Ngāpuhi elder Kingi Taurua has died after a long battle with cancer.
The 80-year-old was a huge figure for the northern iwi, and for many years led Waitangi Day protests at Te Tii Marae.
Taurua had also been an advisor to government ministers, was a Vietnam War veteran and an award-winning broadcaster with Radio Waatea.
![Kingi Taurua performs a hongi with then-National Party leader John Key on February 5, 2007, on the Te Tii Waitangi Marae, Waitangi. File photo / Nigel Marple](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/EICRLKJV3SR6CFD5MBRF4BVOEE.jpg?auth=a545fd2793f1c3bcdc6a9f69cb3b505bbd4adbe886d001478279af19a988ce52&width=16&height=13&quality=70&smart=true)
He led a small hikoi onto the Treaty Grounds' upper Te Whare Rūnanga marae this year. He said it was to send a message to the new Government to follow through on its promises.