Much-loved New Zealand comedian and TV star Dai Henwood has died at the age of 48.
He died in Auckland Hospital on 10 November 2026, holding hands with his family. He had been living with bowel cancer for six years.
His management company, Notorious Comedy, said: “Nothing made Dai happier than making people laugh.”
During his 25-year career, Henwood won many comedy awards, including the Billy T Award. He was a regular on 7 Days, the country’s longest-running comedy show, and hosted programmes such as Family Feud, Dancing with the Stars and LEGO Masters.
Henwood found out he had cancer in 2020, when New Zealand was in lockdown. In 2023 he told the public that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body, including his lungs.
He talked openly about his illness. He said the cancer itself didn’t define him, but the way he responded to it did.
In June 2025 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). This is an honour given to people who have made a big difference to the country.
One of his last projects was The Life of Dai, a book about his life that he wrote with his friend and fellow comedian Jacqui Brown.
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