Radio Sport promoter dies after falling off roof

Warwick Oakden will be farewelled from St Mary's in Holy Trinity in Parnell today, with another service in Feilding on Friday. Photo / Supplied

Friends and family will today farewell a man credited with getting Radio Sport on its feet.

Warwick John Oakden, 50, died last Tuesday after falling from the roof of his Remuera home the previous evening. It is understood he was trying to get into the property after forgetting his keys.

The Radio Network national sales and marketing manager had climbed to the roof of the two-storey apartment a number of times, once even sparking a police call-out when neighbours mistook him for a burglar, said his sister, Judy Oakden.

Mr Oakden, a former Wanganui Collegiate student who also spent time at Scotland's Gordonstoun School, was brought up on a sheep, cattle and cropping farm in Feilding where his father still lives.

He had initially wanted to be a farmer but moved into the marketing industry, working for a number of companies in Auckland, Wellington and Adelaide, including Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Tennis NZ.

Mr Oakden began working for Radio Sport about 12 years ago, before moving into his role as marketing manager at TRN.

Mrs Oakden described him as "a bit of an Energizer bunny" who was a keen sailor, para-sailor, fisherman and heli-skier. He owned an 8m launch, which had a gas barbecue he would fire up while entertaining.

Mr Oakden was involved with a number of charities including Diabetes Auckland and the Lion Foundation.

His boss, Rob Julian, said he basically got Radio Sport on to its feet as a station. "He was committed to making things happen. Most people described him as a lovable rogue ... he was very positive, very loyal, had a lot of integrity but was never one to turn down a glass of wine and a robust discussion."

Mr Julian said TRN was putting together a slideshow of photos of Mr Oakden to play to music at his funeral this afternoon.

It had also hired a bus, which would seat about 50 people, to take colleagues to St Mary's Church in Parnell.

A second service will also be held in the Manawatu on Friday, which his family say "represents the different phases in his life - the Feilding and farming phase and the marketing and Auckland phase".

Paul Bowe, former Air New Zealand domestic airline chief executive who is now the vice-president of Diabetes NZ, had been a friend of Mr Oakden for more than 20 years.

"He had a sparkly smile and twinkly eyes. He was a social animal who loved a good party," said Mr Bowe. "I never heard him say an ill word about anybody."