Tributes to former Cook Islands Prime Minister Joe Willams - who died from COVID-19 in Auckland Hospital on Friday - are flooding in, remembering him as a medical pioneer.
Kiki Maoate, president of the Pasifika Medical Association - of which Dr Williams was a patron - said his "Uncle Joe" will be "sadly and sorely missed".
"He was so well-known and so well respected by the community that it's going to be felt throughout," he said, "but I think people have benefited from what he's done that they will lift it up and continue the good work he's actually put in place."
Dr Williams held many senior roles in the New Zealand health sector and was known for his world-leading research and success in the eradication of the tropical disease filariasis.
Dr Maoate told Newshub there was "no doubt" in his mind that the work Dr Williams did for the Aitutaki filariasis programme would have been his proudest achievement.
"For the World Health Organization (WHO) that then became recognised as the worldwide process of filariasis eradication."
"So in the worldwide setting that's probably the most significant, and we certainly were reminded of it which we were happy to do because we actually came from a very small island and a small group of people to achieve such a worldwide status."
Many have expressed kind words for Dr Willams, who was in his 80s.
"Dr Williams was seen as a leading figure in the Cook Islands medical community and he will be sadly missed," said Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.
Winston Peters paid his respects, saying Dr Williams "made a serious mark" on the communities he worked in and "will be greatly missed in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands".
"He was an enduring example of a Cook Islander who came to New Zealand for education, and then made a real difference in his chosen career," Peters said.
Grant Roberston shared a tribute via Twitter: "Dr Joe was such an influential leader in the Cook Island community, and in the health sector in general. Deeply respected, my thoughts and aroha are with his family."
Auckland Councillor for Manukau Efeso Collins also paid respects via Twitter, saying he was "so sad to hear of the passing of Dr Joe Williams".
"He treated me as a child with pretty bad eczema and gave my parents peace of mind. Rest in love Dr Joe."
In a Cook Islands government statement, Dr Williams was regarded as a "man way beyond his time".
A national memorial service in the Cook Islands will be organised and flags on government buildings will be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect.
Dr Williams went into politics in 1968 when he was elected as an MP for Atutaki, he then served as minister of health and education in the 1970s before becoming the country's fifth Prime Minister in 1999.
Dr Williams ran a medical practice near the Americold facility in Mt Wellington at the centre of the Auckland COVID-19 cluster. He was admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in August.
