Sir Tim Shadbolt remembered as Invercargill mourns long‑serving mayor

Sir Tim Shadbolt's legacy is being remembered across Invercargill as a larger-than-life mayor whose stories, humour, and heart helped shape the southern city for more than three decades.

The charismatic and colourful former mayor of Invercargill died yesterday aged 78 after a long illness.

Tributes flowed today from across the country, but in Invercargill, the loss was being especially felt.

Outside the Invercargill City Council building, flowers had been laid at the place he spent much of his civic career,

Cement topped with a single rose had also been left in a fitting tribute to the former concrete layer who became the city's longest-serving mayor.

'Such a character': Tributes pour in for Sir Tim Shadbolt - Watch on TVNZ+

Invercargill Mayor Tom Campbell said the loss was felt right across the community.

"There's been an outpouring from the city," Campbell told 1News.

"It's really been the only topic of conversation."

Former council chief executive Richard King remembered a mayor known as much for his storytelling as his leadership.

"Tim always told the story like he could put a different slant on the facts and make it sound hilarious," King said.

When Sir Tim arrived from Auckland in the 1990s, Invercargill was losing people faster than any city in Australasia.

"He knew we had to do something to stop the flow so we had to pull out all the stops we possibly could, and the strategic goal was to increase the population, increase the number of jobs. So that's what we set about to do."

One of the most controversial moves was supporting the Southern Institute of Technology's zero fees policy, aimed at attracting students from around the country and overseas.

Former SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds remembered Sir Tim arriving at the polytechnic in the early days.

"In the 90s, he worked for SIT as a tutor – for a very short time," she laughed, "he wasn't very good at it."

It was overseas where he shined, as an ambassador for the polytechnic, travelling to China, India, Mongolia, and across Southeast Asia.

That international push helped bring thousands of students south, quadrupling enrolments and injecting life back into the city.

Simmonds recalls travelling with Sir Tim through Singapore Airport when a stranger shouted across the terminal: "Hi Mayor Tim – where's your concrete mixer today?"

Current Invercargill councillor Darren Ludlow, who served alongside him as deputy mayor, recalled travelling overseas together.

"You'd see the real Tim when nobody recognised him," Ludlow said.

"Then someone would yell out 'Hey Tim!' and suddenly the smile and teeth were back – and everyone was happy."

While Sir Tim was widely associated with major projects, including zero fees, the stadium and the airport, those closest to him said his kindness mattered just as much.

"He could relate to people of any age, any background," Simmonds told 1News.

"What might've looked like a media stunt with another politician was just Tim being Tim. It was a lot of those ordinary things that became extraordinary."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Sir Tim "served Southlanders and Aucklanders for decades – with a smile on his face and a distinctive charm".

"He devoted his career to making his community a better place – and his country thanks him for it."

Labour leader Chris Hipkins described him as an "iconic Kiwi" who devoted his life to advocacy and public service.

"Sir Tim was never afraid of a fight, but always on the basis of solid principles. He brought colour & personality to his politics and will be missed."

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown described him as a "champion of the underdog" who refused to conform to political convention.

Plans are now under way for a public funeral in Invercargill next week, which is expected to be open to the public.