A much-respected figure within Māoridom and across the political spectrum, Dame Tariana, who suffered a stroke earlier this week, was a softly-spoken but determined person who despite her natural reserve grew to become a prominent and effective leader.
The life-long Whanganui resident worked in healthcare and iwi development before she entered Parliament as a Labour Party list MP in 1996.
She subsequently won the seat of Te Tai Hauāuru in 2002 and held it for five elections.
She was made an associate minister in 1999 and a minister outside Cabinet in 2002, but a year later she publicly disagreed with Labour over proposed foreshore and seabed legislation.
In 2004 she quit the party and co-founded the Māori Party (now Te Pāti Māori), winning a by-election for her seat under its banner.
After the 2008 election the party entered into a governance agreement with the ruling National Party and Ms Turia was once again a minister outside Cabinet.
She retired from politics in 2014 and was made a Dame the next year. She remained actively involved in community work until recently. — APL