Lee Tamahori, the acclaimed New Zealand director best known for his groundbreaking debut film "Once Were Warriors" and the James Bond blockbuster "Die Another Day," has died at the age of 75 after a battle with Parkinson's disease. Tamahori passed away peacefully at his home in Auckland on November 7, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born on June 17, 1950, in Wellington, New Zealand, Warren Lee Tamahori was of Māori descent on his father's side and British descent on his mother's. He began his career in the film industry in the late 1970s, working his way up from roles such as boom operator to assistant director. He gained recognition in the 1980s for directing high-profile television commercials, including one for Instant Kiwi that was named 'Commercial of the Decade'. In 1986, he co-founded the production company Flying Fish, which specialized in commercials.
Tamahori's feature directorial debut came in 1994 with "Once Were Warriors," a powerful and unflinching portrayal of domestic violence within an urban Māori family. Based on the novel by Alan Duff, the film sparked national debate in New Zealand and garnered international acclaim, becoming one of the highest-grossing New Zealand films of all time. The film launched the Hollywood careers of Temuera Morrison, Rena Owen, and Cliff Curtis. "Once Were Warriors" won numerous awards and was named 'New Zealand's best ever film' in a 2014 poll.
Following the success of "Once Were Warriors," Tamahori transitioned to Hollywood, directing a range of films including the period noir "Mulholland Falls" (1996), the survival drama "The Edge" (1997) starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, the thriller "Along Came a Spider" (2001), and the James Bond film "Die Another Day" (2002). "Die Another Day," starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry, was the twentieth Bond film and, at the time, the most successful in the franchise. Tamahori also directed an episode of the acclaimed television series "The Sopranos".
Later in his career, Tamahori directed "XXX: State of the Union" (2005), "Next" (2007) starring Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel, and "The Devil's Double" (2011). In 2016, he returned to New Zealand to direct "Mahana," also known as "The Patriarch," his first feature film in his home country since "Once Were Warriors". "Mahana" was based on the novel "Bulibasha" by Witi Ihimaera and debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2022, Tamahori directed the historical drama "The Convert," starring Guy Pearce.
Tamahori's family released a statement, saying, "His legacy endures with his whānau, his mokopuna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart. A charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit, Lee championed Māori talent both on and off screen". They added, "We've lost an immense creative spirit".
In an interview earlier this year on Te Ao with Moana, Tamahori spoke about living with Parkinson's disease, saying, "I shake like this, but mentally I still have my marbles in my head".
Friends and colleagues are invited to pay their respects at Te Mahurehure Marae in Pt Chevalier, Auckland. Following the tangihanga, Tamahori will journey to Te Tairawhiti for a private, final farewell with close family and friends.
Tamahori is survived by his partner Justine, his children Sam, Max, Meka, and Tané, his daughters-in-law Casey and Meri, and his grandchild Cora Lee.
