Moving musical tribute to Anderton
Chris Anderton has farewelled his statesman father with a poignant musical tribute to the man who never backed down.
He sang an a cappella version of Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down for the funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday – a song he described as his father Jim Anderton’s ‘‘personal anthem’’.
Hundreds gathered in Christchurch to pay tribute to a father, grandfather, former deputy prime minister, and lover of backyard cricket and pies.
He said his father, who founded the Progressive Party and was a Member of Parliament for Christchurch’s Sydenham and Wigram electorates for 27 years from the 1980s, was an inspiration.
‘‘Your empathy for those less fortunate than yourself, trustworthiness and sense of fellowship towards all people are qualities that not only your children admire and respect but a grieving public.
‘‘Your moral compass was strong and true. May you use that to find your way to the great Progressive executive council in the sky.’’
He also used his eulogy to make a cheeky plea to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was in the congregation, to fulfil one of his father’s political aims.
‘‘Help us guide Jacinda and her Labour-led government towards completing one of his unfinished projects, free dental care. Just saying.’’
Among those attending were cabinet ministers Grant Robertson and Megan Woods, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions secretary Sam Huggard and Labour Party general secretary Andrew Kirton.
Jim Anderton, who died on Sunday aged 79, was also eulogised by his daughter, Brenda Hill, his grandchildren Sam White and Amy Hill, and former Progressive Party MP Matt Robson.
Hill paid tribute to the man who would wear a Santa hat on Christmas day and hand out presents to the family.
‘‘To us, you were never seen as the deputy prime minister or a politician, but the father figure we all looked up to and shared our lives with,’’ she said.
‘‘Backyard cricket matches were legendary. There was much screaming and yelling with any potential wicket and he didn’t want to get out.
‘‘Jim was an amazing man, who will be greatly missed by everyone who came into contact with him. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.’’
Former Progressive Party MP Matt Robson outlined Jim Anderton’s many political and personal achievements. ‘‘Jim had few equals,’’ he said. ‘‘He cared for everyone who walked through his door.
‘‘He looked at their needs as human beings before he asked if they had a visa or lived in his constituency. We say goodbye to a remarkable New Zealander.’’