The film world is mourning the loss of Lee Tamahori, the acclaimed New Zealand director behind 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 passed away peacefully at home. They revealed he had been living with Parkinson's disease.
His family paid a moving tribute, stating: "His legacy endures with his whānau [family], his mokopuna [grandchild], every film-maker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart." They described him as a "charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit" who championed Māori talent.
From Wellington to Hollywood
Born in Wellington in 1950 to a Māori and British heritage, Tamahori meticulously worked his way up through the Australasian film industry. He served as a crew member on Geoff Murphy's films like Goodbye Pork Pie and acted as first assistant director for Nagisa Oshima on the celebrated Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence.
His big break into feature directing came in 1994 with Once Were Warriors, a raw and unflinching look at the struggles of a Māori family in urban Auckland. The film was a phenomenal success, becoming New Zealand's highest-grossing film and making a significant impact on the international stage.
A Hollywood Blockbuster Director
The success of Once Were Warriors launched Tamahori's Hollywood career. He directed the period noir Mulholland Falls before helming the survival thriller The Edge, which featured a script by David Mamet and starred Anthony Hopkins.
He further cemented his reputation with the Morgan Freeman thriller Along Came a Spider, proving himself a reliable director for major studio productions.
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 it was Brosnan's last Bond film, it successfully entertained global audiences before the franchise was rebooted with Daniel Craig.
Returning to His Roots
After Bond, Tamahori directed the sequel XXX: State of the Union and the Nic Cage sci-fi film Next. He later returned to New Zealand to direct Mahana (also known as The Patriarch), reuniting with Once Were Warriors star Temuera Morrison.
In 2024, he released what would be his final film, The Convert, a historical drama starring Guy Pearce as a missionary entangled with a Māori community.
Lee Tamahori's career was marked by its remarkable range, from intimate social commentaries to global espionage spectacles, leaving behind a profound and enduring legacy in cinema.
