Dame Tariana Turia has died at the age of 80, her iwi says.
Turia — a co-founder of the Māori Party and former Labour minister who crossed the floor over the foreshore and seabed debate — suffered a stroke earlier this week.
She died at Whangaehu Marae in Whanganui overnight, according to her iwi.
A spokesperson for Te Ranga Tupua said the marae would soon be open to mourners.
“Whānau will be gathering at Pakaitore where Dame Tariana will lie at 1pm today.
“From there, she will travel by waka to Putiki Marae, before returning home to Whangaehu at approximately 4pm,” according to a social media post.
“For today and Saturday, January 4 — this will be the time for the iwi of Te Ranga Tupua. On Sunday and Monday, the marae will open to the motu, to come and say their farewells. Powhiri will be held at 9am and 2pm each day.”
Turia served as an MP from 1996, retiring in 2014.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to the former MP this morning.
“Dame Tariana Turia made a significant contribution for Māori and to New Zealand as an MP, minister and political leader,” he said in a tweet.
“Among many things, she will be remembered for her work establishing Whānau Ora, and for always being guided strongly by her principles.
“My thoughts and condolences are with her whanau. Moe mai rā.”
Turia crossed the floor over foreshore and seabed
Turia initially entered Parliament on the Labour Party list at the 1996 election, and while the MP was never in Cabinet, she held several ministerial roles including Associate Health Minister and Associate Māori Affairs Minister.
But, following the controversial foreshore and seabed debate in 2003, Turia said that the then-Labour government’s proposal amounted to a confiscation of Māori land.
By April 2004, Turia decided to resign over the issue, which triggered a byelection in Te Tai Hauāuru, founding the Māori Party that would become later known as Te Pāti Māori, alongside Pita Sharples.
Turia resoundingly won the byelection picking up over 92% of the vote and returned to Parliament. The figure is still the highest percentage that a female politician has received.
The Māori Party won four seats in the 2005 election, opting not to join with Helen Clark’s Labour. But the party then went on to form a confidence and supply agreement after the 2008, 2011, and 2014 elections with National.
Turia was a minister inside John Key’s government, but remained outside of Cabinet.
In 2010, Turia was tasked with implementing Whānau Ora.
In its early years, the agency was focused on building the existing capability of kaupapa Māori providers to deliver whānau-centred services.
After leaving Parliament in 2014, Turia was named a Dame in 2015.
She continued to advocate for Māori issues until her death.
Turia attended the hīkoi to Parliament last year.
