Family mourn Pakaitore Turia death, pay tribute to gifted sportsman, ‘beautiful boy with dazzling smile’

• Pakaitore Turia, a grandson of Māori Party co-founder Dame Tariana Turia, died on Saturday night in Brisbane.
• A family spokesperson described Pakaitore Turia as a “beautiful boy with a dazzling smile and a charming personality”.
• The family hopes to bring the 29-year-old’s body to Whangaehu.

The devastated family of promising rugby player Pakaitore Turia say he was a beautiful boy with a charming smile and his grandparents - including Maori Party co-founder the late Dame Tariana - were besotted with him.

Plans are now under way to bring his body back to New Zealand after the 29-year-old died in Australia at the weekend.

Former clubs and friends have heralded Pakaitore Turia as a gifted player who had a “huge future” in front of him.

Pakaitore Turia is being remembered as a gifted player with a huge future. Photo / Sunnybank Dragons Rugby

He was living in Brisbane at the time of his death but grew up in Whanganui.

Family spokeswoman Helen Leahy told the Herald they were shattered and devastated by Turia’s death.

She described him as a “beautiful boy with a dazzling smile and a charming personality”.

“If you can imagine that as a young boy, it meant he could get away with mischief,” she said.

Promising rugby player Pakaitore Turia died just three weeks after his grandmother Dame Tariana Turia. Photo / Pōneke Rugby Club.

“He would smile and we could all be charmed by whatever he had done.”

Three weeks ago, Turia publicly mourned his grandmother Dame Tariana on Facebook saying “Love you nan”.

Leahy said Turia was a grandchild deeply loved by his grandparents.

“His grandmother Arlene, his Koro George and his grandmother Tari, all of them were besotted with this young man.

“I remember Uncle George and Auntie Tari would talk to anyone about his prowess on the rugby field. It wouldn’t take much to get a conversation about what he was doing for Wellington College First XV or where his next move was.

“My favourite memory of him is the way he would look at you, wrap you in a hug and say good to see you, Auntie Helen,” she said.

“I always felt special in those moments but from what I know, so many of us had those moments.”

Leahy said the family planned for the 29-year-old’s body to come back to Whangaehu, a settlement south of Whanganui.

“The family are currently working with the departments in Australia on how to navigate their loved one to Aotearoa.”

Turia’s grandmother, Dame Tariana Turia, died on January 3 after suffering a stroke.

David Williams is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.

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