Te Pāti Māori co-founder Dame Tariana Turia has suffered a stroke, her iwi has said.
Te Pāti Māori co-founder Dame Tariana Turia has suffered a stroke, her iwi has said.
Te Ranga Tupua collective – made up of iwi in Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Ruapehu and South Taranaki – announced the news in a Facebook post tonight.
“Dame Tariana suffered from a stroke earlier this week and unfortunately hasn’t been given much time with us all,” the iwi collective wrote.
“We want to reassure you that Dame Tariana Turia is still with us, surrounded by the love and support of her whānau.”
“We the whānau ask for your understanding, respect and privacy during this time.”
Turia entered Parliament in 1996 as a Labour Party list MP until she broke with the party in 2004 following the foreshore and seabed controversy.
She then created Te Pāti Māori with Sir Pita Sharples and went into government with the National Party in 2008.
Turia retired from Parliament in 2014 and became a dame in 2015 for services as a Member of Parliament.
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The festival, held in Hunterville, had about 2400 participants this year.