Andrew Thian has also set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs and to bring his brother back to New Zealand.
Jed Thian, who had a column in the Herald in 2008 and described himself as a “livestreaming media innovator”, started to promote his alternative rugby commentary in 2005, pioneering the use of social media to promote it as live entertainment.
He also helped to coach the Pōneke Rugby Club and later took his show offshore in 2009, while also making appearances on the BBC and RTE in Ireland.
In 2012, he was one of the first to report the All Blacks would break with tradition and place a sponsor on the front of their jerseys, after speaking with a source from AIG in Hong Kong.
Jed Thian (top) and Darunee Darunee. Photo / Darunee Darunee
Tributes have poured in for Thian, with some relating the help he gave them throughout his life.
“I remember him coming to Dubai while I was living there and I went to pick him up at the airport,” DJ Ryan Salt said.
“He comes strolling out larger than life and embraced me in a 2 minute hongi, you could hear the locals thinking ... are they? In Arab culture, it’s how they greet their elders.”
“Met Jedi in the 90s through Greg Townsend at Surfing NZ,” another commenter said.
“We all became a pretty tight group. Jedi would be the MC at surfing events around the motu.
“Those that knew him well will appreciate how much he added to the scene. There has just been a big surfing event at Raglan and during the 90s they were a regular thing.
“He was keen to learn to surf, yes really, so we found a big board and spent hours in the water with him. He got to his knees eventually but was determined and loved it.”
Rugby Asia Channel posted a photo of him captioned “RIP Jedi”, while former All Blacks hooker Dane Coles commented: “Rest easy Jedi great man you belong.”
