting interviews on his radio and television shows with sports people that were famous and/or topical but also gave time to minority sports. He worked with producers such as Greg Billings and his show helped raise the profile of new and rising sports presenters such as

Melodie Robinson Melodie Robinson (born 25 May 1973) is a New Zealand sports journalist and presenter, and former international rugby union player for the New Zealand women's national rugby union team. She played 18 tests for the New Zealand women's team, the Bla ...

and the return to the television screen of

Tony Veitch Tony Colin Veitch (born 1973) is a New Zealand former reporter and sports broadcaster. He hosted a Radio Sport breakfast show and Television New Zealand's ONE News 6pm sports news. Veitch resigned from all broadcasting roles in the wake of dom ...

. He conducted a number of high-profile interviews, including the last interview with

Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins, PGA Tour wins, ranks second in List of men's major championships winning golfers, men's m ...

before his tabloid controversies of 2009. Deaker fell into his own bunker of controversy in 2011, with a racially sensitive slur in reference to a colleague. Despite the NZ Race Relations Commissioner describing the turn of phrase as "Not appropriate" and a weight of public outrage reminiscent of fellow broadcaster Paul Holmes' "Cheeky Darkie" saga and Paul Henry's derogatory comment about an Indian Diplomat with the surname "Dikshit", Deaker's network described the phrase as "widely used". Deaker later apologised, stating "It was a bad choice of words and I apologise unreservedly". In March 2012, Deaker again became enmeshed in another controversy after allegedly offensive remarks about

All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, is the representative men's national team in the sport of rugby union for the nation of New Zealand, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for th ...

and

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

Sonny Bill Williams Sonny William Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the cou ...

At the end of 2013 Deaker, then aged 68 years, announced he would move on from his position at Newstalk ZB and from his Sky TV programme, Deaker on Sport. "Timing is everything in sport and life. I want to get out while I'm still at the top of my game. There are fresh challenges that I am keen to have a crack at," says Deaker. Deaker won the Best Sports Presenter at the Radio Awards seven times and was a finalist on 10 other occasions. In the

2009 Queen's Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 2009 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as p ...

, Deaker was appointed an

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have r ...

, for services to broadcasting.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deaker, Murray Year of birth missing (living people) Living people New Zealand radio presenters New Zealand radio journalists Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit People with bipolar disorder New Zealand rugby union commentators People educated at King's High School, Dunedin Place of birth missing (living people) University of Otago alumni