Local and national politicians are paying tribute to Wellington city councillor Tony Randle, who died suddenly at the weekend.
Councillor Randle, who represented the Takapū/Northern Ward, was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2025.
He served on a number of committees and was appointed to the Wellington Regional Transport Committee. Earlier this week he voted with city councillors agreed to submit a super-merger proposal to the government this weekend.
Wellington mayor Andrew Little said Randle's contribution to the council was marked by diligence, care and a commitment to understanding the detail.
"Tony was deeply committed to public service and wanted the best for Wellington and its communities. He was always cordial and constructive, but he also brought a healthy scepticism to every issue.
"He believed an important part of his role was to challenge, question, and test assumptions to ensure decisions were based on solid evidence.
"What really set him apart was his focus on substance over rhetoric. He wanted to understand the facts, examine the evidence, and make the best possible decision based on all available information.
"He was never willing to be rushed and valued thorough analysis and quality decision-making above all else. He applied his analytical skills to public transport in particular and was always willing to engage with the public on detailed and principles grounds."
He would be sorely missed around the council table, Little said.
"He was just one of those people that you knew when he was in a meeting, he was onto it, he was going to ask questions and he was all about ... doing the best that he could."
Little said discovering a $250 million error in council consultation documents on lowering the speed limit in 2023 exemplified his determination to dig into the details.
"He very much focused on the data and if he didn't think he had enough would ask for more, and what he found through that process and his hard work was that actually they had miscalculated some of the data and had come up with a conclusion that was out by $250 million."
There would be a by-election for councillor Randle's seat in due course, Little said.
Infrastructure Minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop described councillor Randle as a lovely man who was passionate about Wellington.
Council chief executive Matt Prosser said Randle was a "strong and passionate advocate for his local community, engaging thoughtfully with residents and participating in public discussions on issues that mattered to Wellington".
"His commitment to representing community interests was evident throughout his time in public office."
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