John Broughton: key obituary facts
Is John Broughton dead? Yes. John Broughton died on September 15, 2026, at age 78.
Cause of death: John Broughton's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was John Broughton known for?
He was a New Zealand Māori dental professor and playwright.
More about John Broughton
Born: 1947.
Gender: male.
Occupation: dentist, playwright.
Nationality: New Zealand.
Education: Massey University, University of Otago.
Employer: University of Otago.
Awards: Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Bruce Mason Playwriting Award, Life membership of Te Aō Marama - New Zealand Māori Dental Association, Te Amorangi National Māori Academic Excellence Award, LIMElight Award, honorary doctor of the University of Otago.
Also known as: John Renata Broughton, John R. Broughton.
John Broughton, the New Zealand academic and playwright, died on September 15, 2026, aged 78.
Also known as John Renata Broughton and John R. Broughton, he was a Māori dental professor whose career was closely tied to the University of Otago, where he became a full professor in 2012.
Born in 1947, he studied microbiology at Massey University before training in dentistry at the University of Otago, later combining his academic work with playwriting. His honours included appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Otago.