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Craig Brown, the former mayor of Whangārei and longtime chairman of the Northland Regional Council, has died.
Brown (73) died suddenly in Kellys Bay, Pouto on Thursday after suffering a heart attack.
He was staying in a Kellys Bay bach with a partner for a week of fishing, his last day was spent catching some fish and making a satisfying set. Yesterday I was to return home to Ngunguru.
Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said Brown had made a great contribution to the city and the north.
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Brown was the 19th Mayor of Whangārei, former President of the Northland Regional Council (NRC), and a member of the Northland District Health Board (DHB) for 15 years through 2019.
His services to the community were recognized when he was named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at the 2015 New Years honors.
Brown said that receiving that accolade was so much for the many other people he had worked with: “the ones who help you do what you do” and particularly for his supportive wife Helen who “lets me do the things I do.”
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Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai says Craig Brown was passionate about Whangārei and led the district through difficult times.
Mai said that Brown was just an amazing human being.
“Craig made a great contribution to Whangārei and Northland,” Mai said.
“He put his heart and soul into the things that mattered to him. He was an amazing human being who guided our district through some pretty tough times. “
Brown was at WDC for 12 years, serving as mayor from 1998 onwards.
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In 2004, Craig Brown, right, decided not to run for mayor of Whangārei again and handed the mayor’s chains over to Pamela Peters, under the watchful eye of council director general Mark Simpson.
He served four terms as NRC councilor from 2004 to 2016, including president from 2010 to 2013.
“I would like to thank the outstanding leadership that he brought to Northland, including through his role as president of the NRC,” said Justin Blaikie, vice president of the NRC.
“He was respectful and always gave people the time of day. It made everyone feel equally important. “
Brown was a member of the Northland DHB from 2004 until last year.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of Craig Brown, a respected member of the Northland and Northland DHB board of 15 years,” said Dr. Nick Chamberlain, Executive Director of Northland DHB.
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Northland DHB CEO Dr. Nick Chamberlain says Craig Brown and his wife Helen were so dedicated to health that they were married in the Whangārei Hospital chapel.
“We offer our condolences on this terrible loss to his wife Helen, his children and grandchildren. Helen, who dedicated more than 50 years to Northland DHB in her nursing career, married Craig in the Whangārei Hospital chapel in 1969, ”Chamberlain said.
“We were very fortunate to have your extensive experience and knowledge as a board member for so many years. We remember Craig for his strong support and passion for Northland and its people. “
Brown’s roles in health and community included a 35-year involvement with the Northland Ambulance Service, serving for many years as its president.
His interests in public service included education, economic development, health and social issues.
“He was one of the true leaders of Northland. He was involved in a lot of things, ”said John Bain, current Northland DHB board member and advisor to the NRC.
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John Bain says that Craig Brown was an “extremely good citizen” who always had a smile.
“He had tremendous knowledge of council systems and the DHB.”
Bain had known Brown for three decades, having met through charities before the two became involved in local government.
“This is the farewell of a very good citizen of the region. He was highly respected, spoke his mind and always has a smile, “Bain said.
Brown was a Justice of the Peace and president of the Waipū Lions Club. He was chairman of the Waipū School Committee, overseeing the centennial celebrations.
Brown then served for six years as the Board of Trustees of Bream Bay College and chaired the McBirnie Trust, which gave annual awards to students who contributed to the life of the school.
He participated in numerous initiatives and work committees during his long public service, including the establishment of The Pulse youth space in Raumunga, the Safer Community Council, the first Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, and youth employment training from councils in Northland.
It also started the construction of several infrastructure and community projects.
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Craig Brown was mayor of Whangārei from 1998 to 2004. (File photo from 2004)
In 2004, he received a Prince of Wales Award for his services to youth. She also received an Educational Service Award from the Multi Education Trust in 1994.
Brown was co-opted as a board member of the Northland Polytech council for six years between 2004 and 2010.
While in local government, Brown also participated in Northland’s controversial and lengthy debate about what position councils on genetically modified organisms in the region should take.
Brown was passionate about Northland councils working together to improve the quality of life in the local community.
While at the NRC, Brown said that water quality, distribution and disposal was the number one issue for the region. Represented the South Coast constituency.
He said that it was impossible to separate the main issues of economic development, job creation, clean environment, health and social welfare.
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Craig Brown found it impossible to separate Northland’s major problems: economic development, job creation, clean environment, health and social welfare. (2004 file photo)
Brown was very interested in laying the planning foundation for developing the Bream Bay infrastructure in support of the growth of the port at Marsden Point. This included plans for a rail corridor to Marsden Point.
In 2013, he said that the four-lane highway from Auckland to Northland would help open the door to expanding port and rail development, increased tourism and industrial growth.
Brown said being a rural person twice voted mayor of Whangārei was possibly his proudest achievement.
“Coming out of nowhere and getting the position of mayor was very interesting. Usually it is the big cities that provide the mayor, however, I came from a country and was appointed mayor. That showed that he was also receiving support from the people of the city who felt he could do the job, ”he said about that moment.
Brown also led the NRC through a heated debate about the local government merger earlier this decade.
“Our community is so much richer because of Craig’s passion for making a positive impact,” said Tutukaka coastal businessman Jeroen Jongejans, who also served in the WDC and NRC.
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Craig Brown’s role as chairman of the Northland Regional Council led him on many environmental adventures, including trying frozen wasp larvae ice cream. (2011 file photo)
He was a supporter of protecting the Ngunguru sandbank from development.
“A mighty totara has fallen,” the Ngunguru Sandspit Protection Society posted on its Facebook page on Friday.
Brown was also a former cop who was also involved in agriculture and real estate. He was also a wedding celebrant.
He came from an agricultural background, his family was from Mangawhai, Awake and Waipū. He went to Waipū primary school.
Brown lived at One Tree Point, Bream Bay for many years, before moving to Ngunguru to be closer to his family.
Brown was married to his loving wife Helen for 51 years, crediting much of his successes in public and private life to her. He is survived by two sons and grandchildren.
