Rodney's first mayor dies

Sir Gordon Mason

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RODNEY district's first mayor and one of the area's longest-serving leaders with 32 years in council office, Sir Gordon Mason, died on Tuesday aged 89.

Born in Helensville, Gordon Charles Mason lived in Kaipara Flats near Warkwork. He ran a transport business and was elected to the then Rodney County Council in 1960. Sir Gordon served as deputy chairman from 1963 to 1973 and chairman from 1973 to 1989.

New Zealand Counties Association president from 1984 to 1987, Sir Gordon was instrumental in merging the association with the Municipal Association to form the Local Government Association in 1988. He was awarded life membership in 1994.

In 1989 he was elected as the new Rodney district's first mayor after local government reorganisation and served in this capacity until his retirement from local politics in 1992. A Justice of the Peace, he received an Order of the British Empire for his services and was knighted in 1992. Sir Gordon continued to serve the local community in many ways, including chairing the Warkworth Liaison Group.

Rodney mayor Penny Webster says she is personally saddened to learn of Sir Gordon's death.

"I consider Sir Gordon and his wife Tui to be personal friends and I find this news very hard to take."

Mrs Webster says Sir Gordon will be remembered for his absolute commitment to Rodney.

"I doubt that anybody will have served this district better and certainly none longer. He had a drive and a passion and a vision that we still benefit from today.

"His loss will be shared not only by Lady Tui and Sir Gordon's family, but also the council and by what Sir Gordon rightly thought of as his community," she says.

He is survived by Lady Tui and three children.

The council offices will fly the flag at half mast for his funeral, tomorrow at Warkworth Anglican Christ Church at 1pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News