Barry Curtis (mayor)


Sir Barry John Curtis is a retired New Zealand local-body politician, who served as mayor of Manukau City from 1983 until 2007. When he announced his intention to retire in 2007, he was New Zealand's longest-serving mayor at that time.

Early life and family

Curtis was born in Auckland on 27 February 1939, the son of John Dixon Cory Curtis and Vera Gladys Curtis, and educated at Otahuhu College. He undertook further study through the Technical Correspondence Institute, Wellington, and the University of Auckland, gaining a Diploma of Town Planning, and eventually becoming a town planning consultant and registered surveyor.
In 1961, Curtis married Miriam Ann Brook, and the couple went on to have three children.

Career

Curtis was first elected as a Manukau City councillor in 1968, three years after Manukau City was formed and was re-elected in 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980. He was also elected in 1971 to the Auckland Regional Authority, the predecessor of the Auckland Regional Council and was re-elected in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983. From 1977 to 1983 he was chairman of the Authority's regional planning committee.
In 1974, Curtis challenged Gavin Downie for the National Party nomination for the seat of Pakuranga after many local party members became dissatisfied with Downie's performance. He was unsuccessful in his challenge, but was persuaded to stand for the seat at the 1975 general election as an independent candidate. Curtis placed a distant fifth out of seven candidates with 356 votes. Downie was re-elected.
Curtis was elected Mayor of Manukau City in 1983, and was re-elected in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004. He stood down in October 2007 at the triennial elections, after 39 years of continuous service to the people of Manukau and the Auckland Region. He was succeeded by Len Brown.
In 1990, Curtis was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and in the 1992 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for services to local government and the community.

Honorific eponym

in Flat Bush is named in his honour.

Positions held