Sports commentator Peter Sellers is being described as a wonderful and unique character, who was a mentor to young broadcasters.

He's died at a rest home in Dunedin, at the age of 94.

Sellers never married and was an only child, so there's no family beyond his wide circle of friends.

Sellers became one of this country's most famous broadcasters during a 34-year career with Radio New Zealand. 

Sellers interviewed many famous identities in his career, including Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz, Australian and English cricketers Don Bradman and Fred Trueman, and Springboks coach Danie Craven.

He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of all sports and colourful tongue.

In 1956, when swearing on air was a big no-no, he infamously blurted out on radio: "Bloody hell that's a lot of pies!"

Fellow broadcaster and long-term friend Keith Quinn said he had an incredible memory.

"He didn't need books or notes or papers to recall facts and figures, especially about the sports that he's loved, and in particular they were rugby and cricket."

Sellers' close friends will be deeply saddened by his death but also relieved, because his quality of life had declined over the past few months, said Quinn.