Māori All Blacks kaumātua Luke Crawford dies

· RNZ
Luke Crawford.Photo: A Te Atawhai Tibble / supplied

Māori All Blacks kaumātua and police sergeant Luke Crawford has died.

He dedicated his life to serving his people through his police work, then as Māori community engagement adviser at Stats NZ.

He also became Kaihautū Māori of the entire New Zealand Rugby organisation.

His body was with the coroner and expected to return to his whānau on Monday, where he will be taken to Takapūwāhia Marae in Porirua.

His funeral service will take place on Wednesday morning.

The Crawford whānau invited everyone who knew Crawford and wanted to pay their respects to the marae between 16 and 18 December.

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