Hewitt had motor neurone disease (MND), and died on Monday night, according to his family in a statement provided to New Zealand news site, Stuff.
He played for both the All Blacks and Wellington-based rugby team the Hurricanes.
Hewitt played nearly 300 matches over 13 seasons.
The Hawke's Bay man who was a hooker for both the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, played from 1995 to 2001.
Hewitt made his Test debut against Ireland at the 1995 World Cup and played his last Test against England in 1998, at Eden Park in Auckland, the official Hurricanes website stated.
"I played against Norm as a young player, and he was uncompromising on the field but always gracious with his time off it," New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said in a statement.
"He was a regular on the sidelines of club rugby, passionate the provincial game and a proud All Black and Māori All Black.
"Our thoughts are with Norm's family and loved ones at this time."
Former teammate and New Zealand Māori Rugby Board member Arran Pene also shared his condolences.
"Norm was passionate both on and off the field. He loved his whānau, his rugby and the rugby community. Māori rugby mourns his loss, and our aroha is extended to the whānau. Moe mai rā e te tuakana."
Before a match, New Zealand rugby teams perform a haka, which is a traditional Māori dance.
In 1997, when Hewitt was playing for the All Blacks against England, he found himself in a haka showdown.
Hewitt came face to face with English player Richard Cockerill in an intense showdown before the match at Old Trafford in Manchester.
The stand-off caused quite a stir as traditionally the other team watching the haka is not supposed to confront the team performing it.
Hewitt wasn't just good with his feet on the field, he was also good on the dance floor, winning the first series of Dancing with the Stars NZ in 2005.
In a statement on the NZ On Screen website, it said: "Combining elements of the haka with excellent footwork and posture, Hewitt wins the first perfect score of the series and has the studio audience on its feet."
He and his dance partner Carol-Ann Hickmore received a perfect score of 10 from all four judges.
Rob Burrow, a former England rugby league star, died at the weekend following an MND diagnosis in 2019. What are the most common symptoms of the disease?
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a neurological disease that affects the brain and nerves.
The early warning signs of MND can include muscle weakness in your hands, feet and voice.
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