Joseph Williams, the former prime minister of the Cook Islands, has died of coronavirus in Auckland.
The 82-year-old was the , the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Saturday, taking the national death toll from the virus to 24.
Dr Williams, a prominent member of the medical community, was admitted to Auckland City Hospital on 13 August and died on Friday evening.
"Today’s sad news again reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against COVID-19, the very serious consequences the virus can carry with it, and the measures we all need to take to stop the spread, break any chain of transmission and prevent deaths," New Zealand's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said.
"Our thoughts are with his family and community at this time of loss and grief."
Dr Williams was first elected to the Cook Islands Parliament in 1968, serving as the minister for health and education between 1974 and 1978. He briefly served as the country's prime minister between July and November in 1999.
He also served as a member of the World Health Organization's executive board between 1995 and 1997 and was a patron of the Pasifika Medical Association.
In a statement announcing his death, a Pasifika Medical Association spokesperson said Dr Williams had served the Cook Islands and New Zealand communities for more than 60 years.
"His love, generosity and kindness has touched so many families, friends and colleagues. He has left us all with the gifts of his journey, and for that we are forever grateful," president of the association Kiki Maoate said.
A day earlier, a man in his 50s died of coronavirus in Auckland, the first virus-related death in the country for more than three months.
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