Tributes pour in for Dame Tariana Turia

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Dame Tariana Turia served for many years as Te Tai Hauauru MP serving a huge area which included Horowhenua and the Kāpiti Coast.

Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow paid tribute to Dame Tariana for her tireless efforts on behalf the community.

“Tariana will be remembered as a great leader who showed courage and compassion and who had a deep sense of committment to serving her people.”

Commemorations are underway for Dame Tariana, a trailblazing political leader and advocate for Māori rights, following her passing early this morning at the age of 80. Tariana, co-founder of Te Pāti Māori and a long-serving MP, is being remembered for her immense contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand.

This afternoon, several hundred friends and whānau gathered at Pākaitore, where Tariana was brought to lie at 1:40 p.m. From there, she will travel by waka to Putiki Marae and later return to Whangaehu Marae in Whanganui at 4 p.m.

The Parliamentary career of Tariana Turia was a distingushed one since she first entered Parliament on 12 October 1996. She was a member of the following Parliaments: 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 49th and 50th.

List      Labour Party   12 October 1996 – 27 July 2002

Te Tai Hauauru           Labour Party   27 July 2002 – 17 May 2004

Te Tai Hauauru           Māori Party      10 July 2004 – 20 September 2014

A Legacy of Leadership and Advocacy

Tributes have flowed from across the political spectrum, highlighting Turia’s unwavering commitment to her people. Former Prime Minister Sir John Key describes her as a “trailblazing leader” with a wicked sense of humour, saying, “She will be sorely missed.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi praise Tariana’s tireless efforts, calling her a matriarch and trailblazer whose legacy will endure. “She crossed the floor against all odds, ensuring our people’s voices were heard,” says Waititi.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour Leader Chris Hipkins also commemorate her contributions, with Hipkins referring to her as “the very definition of a wahine toa.” He adds that her work, particularly in health and Māori advocacy, will have lasting effects.

Achievements and Honours

Dame Tariana Turia’s political career began in 1996 as a Labour list MP following her role in the 79-day Moutua Gardens protest. She later served in a minority government with Key, championing issues like Māori health and the Whānau Ora initiative, a wellbeing agency she considered one of her proudest achievements. Turia retired in 2014 and was honoured as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015.

She was instrumental in the historic decision granting the Whanganui River legal personhood, a role she cherished as one of the most significant of her life.

Tributes from Fellow Leaders

Former Attorney-General Chris Finlayson recalls Tariana as his favourite politician, saying, “I love her.” Act Party leader David Seymour remembers her as a principled and gracious leader. Meanwhile, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calls her a passionate advocate for her community.

Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent, highlights her determination for Māori betterment, saying, “She was a force to be reckoned with in Parliament.”

A Community in Mourning

Dame Tariana Turia’s passing leaves an irreplaceable void, especially among her whānau and iwi. Labour MP Willie Jackson emphasises her courage and commitment, adding, “We must never forget her courage.”

As the tangi continues, Aotearoa New Zealand honours the remarkable life of a woman who dedicated herself to the service of her people and her nation.