A pillar of the Rotorua community has passed away today.

Dr Sir Toby Curtis (Nopera Tamihana Curtis, Te Arawa, Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao) passed away peacefully at his Lake Rotoiti home this morning at the age of 83 years.

He was surrounded by his whānau.

Born in 1939 on Rotoehu, Sir Toby went on to study at Ardmore Teachers' College and the University of Auckland, graduating with a Diploma in Teaching in 1972.

He gained a Master of Arts Degree in 1980.

He later completed a PhD at the University of Auckland in 2005, titled ‘An investigation of how Hawaiki knowledge is fundamental for Maori leadership', in which he sought to contribute to more authentic traditional knowledge in modern Māori society and to discussion of Māori leadership.

After working as a primary school teacher and with intellectually disabled students, Curtis was principal of his old high school, which had changed its name to Hato Petera College, and vice principal of Auckland Teachers' College during the 1980s.

He was director of primary teacher education at Auckland College of Education and then dean of the education faculty at Auckland Institute of Technology during the 1990s, becoming deputy vice chancellor at Auckland University of Technology in 2000.

He was appointed chair of the Iwi Education Authority for Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi o Aotearoa (tribal immersion schools) in 2012.

He has also served on the council of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

In the late 1980s, Curtis was chair of the Māori broadcasting advisory committee, leading to the formation of Aotearoa Radio, iwi radio stations, and Māori Television.

In 1997, he was appointed chair of Te Māngai Pāho (the Māori Broadcast Funding Agency).

Curtis chaired the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, and was a member of the Iwi Chairs Forum.

He also served on the police commissioner's Māori Focus Forum.

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Curtis was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori education.

'Taa Toby will remain at home with immediate whānau, before being taken to his marae, Rakeiao, Lake Rotoiti at 10am on Friday, August 19,” says a statement from the Curtis whānau today.

From that time, the Curtis whānau welcome all those who wish to honour the life of our rangatira at Rakeiao.

The burial date will be advised in due course.

'In an effort to ensure as many as possible can pay their respects, please contact Dennis Curtis 0212 816 016 or Piki Thomas (021 745 426) who will facilitate each rōpū.

'We anticipate a large gathering at Rakeiao and will close Curtis Road and run shuttle services between the dedicated carparking area and marae.

'Local Māori wardens will assist with directions, but please allow extra time for parking and transport to the marae.

'Cell phone coverage is limited at the marae, but the tangi and whai kōrero will be livestreamed with details to come for those who are unable to be with us kanohi ki te kanohi.

'To help keep everyone safe (especially our vulnerable koeke), please wear facemasks, use the hand sanitiser provided and stay home to watch the livestream if you are māuiui.”

The whānau respectfully ask that they are not contacted directly at this time for tangi information.

Full details will be posted here.

-Additional information from Wikipedia.