his life. He talked about his health battles and tried to lose weight many times. In 2004 he went on a public diet to encourage others to do the same. He died at his home on 29 April 2013 at the age of 62. As Horomia was an electorate MP, a by-election was held on 29 June 2013 to elect a replacement. Tributes after his death came from not only his Labour MP colleagues, but also from the National Government. Labour leader David Shearer cut short a trip to Washington to attend his funeral and said he had "an incredible work ethic, travelling to all parts of the country. He was accepted at pretty much every marae in the country, he was incredibly well-liked, had enormous heart, who worked so hard for his people." His tangi was held the following week, and the funeral on 4 May. Sources Maiden speech 15 February 2000 References |- 1950 births 2013 deaths New Zealand Labour Party MPs Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand People from the Gisborne District New Zealand MPs for Māori electorates Ngāti Kahungunu people Ngāi Tahu people Ngāti Porou people Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti people Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives 20th-century New Zealand politicians 21st-century New Zealand politicians