Former New Zealand provincial rugby representative and radio identity Marc Verhoeven has died in Australia after complications during shoulder surgery this week.

Verhoeven, 50, played lock and was a former captain for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship in the 1980s and 1990s.

He worked for more than 20 years in radio, including managing the Breeze in Wellington and working as an area manager for CanWest radio.

His family announced the death this weekend with "great sadness".

Verhoeven suffered unforeseen complications during shoulder reconstruction surgery at Sydney's St Vincent's Private Hospital on Monday, his family said.

He did not regain consciousness after the surgery and died on Friday.

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