Generous champion of the arts dies
Philanthropist, arts donor and heavyweight businessman Adrian Burr passed away in Auckland yesterday.
The multimillionaire Herne Bay resident had suffered a long illness, according to those close to him.
Adrian Kenneth Burr was born on June 8, 1943. His partner was the late Peter Tatham.
Burr was a founding benefactor of the ASB Waterfront Theatre on Halsey St and the Arts Foundation gave him a laureate award, saying he and Tatham “are some of the most remarkable and well-known arts philanthropists in Aotearoa”.
Burr was the founding director of Auckland’s School for Performing and Creative Arts and was on the board of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Ta¯maki.
Those close to him yesterday spoke of the many millions he had poured into his wide-ranging philanthropic work and many different arts organisations.
“It was simply outstanding, massive,” said one close friend.
Mark Taylor, a friend and business associate, said Burr was an intensely private person who had quietly supported many and diverse charities, visual and performing arts, theatre, mental health, sports and environmental causes.
“Adrian made a difference to many people, and small reminders of his big legacy are . . . all over New Zealand on the donor and patron boards of the many causes and projects he supported so joyfully,” Taylor said.
Burr was one of the original business people who founded Viaduct Harbour Holdings, the multibilliondollar business which owns 35ha of land around the city’s waterfront.
He first came to prominence in the 1980s with Chase Corporation and, like former Chase boss Colin Reynolds, stayed in the business during the 1990s when he picked up a swag of real estate for a song.
In 2006, he told the Herald he was going to step back from the Viaduct.
After working with allies David Muller, Mark Wyborn, Ross Green and Trevor Farmer on some of the country’s most significant property deals of the past decade, Burr said he then wanted a break.
“The time has come to balance the books and charge up the emotional bank account,” Burr told the Herald in a rare interview.
Burr was also involved with a group of businessmen who bought vast tracts of forestry in the North Island.