Northern Advocate, Herald ‘legend’ Tony Verdon dies aged 67
Tony Verdon, an accomplished journalist whose career included roles as editor and general manager of the Northern Advocate and senior positions at the NZ Herald, has died.
Verdon was found in the water at the southern end of Ocean Beach on Thursday afternoon and brought ashore by surfers. He could not be revived.
He was 67, just two years into retirement after a long and remarkably varied career. His many roles included stints in Parliament’s press gallery, as a London news correspondent, and as the
editorial manager under renowned editor Gavin Ellis.
In 2002 he was appointed editor of the Northern Advocate and three years later became the general manager of what was then Northern Publishing, which published the Advocate and the Northland Age, a role he held until 2009.
Most recently, from 2014-19, he edited the Herald’s motoring supplement, Driven.co.nz.
Long-time friend and colleague Bruce Morris described Verdon as an all-round accomplished journalist.
”He was a safe pair of hands, he could handle anything,” he said.
”He was a generous, gentle guy and a bloody good joker. Everybody loved Tony. There was no such thing as getting offside with him.”
Morris said Verdon enjoyed living at Whangarei Heads and valued his solitude, but also came out of his shell when he moved to Northland and loved having visitors.
He continued to live at Parua Bay even when he landed a job as Driven editor, spending the working week in Auckland and coming home every weekend.
Former Herald editor Gavin Ellis said Verdon had been his rock at a difficult time.
The newspaper had been sold into overseas ownership and many staff were made redundant, which could have harmed the Herald’s culture for years.
”He was instrumental in minimising those adverse affects. It was because of his humanity and the way he treated everybody with huge respect. Nobody had a bad word to say about Tony.”
Verdon was also a tenacious worker, and as a political editor had his ear closer to the ground than anyone Ellis knew.
In Whangarei he had worked as editor and general manager, and had the rare quality of being able to engage with both sides of the business.
His death had come as “a huge shock”.
”He was an extraordinarily decent man. My heart is heavy,” Ellis said.
NZME managing editor Shayne Currie described Verdon as a Herald, Advocate and industry legend, with a fine news sense and attention to detail: ”Tony had time for everyone. He was a very kind person, whose skills were reflected in a myriad of roles he performed with distinction.”
Michael Boggs, chief executive of NZME, said Verdon was highly regarded with a proven track record as an innovative editor and accomplished business leader.
His last role as the editor of Driven was probably a dream job for a man passionate about cars.
”Tony made many lifelong friends in the industry and if you ask any of his former colleagues, they’ll tell you he was one of the nicest people and an absolute gentleman.”
Verdon is survived by a twin brother in the UK and a brother in Auckland.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised. The Coroner will determine the cause of death.