Rex Kirton
Rex Kirton | |
|---|---|
| 10th Mayor of Upper Hutt | |
| In office 1977–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Doris Nicholson |
| Succeeded by | Wayne Guppy |
| Wellington Regional Councillor | |
| In office 2001–2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rex Stratton Kirton 3 June 1942 |
| Died | 4 June 2024 (aged 82) Upper Hutt, New Zealand |
| Relations | Earle Kirton (brother) |
Rex Stratton Kirton QSO JP (3 June 1942 – 4 June 2024) was a New Zealand local-body politician in the Wellington Region. He was mayor of Upper Hutt for 24 years until 2001, and then served three terms on the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Biography
[edit]Kirton was born on 3 June 1942.[1] He was educated at St Joseph's School, Upper Hutt,[2] and St Patrick's College, Silverstream from 1955 to 1959, where he was captain of the 1st XV rugby team and tennis champion.[3] He later studied at Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago, and worked in England as an accountant.[2]
His father, Bill, had worked in banking, then moved to Upper Hutt where he ran a general store in the 1940s, later buying farmland in Whitemans Valley[2][4] where Rex, while mayor, lived and farmed.
Kirton served as vice-president of Wellington Cricket and president of the Wellington Rugby Union.[5]
Kirton died in Upper Hutt on 4 June 2024.[6]
Local government
[edit]Kirton was first elected mayor of Upper Hutt in 1977. When he retired from this role in 2001, he was the longest-serving mayor in New Zealand at that time.[7][8][9] In 2001, Kirton stood as the Upper Hutt representative on the Wellington Regional Council. He served three terms until 2010 when he was beaten by Paul Swain.[10] In 2007, he had been returned unopposed.[11] He was chairman of the regional council's parks, forests and utilities committee.[12]
In 1990, Kirton received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[13] In the 1997 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for public services.[14] Kirton Drive, the main street in the suburb of Riverstone Terraces, is named after him.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "With love we remember Rex Stratton Kirton QSO" (PDF). Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Rex Kirton". Upper Hutt City Library. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "St Patrick's Silverstream". www.stream.school.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Rex Kirton". Elections 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby; Wellington Rugby Union president Rex Kirton and Wellington development XV coach Wayne Guppy". Upper Hutt City Library. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Rex Kirton obituary". The Post. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "History of Our City : Mayors". Upper Hutt City Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Deputy mayor takes Wellington". TV One. 13 October 2001. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Rex Kirton Not Seeking Re-Election". scoop.co.nz. 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ Williams, Colin (12 October 2010). "Swain wins Kirton's seat". Upper Hutt Leader. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Greater Wellington Regional Council – Upper Hutt Constituency". Elections 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Wind turbine ban for Battle Hill". The Dominion Post. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 218. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "New Year honours list 1997". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1996. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
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