Kingi taurua biography

The death of Ngāpuhi elder Kingi Taurua is a huge loss, the prime minister says.

Mr Taurua has died after a short illness.

He was for many years the face of Waitangi Day protests at Te Tii Marae.

This year he led a small group of protesters onto the Treaty grounds where celebrations were being held, after a decision to shift the formal powhiri away from Te Tii.

Organisers had lost patience with the annual scenes of chaos at the marae.

In 2016 Mr Taurua offered not to be part of the celebrations for the following year if that was what people wanted. But he said he would continue to be a thorn in the side of the government as long as it continued to undermine the Treaty and the 1835 declaration of independence.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report he was a huge figure with a huge history.

"He was someone who always challenged the Crown in a way that caused us to reflect on Waitangi - where we were in our relationship.

"He was Kingi Taurua: Go and find a Pākehā name - E-Tangata WEKE