Influential Maori peacemaker' felled by stroke

Sir Archie Taiaroa was regarded as a pillar of integrity who inspired thousands of people. Photo / Supplied

Sir Archie Taiaroa, a leading figure in Maoridom, has died after a stroke.

The 73-year-old died at Waikato Hospital last night - surrounded by family, including his wife Lady Martha - after having a stroke at his Taumarunui farm on Monday.

Sir Archie was seen as a stabilising force in Maoridom, politically astute and influential.

Family spokesman Peter Douglas said Maori throughout the country were mourning the passing of a great Maori and a great New Zealand leader.

"Sir Archie Taiaroa is leaving behind him a legacy that will be hard matched by future Maori leaders. He was widely respected, a man who had the greatest empathy for all people, and was the most honest and dignified man you could hope to meet," he said.

"Anyone who knew Archie knows what he represented. He represented honesty, respect, trust, hard work and he inspired thousands of people."

Labour Party MP Shane Jones, who worked with the former chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana, had dinner with Sir Archie on Friday, before the pair attended Dame Te Muranga June Batley-Jackson's investiture in Mangere at the weekend.

He said his long-time friend was in good spirits and the pair discussed how far settlements had come.

In the 1990s Sir Archie was in the thick of sorting out how to divide $170 million worth of fisheries assets.

"During the 90s he was regarded as the peacemaker between the warring forces of Sir Tipene [O'Regan], the mana moana tribes and Tutekawa Wyllie versus Sir Bob [Mahuta], Sir Graham Latimer and the Honourable Matiu Rata.

"Archie shied away from rancour. He was ... constantly looking for the common ground."

Sir Archie was born at Tawata on the banks of the Whanganui River. While working as a welfare officer in Wanganui for the Department of Maori Affairs and later the Iwi Transition Agency, Sir Archie began to take on the leadership of his people.

Apart from Whanganui iwi, he had affiliations to Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa and Maniapoto.

A long-standing citizen of Taumarunui, Sir Archie served as a board member of the Taumarunui Borough Council and as deputy mayor.

His early life being reared by his elders set him up well for leadership, Mr Jones said.

"He was very popular with his own kaumatua. He was a person who understood well Maori heritage, Maori language and Maori culture. You could tell he had a significant depth of understanding."

The chairman of the Whanganui River Maori Trust supported Tariana Turia when she left Labour over the foreshore and seabed issue, and the pair were understood to be very close.

He was also part of the elite level of tribal leaders on the Iwi Leaders Group who have been meeting the National Government to discuss multiple issues since 2008.

Sir Archie was not beyond criticism in his hometown though. He once turned down a knighthood and Maori and Pakeha in Taumarunui called him selfish.

In 2003 he accepted an equivalent honour - the Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and said he realised that for some it meant much to his community.

He is survived by a son, Rakeipoho.