A life dedicated to service
Kerry Marshall’s political career spanned more than 20 years, serving as mayor of Richmond, Tasman and Nelson.
In his political career, Kerry Marshall had the unique distinction of being the mayor of three different authorities in Nelson and Tasman.
Marshall passed away on March 3, in Nelson, at the age of 79.
His political journey began as a Richmond Borough councillor in 1982, and concluded in 2010 after serving a term as the mayor of Nelson.
In the intervening years he was the last mayor of Richmond and the first mayor of Tasman, and was instrumental in bringing the region through the local government reforms of 1989 – and in the same year was awarded an MBE for services to local government.
Although Marshall did not throw his hat into the political arena before the age of 40, the seeds had been sowed many years before.
Born in Richmond in 1940 and educated at Nelson College, Marshall had a desire to serve the community from an early age.
His father, Cedric Marshall, was a baker by trade, but was also active in the political arena as a leading figure in the Nelson Labour movement.
Marshall’s older brother, Russell, also followed a political career, serving as MP for Wanganui from 1972 to 1990 and as a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth Labour Government from 1984 to 1990.
As well as at home, the principles of community service were instilled from the pulpit of St John’s Methodist Church in Nelson. It was there that Marshall also met his wife Colleen, who he eventually married in 1964.
Colleen said many of her husband’s values were shaped during those formative years. ‘‘We were fortunate in those days to have some really great preachers. They were all strongly committed people’’.
After marrying and graduating from teacher’s college, the couple spent two years teaching in Southland, before heading off on a threeyear OE to Canada and the United Kingdom, travelling extensively throughout Europe.
Returning to New Zealand for the birth of their children, Leighton and Emma, they spent the next 10 years teaching in remote Wainui on Banks Peninsula.
Colleen said even then, Kerry was finding ways to involve himself in the community.
‘‘When he was teaching on
Banks Peninsula he joined the Federated Farmers. I don’t know quite how he managed that, but he became involved in a survey about women’s roles in this remote farming community.’’
Returning to Nelson in 1980, Marshall taught at Richmond Primary School, the school that he had attended, and later served as deputy principal at Waimea Intermediate School.
Colleen said it was at this time Kerry became interested in local body politics.
‘‘He observed the council, wanted to be part of the governance of the county, believing that he could make a positive difference – and so he stood.
‘‘He always wanted to make things better for people, and he had a real dedication to conservation and the environment.’’
In 1982, being new to the district, Marshall just made it on to the Richmond Borough Council after a recount of votes, and then set his sights on the mayoralty, which he won four years later. During his tenure as mayor, Marshall oversaw the amalgamation of the Richmond and Motueka Boroughs, the Waimea County, Murchison County and Golden Bay County into the newly formed Tasman District Council.
Then Richmond deputy mayor Elaine Henry said Marshall’s organisational and leadership skills came to the fore during the government reforms.
‘‘It was the work many did not
‘‘He always wanted to make things better for people, and he had a real dedication to conservation and the environment.’’ Colleen Marshall
see that typified Kerry’s pragmatism and ability to garner respect and collegiality among his peers.’’
Colleen said Kerry loved being in the midst of the decision making process.
‘‘He could clearly see the weaknesses in the earlier local government structure, and felt there was room for change and that he could make it happen.’’
Marshall stepped down as mayor of Tasman in 1998, before returning to local politics in 2007 when he won the Nelson mayoralty.
Outside his council commitments, Colleen said Kerry was ‘‘pretty much on the go’’ all the time.
He chaired various boards and authorities, including the New Zealand Conservation Authority, New Zealand Lotteries Commission, Local Government New Zealand, the Conservation Authority, WOW and the Greyhounds as Pets Trust.
One of his other great passions was sailing – which he mastered while living at Wainui. He built his own Paper Tiger, a lightweight catamaran, and helped some keen local farmers to make Optimists for their children in the local community hall. He taught both his children to sail, with son Leighton going on to skipper a superyacht.
On his return to Nelson, he joined the Nelson Yacht Club and built up what became a very successful and popular learn-tosail programme.
‘‘That was one of the lovely legacies he left behind, something he’d managed in his so-called spare time,’’ Colleen said.
‘‘He was getting kids on the water, building their confidence and having fun at the same time.’’
Colleen said her husband passed away on March 3, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
‘‘It was a good life. It was really an amazing life, and there weren’t too many dull moments in our 56 years of marriage.’’
Kerry Leigh Francis Marshall MBE, born May 21, 1940 in Richmond, died March 3, 2020 in Nelson. Survived by his wife Colleen, children Leighton and Emma, grand-children Enzo, Rosa and Sebastian, and siblings Russell Marshall and Maureen Marshall. A memorial service to celebrate Kerry’s life will be held on Friday, July 31, at 4pm at Nelson College.