The film world is in mourning following the death of Lee Tamahori, the acclaimed New Zealand director responsible for the powerful drama Once Were Warriors and the James Bond blockbuster Die Another Day. He was 75 years old.
In a statement given to Radio New Zealand, his family confirmed he died peacefully at his home. They revealed he had been living with Parkinson's disease.
A Legacy of Storytelling
His family paid a moving tribute, stating his legacy lives on with his whānau (family), his mokopuna (grandchild), and every film-maker he inspired. They described him as a charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit who championed Māori talent both in front of and behind the camera.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1950 to a mixed Maori and British heritage, Tamahori's career began in the 1970s and 80s. He worked his way up through the Australian and New Zealand film industries, serving as a crew member on Geoff Murphy's films and as first assistant director on Nagisa Oshima's Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence.
From Auckland to Hollywood
His big break into feature directing came in 1994 with Once Were Warriors, a raw and unflinching look at a Māori family's struggles in South Auckland. The film was a phenomenal success, becoming New Zealand's highest-grossing film and making a significant international impact.
This success catapulted him to Hollywood, where he directed the period noir Mulholland Falls. He quickly established himself as a reliable director for major studios, helming the survival thriller The Edge, written by David Mamet and starring Anthony Hopkins, and the Morgan Freeman-led thriller Along Came a Spider.
His most high-profile assignment came in 2002 when he directed the twentieth James Bond film, Die Another Day. Starring Pierce Brosnan in his final outing as 007, the film was a major box office hit, noted for its invisible car and Halle Berry's iconic performance. While critics were divided, it firmly cemented Tamahori's place in blockbuster cinema.
Returning to His Roots
After his time in Hollywood, which also included directing XXX: State of the Union and the sci-fi film Next, Tamahori returned to New Zealand. He reconnected with his cultural roots by directing Mahana (also known as The Patriarch), reuniting with his Once Were Warriors star, Temuera Morrison.
His final film, The Convert, was released in 2024. It stars Guy Pearce as a 19th-century British missionary who becomes entangled with a Māori community.
Lee Tamahori's career was marked by its remarkable range, from intimate local stories to global spectacles, leaving an indelible mark on cinema.
