Kingi Taurua on February 5, 2015, at Te Tii marae ahead of Waitangi Day celebrations. File photo / John Stone
Kingi Taurua on February 5, 2015, at Te Tii marae ahead of Waitangi Day celebrations. File photo / John Stone
Ngāpuhi elder Kingi Taurua has died after a long battle with cancer.
The 80-year-old was a huge figure for the northern iwi, and for many years led Waitangi Day protests at Te Tii Marae.
Taurua had also been an advisor to government ministers, was a Vietnam War veteran and anaward-winning broadcaster with Radio Waatea.
Kingi Taurua performs a hongi with then-National Party leader John Key on February 5, 2007, on the Te Tii Waitangi Marae, Waitangi. File photo / Nigel Marple
He led a small hikoi onto the Treaty Grounds' upper Te Whare Rūnanga marae this year. He said it was to send a message to the new Government to follow through on its promises.
