Death of 'mayor' stuns community

TRAGEDY: Malcolm Squire has died in a bulldozer accident.

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A farmer who died in a bulldozer accident was popularly known as the "mayor of Tokomaru" and will be mourned by the whole community, his sister-in-law says.

Malcolm Alexander Squire, 54, died on Wednesday while carving out a track on his farm, near Horseshoe Bend Reserve.

When he didn't return home as usual at about 6pm, his family went looking for him and found him and the bulldozer down a gully.

Police were called to the farm about 7.30pm, with emergency services working at the scene for several hours.

Mr Squire's sister-in-law, Joyce Squire, said he was a loving family man "through and through," and was known by everyone in Tokomaru.

With five children and four grandchildren, he was happiest looking after his family and working on his sheep and goat farm, she said.

"He was cherished by the community, we have all known him as the 'mayor of Tokomaru.' There isn't anything that he would not do for anybody.

"He really loved his children and grandchildren, and he was his wife's soulmate," Ms Squire said. An alpaca breeder, he ran a 1200 acre farm which he had worked on for most of his life.

He was an active member of the Manawatu Small Bore Rifle Club, and had represented Manawatu at the sport, Ms Squire said.

He was brought in as judge for lamb and calf club days at all the local schools, and had his finger on Tokomaru's pulse.

"If you wanted to know something, you asked him – there wasn't much he didn't know.

"He'll be greatly missed."

Local outpourings of support were helping the family, she said.

"The support has been just tremendous from the community and from the emergency services, they were all great last night."

The funeral is on Monday.

The Department of Labour is investigating.

- © Fairfax NZ News