Tauranga Moana iwi leader Brian Penetaka Dickson dies

Ngāi Te Rangi iwi leader Brian Penetaka Dickson is being remembered as a 'beautiful soul'. Photo / Supplied

Ngāi Te Rangi iwi leader Brian Penetaka Dickson is being remembered as a man of "great mana" and a visionary leader who was owed a debt of gratitude for his lasting legacy.

Tauranga-born Dickson of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui descent died on October 24 after a long battle with cancer and was laid to rest at Otumoko urupa in Matapihi three days later.

The 75-year-old leaves behind his wife Eliza, daughter Marama, sons Stephen and Gordon, his six surviving siblings, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dickson's eldest sister Ngareta Timutimu, 70, said her brother was in huge pain before his death and it was incredibly sad to watch him battling to the end.

Timutimu said she and her siblings looked up to Dickson.

"Brian was an absolutely amazing brother and he was a role model for us. He was a very, humble man and never liked the spotlight on him. In fact, if you tried to take a photograph of him he would run away, literally."

Timutimu said Dickson was well respected in the "fisheries space" and developed a reputation among iwi in terms of sharing his knowledge, expertise and sound advice.

Dickson was also the former chairman of the Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust.

"Brian was a very good listener. He did not say a lot but what he did say made perfect sense when my sisters and I were trying to work through a problem to find a solution."

Despite how busy he was, their brother always had time for his family, including his nephews when they were going through some challenging times, she said.

Timutumu said Dickson was also a great rugby player and was one of the senior players who played alongside All Black legend Brian Williams at Ponsonby Rugby Club.

He also played for the Marist St Patrick team in Wellington and with other All Blacks.

She said her brother was also a great surfer and surfing was a favourite pastime.

Dickson was the eldest child of the late Te Hauoterangi and Marama Dickson.

His older sister Hingatu died aged 14 in 1962 and he is survived by his three sisters Ngareta, Kataraina and Hingatau, and his two brothers Whare and Te Hautoterangi.

Dickson attended Matapihi Maori School and went to Mount Maunganui College where he "excelled".

After leaving school, Dickson had a career in international banking, including working for Westpac and Marac Finance, before becoming chief executive of Ngāi Te Rangi.

Brian Penetaka Dickson has died. Photo / File

Ngāi Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhaio said Dickson became the iwi's first chief executive in 1989 and worked closely with him when he became chairman in 2008.

"Brian was instrumental in laying down the building blocks for what the Runanga is today.

"He was a highly respected chief executive and iwi leader who all of Ngāi Te Rangi iwi owes a huge debt of gratitude for the legacy he has left behind."

Tawhaio said Dickson had great negotiation, organisation and people skills, especially when it came to the Treaty of Waitangi negotiations and his fisheries work, he said.

"Even in the quite fraught times of the Treaty settlement process, and when things began to unravel, Brian was able to quietly think about it and come up with the solution.

"He often said it's not who has the biggest organisation or the most money that matters, ensuring the mana of Ngāi Te Rangi iwi's stands forever was the most important thing.

"Brian was a man of great mana and vision. But was also very modest and he will be rolling in his grave knowing we are talking about him in this way."

Dickson also strongly advocated for Tauranga Moana iwi to be part of the decision-making when it came to the Rena grounding clean-up process.

Former Ngāi Te Rangi iwi chairman Hauata Palmer said he not only worked closely with Dickson for almost 30 years, but he was also a good friend.

"I am deeply saddened by Brian's death. We spent a lot of social time together including attending lots of rugby matches."

Palmer said Dickson had steered the Runanga for more than 30 years with "steadfast hands" including during times of turmoil and through his leadership laid the foundation for what the organisation was today.

Dickson was a tireless worker who excelled in his negotiation skills as well as being a man of "great vision and mana and someone who never sought the limelight", he said.

Ngāi Te Rangi iwi chief executive Paora Stanley said he worked with Dickson as his "sergeant-at-arms" for 10 years before taking up the mantle five years ago.

A tearful Stanley said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of Dickson's death saying he was someone who taught him a lot.

Stanley said one of the first principles Dickson taught him when took over as CEO was to ask himself whether the tough decisions were good for the people he served.

"Brian was a very nice bloke and a really decent human being. Our tribe has lost a great leader with a phenomenally beautiful soul who never said a bad thing about anybody."

Dickson was "highly regarded and respected" and would be deeply missed, he said.

Former Tauranga city mayor Stuart Crosby, who is president of the Local Government New Zealand, said he was saddened to learn of Dickson's death.

"Brian and I had a lot to do with each other when it came to Matapihi, particularly when [the late] Maria Ngatai and I were the ward members for Matapihi.

"Brian was just a lovely-natured man, very modest and quietly-spoken. But when he spoke you got a very clear message and people listened.

"He also one of those forward-thinking people in Maoridom, and also a man of the land with massive hands and a big heart. He was very passionate about keeping as much of Matapihi's unique features as possible."