Celebrated New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori has died, aged 75.
Born in Tawa, Wellington, Tamahori began his career in advertising, co-founding the acclaimed production company Flying Fish before directing his first short film Thunderbox as part of the Te Manuka series. His debut feature, Once Were Warriors, became a landmark in New Zealand cinema and launched him onto the international stage, where he went on to direct major films including Mulholland Falls, The Devil’s Double, and the James Bond blockbuster Die Another Day.
Lee Tamahori (1950–2025) pic.twitter.com/fuqhbc3YiE
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) November 7, 2025
