Lee Tamahori has died aged 75. Photo: RNZ / Dru Faulkner
Actor Te Kohe Tuhaka has paid tribute to late filmmaker and mentor Lee Tamahori, describing him as a trailblazer for Māori in cinema.
In a statement his family said Tamahori died peacefully today at home surrounded by his long-time love Justine, his beloved children Sam, Max, Meka, and Tané, his daughter-in-laws Casey (who is expecting) and Meri, his darling mokopuna Cora Lee, and whānau.
Lee Tamahori from Ngāti Porou, made his directorial film debut with the ground-breaking Once Were Warriors.
Born in Tawa, in Wellington he started Flying Fish, one of the country's most successful advertising production companies.
His first short film, Thunderbox, was developed during the Te Manuka series with Don Selwyn and Larry Parr.
He went on to forge a remarkable international career, directing Hollywood and independent films such as Mulholland Falls, The Devil's Double, and the James Bond film Die Another Day.
Lee Tamahori on location while filming "The Convert" in 2022. Photo: Supplied / Kirsty Griffin
Tuhaka said in some ways he was relieved he was finally at peace following a battle with Parkinson's disease.
"Having known his very valiant battle with his Parkinson's and having worked closely with Lee over the years, I'm not surprised that he went into battle the same way he went into shooting a film, all guns a blazing.
"It's a big loss for us here in Aotearoa and also throughout the world.
"The man pretty much shaped a lot of things in our film industry with the likes of Once For Warriors, but even prior to that working in the advertising business, he was a huge, a huge mentor to me in many, many ways on many, many kaupapa. So he will be, he will be missed, but he will definitely be remembered," he said.
Tuhaka said Lee Tamahori was also one of the most important figures in connecting Māori to Hollywood.
He said he shone a lens on Māori stories, language and issues.
"So that legacy of being able to not only go international, work on the big stage there, but also have an eye and a heart to coming home, to telling our stories, to opening up doors for our crew, our young producers like myself, young actors like myself, the myriad of people he's influenced in their careers from in front of the lens and behind the lens.
"So he did it seamlessly... we walked the path that he was paving for us as Māori filmmakers in this industry equally," Tuhaka said.
"I really feel at this time, like, I think about all of the people that he's worked with, and all the kaupapa that I've worked with him on, and just having memories of, you know, watching him work. And he knew exactly what he wanted, and he knew exactly how to get there.
"It was like watching a Ngāti Porou cowboy on a mean-ass horse, just going for it and everybody around him just had to hold on!," said the actor and producer.
Tamahori's death is described as a big loss for Aotearoa. Photo: Supplied / Kirsty Griffin
He praised the late filmmaker's work ethic, saying he put younger people to shame with his energy and enthusiasm.
"My own thing on Lee's legacy, is that fella was a mahi fella. So when it came to shooting, he had more energy and more drive than anybody else on set, which I would laugh at.
"I was just like, man, this fella, he is going for it, like really going for it. Knew what he wanted, knew how he wanted to get there, and just drove, drove, drove."
"I believe his legacy will be one of being a mahi fella, a real trailblazer," Tuhaka said.
Friends and colleagues are invited to pay their respects on Sunday, 9 November, at Te Mahurehure Marae, in Point Chevalier in Auckland.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
