Ngāti Kahungunu rangatira and te reo stalwart Piri Sciascia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu) has passed away, aged 73.
Sciascia was a renowned kapa haka exponent and chief reo and tikanga advisor to the Governor-General, Prime Minister and Cabinet.
He is a former Vice Pro-Chancellor of Victoria University and served as a chairperson of Te Māngai Pāho.
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori arts in 2013.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc have issued a statement outlining Sciascia will be taken back to his marae Rongomaraeroa in Pōrangahau tomorrow.