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One of the leading voices for greater Maori involvement in information and communications technology, Richard Orzecki, died at his home in Levin last night, surrounded by family.
Mr Orzecki received a diagnosis of bowel cancer on April 1.
He was 58.
Of Ngati Raukawa and Polish whakapapa, he spent many years in Australia working in information technology before returning to New Zealand in 1997 and immersing himself in te ao Maori.
He served on the New Zealand Maori Council, chaired Ngati Raukawa, and was a member of Nga Pu Waea, the Maori Broadband Working Group.
He also served on two district health boards.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says he was a party foot-soldier from its earliest days, chairing the Te Tai Hauauru electorate and inspiring everyone through his enthusiasm.
He says Mr Orzecki understood the power of connection for whanau and worked to link up whanau with their marae through technology.
Richard Orzecki will lie at Wehiwehi Marae in Manakau until his funeral service at 11 on Friday morning.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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