New Delhi: Once Were Warriors and Die Another Day director Lee Tamahori has passed away at the age of 75. The filmmaker’s family confirmed that he died at his home in Auckland, New Zealand.
Tamahori had been battling Parkinson’s disease for some time.
New Zealand’s public service broadcaster RNZ shared a statement from the Tamahori family, which read: “His legacy endures with his whānau, his mokopuna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart.”
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We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Lee Tamahori at the age of 75. The acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker directed DIE ANOTHER DAY, Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as James Bond. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/tpj6YKsWae
— James Bond (@007) November 7, 2025
Who Was Lee Tamahori?
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1950, Lee Tamahori was a celebrated filmmaker of Māori and British descent. He made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Once Were Warriors (1994), starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis — a film that became a landmark in New Zealand cinema for its raw and powerful storytelling.
Tamahori went on to direct several Hollywood thrillers, including The Edge (1997), featuring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, and Along Came a Spider (2001), starring Morgan Freeman. However, his most notable international success came with Die Another Day (2002), Pierce Brosnan’s final appearance as James Bond. The film, which also starred Halle Berry and featured a cameo by Madonna, grossed over $432 million worldwide.
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Paying tribute to the filmmaker, the official James Bond franchise wrote on social media: “We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Lee Tamahori at the age of 75. The acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker directed Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as James Bond. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
In the later stages of his career, Tamahori directed XXX: State of the Union (2005), Next (2007), and The Devil’s Double (2011), before returning to New Zealand to helm Mahana (2016) and The Convert (2023).
