Christchurch remembers Sir Hamish Hay

8 September 2008

Christchurch’s former mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, passed away last night aged 80.

Sir Hamish Hay was elected to the Christchurch City Council in 1959 and was a councillor until elected mayor in 1974. He completed five consecutive terms of office serving until 1989, when he stepped down.

Sir Hamish was an avid supporter of the arts, and played a key role in ensuring that the Christchurch Town Hall, which opened in 1972, was built. One of the theatres in the Town Hall, the James Hay Theatre, is named after Sir Hamish’s father. James Hay was also a city councillor serving from 1944 to 1953.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says Sir Hamish Hay made a huge contribution to Christchurch and will be warmly remembered in Christchurch, and throughout the country.

"Sir Hamish was our longest serving mayor, and his service to the Council and the community has been utterly outstanding," says Mr Parker. "The leadership he showed around the financing and building of the Christchurch Town Hall will be remembered by many as his legacy. Even after he retired as Mayor he continued to be actively involved in our community."

"Sir Hamish’s family is one of the great family dynasties in Canterbury whether it be from their base in the Banks Peninsula to their contribution to local government, the arts, and medicine. It’s a contribution that this family continues to make."

Mr Parker says he will be in touch with the Hay family to pass on his and the Council’s condolences.

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