Supplied CRAIG SIMCOX/Fairfax NZ EMMA ALLEN/Fairfax NZ ANDREW GORRIE/Fairfax NZ JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax NZ Supplied JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax NZ Liz Brooker

Labour Maori affairs spokesman and Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Parekura Horomia has died, aged 62.

Rino Tirikatene hongis with Parekura Horomia after a speech in parliament in February 2012.

Parekura Horomia in September 2012 at a powhiri at Omaka Marae, Blenheim to begin the 60th Maori Women's League National Conference with Pita Sharples and Hone Harawira.

Parekura Horomia Hongis PM John Key at Ratana in 2009.

Parekura Horomia runs to the breakdown for the Parliamentarians rugby team in their match-up against 'the musicians' at Eden Park in 2001.

Parekura looks down at the scales in his ministerial bathroom. Horomia went on a very public diet in 2004 in an attempt to lose weight.

Parekura Horomia shakes hands with Brian Tamaki outside of Parliament in 2007 during a Destiny Church rally opposing the 'anti-smacking bill'. Horomia supported the bill along with the entire Labour caucus after Helen Clark instructed her MPs not to vote their conscience.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Parekura, as Maori Affairs Minister, share a joke with the crowd at Waitangi in 2005.

With then Deputy PM Michael Cullen to his right, Parekura Horomia faces questions about the controversial Seabed and Foreshore legislation as Maori Affairs Minister in 2003.

Parekura seated with PM Helen Clark and media personality Willie Jackson at the launch of Maori TV in 2001.

Parekura was first elected to Parliament in 1999, aged 49, after winning the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat, which he held until his death.

0  of  0 « Previous « Previous Next » Next »

Related Links

'Now it's time for me to rest' - Horomia

Relevant offers

National News

Madonna lured out of hiding by a flat white Kiwi model Makeda Soper-Wirangi in hot demand after chance encounter with scout Wellington teenager who died in quad bike accident was 'thoughtful, caring, sensible' - family Two steel mesh products fail stretch test says Commerce Commmission Loss of Christchurch's Burwood birthing unit forces unplanned home delivery Auckland buffet worker sacked over racism row wins compensation Robert Muldoon's old train pass for sale on Trade Me Wellington highways leave even the NZ Transport Agency unsure about travel times Malaysia Airlines MH370: Report may shed new light on aviation mystery Madonna watch: From Ponsonby Central to Port Moteuka

The funeral for former Maori affairs minister Parekura Horomia has been moved to Saturday at 10am giving the expected big crowd more time to arrange travel.

Horomia, 62, died surrounded by his family in Mangatuna yesterday afternoon.

His body is now expected to be moved to the Hauiti Marae in Tolaga Bay early tomorrow.

Horomia was able to farewell friends and family before his death - but passed away much more quickly than expected, said Labour Party leader David Shearer.

"Obviously Parekura was not well, but nobody expected him to go downhill as fast as he did."

The MP's death would be a great loss for the party, Shearer said.

Labour Party MPs are making their way to the East Coast ahead of the funeral on Saturday. All of the party's 34 MPs are expected to attend.

Shearer, who is cutting short a trip to Washington to attend the funeral, said Horomia had an incredible work ethic, travelling to all parts of the country.

"He was accepted at pretty much every marae in the country, he was incredibly well-liked, had enormous heart, who worked so hard for his people," Shearer told Radio New Zealand this morning.

Shearer confirmed that recently Horomia had discussed possible successors for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat, but added that Horomia had been discussing the issue for years.

The ability to contribute through politics was a very important part of his life.

"He talked about succession, but I think he really wanted to continue working on as long as he possibly could," the Labour leader said.

Prime Minister John Key said today that as well as working hard, Horomia had never descended into the nastiness often associated with Parliament.

"He was nice to everybody in Parliament," he said.

"You always felt you could say hello. If I walked along he always said hello to me. I don't think I ever heard him say a nasty or horrible thing which is unusual given the nature of the Parliamentary chamber."

Shane Jones, a long-time colleague of Horomia, said the former Minister of Maori Affairs had "found his calling" in politics, dedicating his life to the cause of advancing Maori.

"He gave his entire life to a sense of service, and in politics I think he found his calling," Jones said.

"In many respects his family and hapu probably played second fiddle as he moved around the motu, pursuing his political mission."

Jones said Horomia, a former labourer who rose to the highest echelon of politics, was unlike many of the political elite in Parliament today.

"These days they [politicians] often come from professional classes, etc, lawyers, school teachers, who've had a fairly good education," he said.

"Parekura came from the school of hard knocks, and sure he often gave answers in Parliament where you had to be a clairvoyant to quite understand what he was saying, but we're no stranger to that kind of theatre anyway."

Horomia would want to be remembered as a humble person and tireless worker who knew no prejudice," he said.

"Some people often poked fun at him because he was a jumbo-sized guy, but despite his king-sized approach to life, believe you-me he covered the miles and he really did want to advance the prospects of his people," Jones said.

Horomia's legacy included the establishment of Maori Television and the expansion of iwi radio.

A by-election will be held, probably in June, in the seat he had retained for Labour since 1999.

Tributes were also paid by other leaders.

Helen Clark, in whose government Horomia was Maori affairs minister from 2000 to 2008, said she had relied enormously on his knowledge of Maoridom and Maoritanga.

"Parekura was one of the kindest people I have ever known."

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei said: "I want to send my respect and acknowledgement to his whanau for all that he and they gave up so that he could do this mahi [work].

"Our country is a lesser place for his passing but his legacy will be remembered."

A spokeswoman for the Maori Party said all its MPs were close to Horomia and they were already on their way to the tangi.

It was too soon to discuss the party's stance on a by-election.

Horomia had spoken openly about his health battles in the past, particularly with his weight and diet. He tried many times to lose weight, going on a very public diet in 2004 to encourage others to do the same.

In 2003, fellow Maori MPs questioned whether he was healthy enough to be a minister.

In reply, Horomia said that he was "a chronic asthmatic born with an enlarged heart, but I'm more than certain it doesn't impinge on my ability to do the job.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that I've carried around too many kgs."

- Fairfax Media