Hamish Hay
Sir Hamish Hay | |
---|---|
42nd Mayor of Christchurch | |
In office 12 October 1974 – 14 October 1989 | |
Deputy | See list
|
Preceded by | Neville Pickering |
Succeeded by | Vicki Buck |
Personal details | |
Born | 8 December 1927 |
Died | 7 September 2008 | (aged 80)
Nationality | New Zealand |
Spouse |
Judith Leicester Gill
(m. 1955) |
Relations |
|
Children | Five |
Sir Hamish Grenfell Hay (8 December 1927 – 7 September 2008) was a New Zealand politician, who served as Mayor of Christchurch for fifteen years, from 1974 to 1989. He was Christchurch's longest-serving mayor.
Early life and family
Hay was one of four children of philanthropist
In 1955, Hay married Judith Leicester Gill.[2][3] They were to have five children.[2]
Political career
Hay entered local politics in 1959, when he stood as a candidate for the Christchurch City Council.[4] Topping the poll, he went on to serve as a councillor for five consecutive terms. Like his father, he was a strong proponent of a town hall (as a performing arts centre) for Christchurch. He had been involved in the 'Town Hall Promotion' lobbying organisation, serving as the chairman of its finance committee from 1958.[2] After his election as a Councillor, he continued to press for a town hall, and was instrumental in achieving that goal, eventually chairing the Town Hall Committee, which oversaw the construction of the Christchurch Town Hall, which opened in 1972.[2] The second largest auditorium in the town hall, the James Hay Theatre, is named after his father.[1] During his final term as a councillor, Christchurch hosted the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.[2]
He stood for mayor in the election of 1974, defeating Labour incumbent Neville Pickering.[1] He went on to become Christchurch's longest-serving mayor, holding the position for five consecutive terms.[1]
Hay retired as Mayor in 1989 for health reasons. Victoria Street through Victoria Square was closed towards the end of his mayoralty for the square's redevelopment, and the Victoria Bridge was renamed Hamish Hay Bridge in his honour.[5] He was succeeded by Vicki Buck. He published his autobiography, Hay Days, in the year of his retirement from the mayoralty.[6]
In 1995, Hay returned to the political scene, representing Christchurch North on the
Hay served for some years as chairman of the New Zealand Museums Trust, which oversaw the construction of New Zealand's national museum
Honours
Hay was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours.[8]
Judith, Lady Hay, was appointed a
Later life
Having retired from public office in 2001, Hay began suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He died in September 2008, aged 80. His funeral service was held at Knox Church.[2] Lady Hay moved to her family home in Akaroa after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and lived there until she started to need care.[12] She died on 26 December 2014.[3]
Bibliography
- Hay, Hamish (1989). Hay Days. Christchurch: Caxton Press. ISBN 0908563310.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Former Christchurch mayor dies". The New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sir Hamish farewelled". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Ex-mayoress Hay farewelled". The Press. 30 December 2014. p. A3.
- ^ a b "Sir Hamish Hay 1927–2008". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ISBN 0-7900-0810-6.
- One News. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- stuff.co.nz. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "No. 49010". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1982. p. 39.
- ^ "No. 50766". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1986. p. 34.
- ^ "The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ Shroff, Marie (1 June 1998). "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ Crean, Mike (14 February 2015). "Mayoress was a public figure in her own right". The Press. p. C12.