Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson's shared a touching tribute to former Labour MP, Joe Hawke

The Bastion Point occupation leader has died, at the age of 82.

Mr Robertson says when he started working at Parliament, Mr Hawke was still a Labour MP, and they hit it off.

Mr Robertson says he loved the time he got to spend with Mr Hawke in the 20 years since, calling the kaumatua a man of immense courage and mana, and a totara of Ngati Whatua.