Panic precedes pride for new knight
ARISE Sir Tim of Invercargill.
A jolt of panic rushed through Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt when an official envelope slipped through his letterbox informing him he was being considered for a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
‘‘I should have been expecting it, but when you get an official envelope you think ‘oh no, what have I done now?’ It does give you a brief moment of anxiety, but once I calmed down a bit I was obviously very honoured.’’
Having been arrested more than 30 times during his politically radical youth, he did wonder what the Queen would think when his name was given to her for final approval.
‘‘She possibly spent a lot of time pondering the issue . . . It’s a bit of a surprise considering I’ve had a rather colourful past — so I feel very honoured.’’
Now New Zealand’s longestserving mayor, with two terms as mayor of Waitemata City and six and counting as mayor of Invercargill under his belt, Sir Tim has been a staunch advocate of his adopted home town since he was first elected in 1993.
‘‘This is really a symbolic award for the whole city. I mean, Invercargill people are gritty, hardworking, honest and deserve to have at least one knight of the realm representing them.’’
His avid and constant championing of the city in the media has helped turn it from the fastestdeclining city in
New Zealand and Australia to one with a growing population and flourishing economy.
The Southern Institute of Technology’s zerofees scheme, Stadium Southland and SIT Velodrome were developed during his mayoralty.
‘‘Not for one moment did I expect it . . . Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would return down here to become the longestserving mayor of Invercargill and then longestserving mayor in New Zealand.’’
When asked what his younger self — the one who wrote Bullshit and Jellybeans and founded a commune — would think of him being knighted, the 71yearold just laughed.
‘‘He would probably say I’m a traitor!
‘‘But I think it shows the Royal Family is trying to branch out. The award is no longer just the prerogative of wealthy businessman; it can be concrete contractors as well. It’s a sort of a sign of equality in that regard.’’
The 2019 mayoral campaign will be his 11th and he has no plans to retire from civic life anytime soon.
‘‘I find it tremendously stimulating and it really is the essence of democracy. You’ve got to stand up and say what you want to do or try to do and then the people vote on it accordingly.’’
As to how his fellow Invercargill City councillors will be asked to address him during meetings, Sir Tim wants it keep simple — ‘‘I think we’ll just stick with Mayor Tim’’.
Apart from his partner Asha Dutt and son Declan (6), Sir Tim had not told his family about the knighthood.
‘‘I’m dying to tell them but it’s a strict embargo and I don’t want to get in trouble for letting it out and it will be a nice surprise for them.’’
THE people of Invercargill have a lot to thank Sir Timothy Richard Shadbolt for.
Sir Tim was today named a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, joining seven other men and women in receiving this year’s top honour.
Recognition for the 71yearold onetime political activist — who has been arrested more than 30 times — is fitting for a man who has spent much of his life in local body politics, the last 25 years as a staunch advocate for his beloved Invercargill.
His longevity — New Zealand’s longestserving mayor — is a remarkable story of resilience given his political future was left hanging when he was ousted as mayor of Waitemata City in the 1980s after serving two terms.
Sir Tim is quoted as saying after the defeat friends from the Manapouri Project contacted him, saying they needed a mayor in Invercargill. Ever the optimist, Sir Tim took the gamble and in 1993 was elected. Some questioned Sir Tim’s motives and whether he was using Invercargill as a stepping stone to bigger and better political ambitions. He was ousted as mayor after just one term.
Determined not to give up, Sir Tim returned to the mayoral office at the 1998 election. He claimed people voted him back because they were bored with a mayor who kept his head down and took no risk. Boring, Sir Tim certainly is not.
He has remained in office since and, having already signalled his intention to stand again, who would bet against him winning a seventh term when next year’s local body elections roll around.
Sir Tim might be in charge of the country’s southernmost city, but he is arguably the most recognised mayor in the country. To many, he is the loveable rogue, with a cheeky smile and raucous laugh. Perhaps most importantly, he retains the ability to laugh at himself.
He is unashamedly the face of Invercargill and has been streetwise enough to use that profile to the city’s advantage. Invercargill was once the fastest declining city in the country but now has a growing population and a thriving economy.
Sir Tim cannot take credit for all that success but his cheerleading ability has ensured Invercargill is no longer the country’s forgotten city.
Sir Tim is well aware how important his national profile is.
‘‘I think in all the elections, what I have said is I give Invercargill an identity, I have put it on the map and I want to keep it on the map,’’ Sir Tim has previously said.
‘‘That’s probably the greatest service I [give] to the city, is just putting it on the map.’’
Long may Invercargill remain on the map.