North Shore kaumatua and minister Pereme Poata has died in Auckland, after a long illness.
Reverend Poata, whose iwi were Ngapuhi and Ngai Takoto, was the priest in charge of Te Mihana Maori o Tamaki Makaurau (The Auckland Anglican Maori Mission).
He was the son of the former 28 Maori Battalion commander, Ben Poata.
Reverend Poata was respected for his speaking abilities in Maori and English. He was a regular speaker at the dawn service on the Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day, where he was known for the eloquence of his karakia.
He is lying in state in Auckland's Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Friday and funeral details are still to be confirmed.
