Respected Māori leader Dame June Jackson dies aged 82

Dame June Jackson was invested as DNZM by governor-general Sir Anand Satyanand in 2010. File photo / Wikipedia

By RNZ

Prominent Māori leader and described "warrior woman", Dame June Jackson, has died at the age of 82.

Dame Temuranga June Batley Jackson (Ngāti Maniapoto) was a pioneer and activist and dedicated her life to enriching the lives of Māori - especially in urban centres. She died in the early hours of this morning.

Jackson grew up in Mahoenui near Te Kuiti and in her late teens moved to Wellington where she met her husband, Bob Jackson (Ngāti Porou).

The two then moved the whānau to Māngere around 1970 where she had a myriad of jobs from cleaner to security firms but was always consistently active in the community.

Due to their concerns about the unmet needs of Māori in South Auckland at that time, the Jacksons were key in the conception of the Manukau Urban Māori Authority in 1986 - where June Jackson served as the chief executive of the authority until 2009.

In 1991 she was appointed to the New Zealand Parole Board, eventually becoming its longest-serving member and using her marae base to pioneer a range of initiatives focussing on rehabilitative justice.

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jackson was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.

In the 2010 Birthday Honours, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori.

Before she returns to Tāmaki Makaurau tonight, she will be taken to Mokau to say goodbye to her parents and will lay at Nga Whare Waatea in Mangere over this week - her old stomping ground.

She is survived by her sons Willie and Vaughan, daughter Rowanne and her many mokopuna.

Tributes have already started flowing for Jackson. In a social media post whānau say they will have a big week of those sharing their tears and stories of the very much Māngere matriarch.

"Always one of the most glamorous grans in Māngere, Nanny June was just the same whether she was hanging with politicians or prisoners. Once a cleaner, she was formerly made a Dame in 2010. Big laugh & bigger heart.

"Looking forward to hearing all the stories about our Nanny, having a laugh and celebrating her life." - the whānau said online.

E te Kahurangi - moe mai ra.

At her post-Cabinet briefing on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern acknowledged Jackson's death.

"June has been described as formidable, fearless and no-nonsense, an advocate for urban Māori and mum of Cabinet minister Willie Jackson, who will take this week to be with whānau," she said.

"Our thoughts are with you and all of your family at this very sad time."

Much of Jackson's activity predated Ardern's role as prime minister, she said, but she "knew of her legacy, I knew of what she'd achieved".

"I knew that she was still playing a role with whānau even, and despite having stood down from some of those more public and CEO roles, I know the impact that she left."