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Sir Archie John Te Atawhai Taiaroa, leader of the Whanganui River iwi, died suddenly last night at Waikato Hospital. He was 73.
Sir Archie suffered a stroke at his Taumarunui home on Monday night and was taken to the hospital.
Prime Minister John Key said he was shocked and saddened to hear of Sir Archie's death.
"Sir Archie's leadership was inspirational. He was a role model to young Maori and hugely influential in Maoridom," Mr Key said.
"This is a tragic loss - not just for Whanganui, not just for Maori, but for all New Zealanders.
"Sir Archie stood tall and proud and taught others to do the same.
"Our paths crossed many times, and it was always a privilege. I will miss his wisdom and his humour."
Sir Archie was born at Tawata, on the banks of the Whanganui River in 1937. While working as a welfare officer in Wanganui for the Department of Maori Affairs and later the Iwi Transition Agency, he began to take on a leadership role for his people.
A long-time resident of Taumarunui, Sir Archie served on its borough council and as deputy mayor.
He led the discussions and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations for the Whanganui iwi with the Crown and advanced the development and growth of the Whanganui River tribes.
He was appointed by then prime minister Jim Bolger and fisheries and Maori Affairs minister Sir Doug Kidd to the board of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, Te Ohu Kaimoana, in 1993, and remained a board member until his death. He served as deputy chairman from 2000 and was appointed chairman in 2006, a position he held until voluntarily stepping down last year.
"Anyone who knew Archie would understand that his leadership inspired thousands of Maori. His influence was unrivalled. His passing comes as a huge loss not only to Maori, but to Aotearoa," commission chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said.
Sir Archie was a peacemaker during the turbulent 1990s as iwi debated how to carve up the $700 million Maori commercial fisheries settlement. He spearheaded the drive for recognition of freshwater rights for iwi and was a key driver in the creation of a million dollar annual fund for tertiary students to study fisheries management, aquaculture and marine biology.
He was also urged the commission and iwi to take a prominent in promoting global indigenous rights and was a founding member of the World Council of Whalers, based in Victoria, Canada.
He was the co-convener of the Maori Congress and a trusted adviser of the Dame Te Atairangikahu, the late Maori Queen.
In the past decade, Sir Archie undertook the role of negotiator and peacemaker between the Crown and wider Maoridom on issues affecting all New Zealand.
He was knighted in a ceremony at Hato Paora College, his former school, in Feilding by the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, last year.
Family spokesman Peter Douglas said Maori throughout the country would mourn the death of a great Maori and New Zealand leader.
"Sir Archie Taiaroa is leaving behind him a legacy that will be hard matched by future Maori leaders. He was widely respected, a man who had the greatest empathy for all people, and was the most honest and dignified man you could hope to meet," Mr Douglas said.
Sir Archie is survived by his wife Martha, Lady Taiaroa, and their son Rakei Poho.