Tangi begins and tributes flow after death of Dame Tariana Turia

‘Matriarch, trailblazer and tireless advocate’

Politicians across the country have paid tribute to Turia, who served as a minister under both Labour and National governments and was an MP for 18 years.

The wahine Māori political leader first entered Parliament as a Labour list MP in 1996, a year after leading the 79-day Moutua Gardens protest in Whanganui.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key, who was in a minority government with Turia in 2008, said she was a “trailblazing leader”.

“Kind with humility but a dry and wicked sense of humour. She will be sorely missed,” he said.

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi described Turia as “a matriarch, trailblazer and tireless advocate for te iwi Māori and for all of Aotearoa”.

Waititi said it was a sad day for te iwi Māori but Turia’s “legacy will be forever etched in the fabric of our nation’s history”.

“Whaea Tariana crossed the floor against all odds, even when it meant leaving the comforts of political alignment, to ensure our people’s voice would never be silenced, exterminated or assimilated.”

Ngarewa-Packer said alongside grieving, she would also celebrate the incredible legacy Turia leaves behind.

“To her whānau, hapū and iwi, we extend our deepest aroha. The loss of such a beloved matriarch will leave an irreplaceable void,” said Ngarewa-Packer.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Turia had made a “significant contribution” to New Zealand.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said Turia “was a true leader, the very definition of a wahine toa”.

“She had a strong legacy of service before her parliamentary years, advocating for Māori health, working hard to pave the way for many.

“Through her life, Dame Tariana gave a loud voice to those who were historically and wrongly heard less, particularly those in the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate.

Hipkins said the results from Turia’s work “will ripple” for decades to come.

“The Labour Party sends condolences to Dame Tariana’s many whānau. May she rest now, with her loving husband, George,” Hipkins said.

Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peter sent his thoughts and condolences to her family and friends.

“Sad news to hear that Dame Tariana Turia has passed away today,” he said.

“Dame Tariana was a strong advocate and passionate leader both within her community and the country, serving for 18 years in parliament.”

Former politician Peter Dunne spoke to Newstalk ZB about the passing of his former “parliamentary benchmate”.

“She was certainly a highly principled person and had a huge sense of what was right and wrong,” he said.

“She was able to achieve a lot through that time as a minister.”

Labour Party MP Willie Jackson said: “We must never forget her courage and commitment, He Mana Wahine, He Wahine Toa.”

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper spoke to the station’s Roman Travers about Turia’s time in Parliament and determination for the “betterment of Māori”.

“She was a woman with a great sense of humour, quite a wicked sense of humour. I shared quite a number of laughs with her over the years,” Soper said.

“She was very much a force to be reckoned with in Parliament.”

Former Attorney-General and ex-Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson saw her as his favourite politician.

In a prior interview with the Herald, Finlayson said “it’s no exaggeration to say I love her”.

During her tenure in Parliament, Turia was responsible for the creation of the wellbeing agency Whānau Ora, something she later admitted she felt a sense of pride about.

She retired from politics in 2014.

Act Party leader David Seymour said “Turia was a warm, gracious woman and a brave, principled leader”.

“My thoughts are with her family as she passes on from a life well lived. Ngā mihi nui,” he said.

Turia was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as an MP, in the 2015 New Year Honours.

At the time, Turia considered turning down the honour.

“In the first instance I thought I might not take it but they [her whānau] said it’s not really for me, it’s for our whānau, hapū and iwi – for all the people I have worked alongside,” she said.

When a Treaty of Waitangi settlement gave the Whanganui River legal personhood, Turia was appointed to act as its voice in a move she labelled “the most important role of my life”.