Media stalwart Pat Booth dies
Auckland journalist Pat Booth has died aged 88.
Booth was known for his stories about the ‘‘Mr Asia’’ drug syndicate in the 1970s, and his coverage of the Arthur Allan Thomas case in the same decade.
He was assistant editor of the Auckland Star when he attended Thomas’ retrial in 1973, and became concerned about the police case.
Thomas was wrongfully convicted of the murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crew after police fabricated evidence against him; one of the first cases of major public erosion of trust in police.
Booth wrote a book, Trial by Ambush, campaigning for Thomas to be pardoned.
The campaign was ultimately successful, with Thomas receiving a Royal Pardon and compensation of $950,000 for his nine years in prison.
It was also Booth who dubbed Kiwi drug trafficker Marty Johnstone ‘‘Mr Asia’’ in a series of stories for the Auckland Star in 1978.
He uncovered Johnstone’s international drug syndicate and pursued it for more than a year - a crusade that led to death threats and break-ins at his family home.
Booth died in a Kumeu rest home on Wednesday.
Fairfax Media’s former head of Auckland suburban newspapers, Matthew Gray, worked under Booth when he was editor-inchief, and was mentored by him before taking on the role himself.
He said Booth was a stalwart of his community and a formidable investigative journalist.
‘‘He was a man of superior intellect and wit, and it was a privilege to work with him and to benefit from his wisdom,’’ said Gray.
PJ Taylor, news director for Stuff’s Eastern Courier and Papakura Courier, described Booth as a ‘‘pioneering journalism legend’’.
Taylor said Booth had the rare ability to be a journalist and an elected representative at the same time. Booth was chairman of the Howick Community Board, while editor-inchief at Surburban Newspapers.
‘‘His passing is really the end on an era for the pioneering campaigning journalist.’’
More than 60 years after he started as a rookie reporter at the Hawera Star, Booth was a columnist for Fairfax Media in his later years. He was also a member of the Waitemata District Health Board for more than a decade.
The DHB’s chief executive Dr Dale Bramley said Booth’s legacy would be long remembered.
‘‘Pat always had the community at heart. He was a great New Zealander who always got to the truth of the matter and endeavoured to make things better for his fellow man.’’