Deputy mayor’s stroke recovery
Waitara businessman and long serving local body politician Craig McFarlane is showing signs of improvement after suffering a stroke on Saturday.
McFarlane, who is New Plymouth’s deputy mayor, was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital where he remains with his wife Rhonda at his bedside.
A post on McFarlane’s Facebook page thanked everyone, friends and family for the love and support that had been offered to him at this time.
‘‘Craig is showing positive small improvements, however, will need to have complete focus as well as rest over the next few weeks,’’ the post read.
It went on to say nursing and care staff had been excellent but had asked that there were no visitors during in the immediate future to allow Craig the best possibility for a quicker recovery.
Fellow councillor and life long friend Colin Johnston said he remained in regular touch with Rhonda.
‘‘It’s a tough time for all of us,’’ Johnston said.
‘‘I know that Rhonda is a fantastic person and she is focused on helping Craig through this.’’
The overwhelming amount of support that had been shown for McFarlane since the news broke was not surprising, he said.
‘‘I think that’s because he’s a great leader in his own right. I’ve known him for all of that time and I have seen him come up from the ground level right through to where he is now and he is well looked up to.
‘‘He is a leader and a fantastic person for Waitara, he is a person that would go in to bat for the town for everything because he loves Waitara just like we all do.’’
Former New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennent was one of hundreds of people to post messages of support on McFarlane’s site.
‘‘Very best wishes and positive vibes to you both and all the family,’’ he said.
Donna Eriwata sent her prayers and love to Craig and his whanau.