Home / Arts and Entertainment / Pioneering Kiwi Director Lee Tamahori, Known for 'Once Were Warriors', Dies at 75
Pioneering Kiwi Director Lee Tamahori, Known for 'Once Were Warriors', Dies at 75
7 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Acclaimed New Zealand director Lee Tamahori dies at 75 after Parkinson's battle
- Breakthrough film 'Once Were Warriors' brought him international acclaim in 1994
- Directed Hollywood films like 'Die Another Day', 'The Edge', and 'Next'
Lee Tamahori, the acclaimed New Zealand-born director whose breakthrough film 'Once Were Warriors' catapulted him to Hollywood success, has passed away at the age of 75. Tamahori's family announced that he died at his home after a battle with Parkinson's disease.
Tamahori first gained international recognition in 1994 with the release of 'Once Were Warriors', a tough and unflinching look at Maori gang culture and domestic violence. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and established Tamahori as a bold and uncompromising storyteller.
Following the success of 'Once Were Warriors', Tamahori went on to direct a string of high-profile Hollywood films, including the survival drama 'The Edge', the James Bond movie 'Die Another Day', and the sci-fi thriller 'Next'. Throughout his career, he remained committed to championing Maori talent both on and off the screen.
