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Lee Tamahori, Director of Once Were Warriors and Bond’s Die Another Day, Dies at 75

His family said he died at home following Parkinson’s disease, underscoring a legacy of championing Māori stories.

Overview

  • His death was confirmed in a family statement to New Zealand broadcaster RNZ, which said he died peacefully at home after living with Parkinson’s disease.
  • He is survived by his partner Justine and his children Sam, Max, Meka and Tané, according to multiple obituaries.
  • Tamahori’s 1994 debut Once Were Warriors became a landmark of New Zealand cinema and launched a Hollywood run that included The Edge, Along Came a Spider and TV work on The Sopranos and Billions.
  • He directed the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as 007, which drew mixed reviews but grossed about $432 million worldwide.
  • Returning to Aotearoa later in his career, he made Mahana (The Patriarch) and The Convert, and he left the Adrien Brody–led Emperor in post-production with its release described as uncertain due to reported legal and production issues.