Te Pāti Māori MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, has died following a battle with kidney disease. She was 50.

Kemp, a former chief executive of Manurewa Marae, shared her diagnosis in July last year.

Her party confirmed her death in a statement, saying it was “heartbroken” by the loss.

“Takutai devoted every breath to the movement for Maori liberation. Even as serious illness weighed on her, she continued to stand in the House, in our homes, on our marae, and in our communities; relentlessly championing the rights and wellbeing of our people,” Te Pāti Māori said.

“She died as she lived: fighting for the cause, in service to her iwi, hapu and whanau.” The party said Kemp was “more than a colleague to us.”

“She was our sister and we loved her deeply.”

Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee said Parliament would briefly sit this afternoon to acknowledge Kemp’s death.

“At 2pm today the House will resume and acknowledge with the deepest sadness the passing overnight of Tāmaki Makaurau MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp (Te Pāti Māori),” he said.

“Following the formal notification to Parliament, there will be the opportunity for tributes from other MPs. At the conclusion of this as a mark of respect, the House will lift for the remainder of the day.

“All flags on the Parliamentary Precinct are flying at half-mast and will continue to do so for a number of days.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, who had been suspended from Parliament, are now eligible to return, allowing them to participate in the formal tribute.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, currently in Europe, said he was “saddened” by the news.

“On behalf of the Government, our thoughts are with her whānau, friends, colleagues, and the Tāmaki Makaurau community,” he said.