He has died peacefully at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a statement
Alex Richards and Fran Winston
12:03, 07 Nov 2025Updated 12:15, 07 Nov 2025
(Image: Getty)
James Bond film director Lee Tamahori has passed away peacefully aged 75, according to a statement from his family. He had been fighting Parkinson’s Disease for an extended period.
In a heartfelt tribute, the New Zealand-born filmmaker’s relatives said: “His legacy endures with his whnau, his mokopuna, every filmmaker he inspired, every boundary he broke, and every story he told with his genius eye and honest heart.
“A charismatic leader and fierce creative spirit, Lee championed Mori talent both on and off screen. He ultimately returned home to tell stories grounded in whakapapa and identity, with Mahana and his latest film The Convert, reaffirming his deep connection to Aotearoa. We’ve lost an immense creative spirit.”
Lee helmed Pierce Brosnan’s fourth and final Bond adventure Die Another Day. The film marked the 20th instalment in the enduring franchise and secured its position as the year’s sixth most successful box office performer.
Hollywood A-lister Halle Berry assumed the Bond girl mantle, appearing alongside Brosnan as assassin Jinx. Pop icon Madonna also featured in a brief appearance whilst providing the film’s signature theme song.
(Image: Leon Bennett, Getty Images)
Following his meteoric rise to prominence in 1994 when his directorial debut Once Were Warriors achieved both critical acclaim and box office success, becoming New Zealand’s most commercially successful film at that time, Hollywood came calling. Before helming Bond, he had worked on pictures including 1997’s The Edge, featuring Anthony Hopkins, and 2001’s Along Came a Spider, starring Morgan Freeman, reports the Express.
Additional notable films included the 2005 sequel to 2002’s XXX, entitled XXX: State of the Union, featuring Ice Cube and Willem Dafoe. In 2011, he helmed The Devil’s Double with Dominic Cooper, which dramatised Latif Yahia’s allegations that he was compelled to serve as body double to Uday Hussein, Saddam’s son.
His final picture, the period drama The Convert, featuring Guy Pearce and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, reached cinemas in 2022.
When news of his passing emerged, admirers paid homage to the director. “Kiwi Legend R.I.L Lee Tamahori you were an extraordinary man with your talents much love and condolences to your whanau,” one posted on Facebook.
“I loved his directorial venture like Die another Day and we were warriors ….RIP,” another commented.
“Moe mai ra. An absolutely huge loss. Thoughts n prayers with his whanau and extended xx,” a third wrote.
Meanwhile, a fourth added: “Gosh, how sad. He was amazing directing that movie. Sincere condolences to whanau and friends. RIP Lee Tamahori.”